The Holy Ghost Our Greatest Friend: He Who Loves Us Best

My understanding of the Holy Ghost was always lacking. This book does an outstanding job of explaining the third person of the Blessed Trinity, the unforgivable sin and provides many prayers. Many in our Cenacle were appreciative for having the book made available to them, so much so, I had to reorder.

I picked this book up because it was promoted by TAN books in an email blast. They were promoting a bundle of books by Father Paul O'Sullivan. I know I have seen the covers before. And based on when the books were first published maybe even back to the Catholic Book Stores of my youth. I looked at the 6 title sin the bundle and picked this one as my starting point. It did not disappoint, and before I even finished it, I had picked up a couple of the other titles. For those not familiar as I was not: “Fr. Paul Henry O'Sullivan, O.P., S.T.L., P.G., E.D.M., was born in Tralee, Ireland in 1871 and died in Lisbon, Portugal in 1958.” The description of this volume is: “A beautiful little book "all about the Holy Ghost," including prayers to Him. Shows He really and truly dwells in every soul that is in the state of grace. He aids all Christians without exception, if only we will ask His help. Enlightening and encouraging!” The chapters in the book are: Letter from His Excellency Monsignor Pietro Ciriaci, Papal Nuncio Foreword 1. The Importance of Devotion to The Holy Ghost 2. The Holy Ghost and What He Does for Us 3. The Holy Ghost Comes into Our Souls in Baptism 4. The Exceeding Beauty of Our Souls, Made Worthy to Receive The Holy Ghost 5. The Holy Ghost Is Personally in Our Souls 6. How Are We to Honor the Holy Ghost in Our Souls? 7. With the Holy Ghost We Can Do All Things 8. The Wonderful Graces We Receive From the Holy Ghost 9. What We Lose By Not Loving the Holy Ghost 10. The Three Sacraments of the Holy Ghost 11. Sins Against the Holy Ghost Appendix: Prayers to the Holy Ghost The forward encourages us to read, to learn and to experience the Holy spirit in a new way. Father Paul draws from many and varied sources in this little work. In the first chapter alone, he quotes from: Cardinal Manning, Cardinal John Henry Newman, and Cardinal Gibbons. And in the second Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Origen, St. Cyril, Saint basil, Saint Angela, Cornelius a Lapide, Blessed Henry Suso, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Teresa of Jesus, St. Philip Neri, the holy Curé d’Ars and a few others. And the book concludes with 10 prayers to the Holy Spirit. There are a also a few prayers and poems throughout the book as well. When I was in university, I was involved with Campus Crusade for Christ, there was a series of booklets by the founder Bill Bright, and by reading them many times you could almost memorize them and the message so that you could share it. This volume reminds me a lot of those books, but specifically geared for Catholics. And a quick look at some of his other titles look the same. This is a volume that can easily be read in an afternoon. But one you could read repeatedly during your lifetime and benefit from with every reading. I know that I have plans to pursue his other works that are available in English and will likely return to this one and read it again, maybe even several times. The book is clearly written, easily accessible. And a wonderful volume for any Catholic to pick up and read.

Read the entire thing during a Holy Hour. VERY V ERY good and should be read by EVERY Catholic.

Excellent book. Gave copies to all my son;s friends for Confirmation gifts this year.