By Very Rev. THOMAS S. PRESTON, V.G.,
I. WHO IS THE HOLY GHOST ?
1. He is a divine Person. He possesses all the attributes of personality, In created intelligences we define personality to signify "an individual substance possessed of a rational nature." In applying this term to God we do not speak of three separate and individual substances. Our language is too imperfect to express exactly the nature and attributes of the divine Being. In God nature, existence, and essence are one, since He Himself is His own essence, existence, and eternity. Persons, among created intelligences, have a distinct subsistence, but also a distinct and separate entity, which by its own limitation can make but one individual. In God, however, the divine Persons have only a distinct mode of subsistence, since they possess each, and in common the whole divine essence. Hence we say that there are three persons in God, not three individuals; since the term individual signifies a distinct nature, which is impossible to the divine hypostases, in whom there is one essence and nature, and therefore one natural or essential mind, will, and operation. Nothing can be added to the clearness of the words of the Athanasian creed: "Such as the Father is, such is the Son and such is the Holy Ghost." The three Persons are uncreated, immense, eternal, and almighty. Yet they are not three eternals, three almighties, three uncreated, nor three immense. There is only one eternal, almighty, immense, and uncreated God. "The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. Yet they are not three Gods, but one God." The personality of the Holy Ghost is contained in this : that He is not the Father nor the Son, although one with them in essence. Thus our Lord says: "When the Paraclete cometh, whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceedeth from the Father, He shall give testimony of me." Here are mentioned three distinct persons, the Father, the Son, and the Paraclete. The Father is one person. The Son is another, and of the same nature with the Father) because His Son. The Paraclete is another person, who proceedeth from the Father, and who is to give testimony of the Son. He could not give such testimony if He were not a distinct person.
