On the Holy Spirit, Book I

Book I

• On the Holy Spirit I.1 — St. Ambrose commences his argument by complimenting the Emperor, both for his faith and for the restitution of the Basilica to the Church; then having urged that his opponents, if they affirm that the Holy Spirit is…vatican.va
• On the Holy Spirit I.2 — The words, “All things were made by Him,” are not a proof that the Holy Spirit is included amongst all things, since He was not made. For otherwise it could be proved by other passages that the Son, and even the…vatican.va
• On the Holy Spirit I.3 — The statement of the Apostle, that all things are of the Father by the Son, does not separate the Spirit from Their company, since what is referred to one Person is also attributed to each. So those baptized in the…vatican.va
• On the Holy Spirit I.4 — The Holy Spirit is one and the same Who spake in the prophets and apostles, Who is the Spirit of God and of Christ; Whom, further, Scripture designates the Paraclete, and the Spirit of life and truth. 55. But no one…vatican.va
• On the Holy Spirit I.5 — The Holy Spirit, since He sanctifies creatures, is neither a creature nor subject to change. He is always good, since He is given by the Father and the Son; neither is He to be numbered amongst such things as are…vatican.va
• On the Holy Spirit I.6 — Although we are baptized with water and the Spirit, the latter is much superior to the former, and is not therefore to be separated from the Father and the Son. 76. There are, however, many who, because we are…vatican.va
• On the Holy Spirit I.7 — The Holy Spirit is not a creature, seeing that He is infinite, and was shed upon the apostles dispersed through all countries, and moreover sanctifies the Angels also, to whom He makes us equal. Mary was full of the…vatican.va
• On the Holy Spirit I.8 — The Holy Spirit is given by God alone, yet not wholly to each person, since there is no one besides Christ capable of receiving Him wholly. Charity is shed abroad by the Holy Spirit, Who, prefigured by the mystical…vatican.va
• On the Holy Spirit I.9 — The Holy Spirit is rightly called the ointment of Christ, and the oil of gladness; and why Christ Himself is not the ointment, since He was anointed with the Holy Spirit. It is not strange that the Spirit should be…vatican.va
• On the Holy Spirit I.10 — That the Spirit forgives sin is common to Him with the Father and the Son, but not with the Angels. That the Spirit forgives sin is common to Him with the Father and the Son, but not with the Angels. 112. Tell me,…vatican.va
• On the Holy Spirit I.11 — The Spirit is sent to all, and passes not from place to place, for He is not limited either by time or space. He goes forth from the Son, as the Son from the Father, in Whom He ever abides: and also comes to us when…vatican.va
• On the Holy Spirit I.12 — The peace and grace of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one, so also is Their charity one, which showed itself chiefly in the redemption of man. Their communion with man is also one. 126. Therefore since…vatican.va
• On the Holy Spirit I.13 — St. Ambrose shows from the Scriptures that the Name of the Three Divine Persons is one, and first the unity of the Name of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, inasmuch as each is called Paraclete and Truth. 132. Who,…vatican.va
• On the Holy Spirit I.14 — Each Person of the Trinity is said in the sacred writings to be Light. The Spirit is designated Fire by Isaiah, a figure of which Fire was seen in the bush by Moses, in the tongues of fire, and in Gideon’s pitchers.…vatican.va
• On the Holy Spirit I.15 — The Holy Spirit is Life equally with the Father and the Son, in truth whether the Father be mentioned, with Whom is the Fount of Life, or the Son, that Fount can be none other than the Holy Spirit. 171. We have said…vatican.va
• On the Holy Spirit I.16 — The Holy Spirit is that large river by which the mystical Jerusalem is watered. It is equal to its Fount, that is, the Father and the Son, as is signified in holy Scripture. St. Ambrose himself thirsts for that…vatican.va