Dominum et Vivificantem

Dominum et Vivificantem ( Lord and giver of life ) of 18 May 1986, the fifth encyclical of Pope John Paul II, it is subtitled "On the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church and the world." At the same time, it acknowledges the almost one hundred years encyclical Divinum illud munus of Pope Leo XIII. on May 9, 1897.

Three large chapter

In the Welcome and introduction of the Pope addresses the fountainhead of faith in the Holy Spirit. He points out that " this faith, which the Church professes continuous, the consciousness of the people of God must be revitalized and deepened over again. In the last hundred years, this has already happened several times. Leo XIII, who has the encyclical " Divinum illud munus " ( 1897) published that is entirely dedicated to the Holy Spirit to Pius XII, who in the Encyclical " Mystici. corporis "( 1943) refers to the Holy spirit as the vital principle of the Church, in this together with Christ, the Head of the Mystical Body, acts; , give renewed attention to the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, which pointed out the need for the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, as Paul VI. underlined when he said, ' now on Christology and especially on the ecclesiology of the Council, a new study and a new devotion to the Holy Spirit must be followed, just as the necessary complement of the Council of honor .' "

This letter can not exploit the very rich doctrine of the Holy Spirit; but this would provide no solution to the issues; it is primarily intended to develop in the Church the awareness " that it is driven by the Holy Spirit to participate, that the counsel of God, the Christ, the source of salvation for the whole world has ordered, will actually run ."

First Chapter

This chapter is entitled ' The Spirit of the Father and of the Son, a gift to the Church, " in him wants to explain how John Paul II established the unity of God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit. At the same time it provides the connection to the church here: Standing Under the protection of the Holy Spirit, the church get a great gift. The sending of the Holy Spirit be, by the risen Christ with the words " Receive the Holy Spirit " was announced and was reflected by the Church resists time.

Second Chapter

In this chapter, which he " The Spirit who convicts the world of its sin " overwrites with the words, the Pope addresses the sin and righteousness. He describes the testimony of Pentecost and leads back to the original sin, which had been transformed by the Holy Spirit in saving love.

Chapter Three

In the last chapter he is concerned with "the spirit that gives life ". He explains the reason for the Jubilee of 2000 and refers to the grace of the Spirit. Furthermore, he explains how the Holy Spirit is to understand the inner conflict of the people and to understand, and then respond to the Church and the intimate union with God.

Appreciation

With this encyclical pneumatology of the Second Vatican Council has been focused on the Holy Year 2000. The reason for the anniversary is stated that in Christ, "conceived by the Holy Spirit " grace had appeared. This Spirit and the Church as the Bride of Christ await the coming of the Lord and would pray Maranatha, come.