The Vatican II Council Father produced a dogmatic constitution, Lumen Gentium. In this document we can learn how the modern Church views the mission of the Holy Spirit in #4 and #12.
How did the Father and Jesus determine to sanctify the Church once Jesus had fulfilled the divine plan entrusted to him? How would those who walked with Jesus and those who learned about the Father and Jesus from that first community of believers continue to have a way to them? The answer? Through the "spirit of life, the fountain of water welling up to give eternal life. Through him the Father gives life to men ... dead because of sin, until he raises up their mortal bodies."
The Spirit is within us both in our Church and our hearts. It is the power, the work of the Spirit to advance the Church "into all truth and gives it unity in communion and in service." It is this road to the truth that our Church builds its unity because of the unity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
This in mind the Council Fathers state clearly and boldly "The whole company of the faithful, who have an anointing by the Holy Spirit, cannot err in faith." The faithful show this "distinctive characteristic ... in the supernatural instinct of faith (Latin sensus fidei) of the whole people when, from the bishops to the most ordinary lay person among the faithful, they display a universal agreement on matters of faith and morals." This is one of the most significant statements of the Council. The final clause seems to put forward a genuine challenge from the Holy Spirit to a monolithic, authoritative Council.
It is the "instinct of faith" that is enlivened by the Spirit of truth. It is this Spirit of truth that demands openness and genuine humility especially from those charged with the "protection" of our faith. With this instinct the people of God "hold indefectibly to the faith once delivered to the saints penetrate it more deeply by means of right judgment, and apply it more perfectly in their lives. They do all this under the guidance of the sacred teaching office [understand here of the Church]: by faithful obedience to it they receive, not the word of men but in truth the word of God."
These words make clear the serious obligation we have to hear, to know where the Spirit leads the Church, leads the faithful. These words proclaim boldly the obligation all members of the Church -- from the first of the bishops, the Pope, to any other members of the Church -- to be open to the movements of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit speaks and leads those ordained as well as those who make up the faithful body of believers. What a challenge to any pride or sinfulness that prevents an open heart and mind to the movements of the Spirit within us.
