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Hi Father Jim,

How are you, i hope your doing great. Well my question is about the Holy Spirit i want to connect with the Holy Spirit and i try to close all windows i sit in my chair in my room for quietness and i try not too talk too much so i can hear the Holy Spirit counsel me and connect with me spiritually.

I sit for about fifteen minutes and i hear nothing or maybe i do but dont quiet undersound the sounds that im suppose to hear sometimes i feel rather silly like it aint gona happen.

How do i hear the sounds, what are the sounds like or is their a voice of words i have to hear in order to know the Holy Spirit is with me? If i do this for several weeks how long does it take i read a small book about one person that said it took her a long time to know how the Holy Spirit works in us? - Stephanie

Hi Stephanie

Thanks for your question.   A perfect Q&A as we approach Pentecost Sunday this coming weekend where we celebrate the Holy Spirit's coming upon the disciples after Jesus' ascended 9 days earlier (btw - a little side note here, this is where the Church first got the idea of a "novena" - praying for 9 consecutive days...)

I think it's good to remember that "connecting" to the Holy Spirit isn't so much about  having the room situated in a specific way or doing somthing as much as it is a matter of being - Being Open to the Holy Spirit - Being willing to let Him enter into our souls, our hearts, our lives - Being Humble enough to allow His promptings to direct our lives.

So often in terms of trying to determine how the voice of God sounds in our lives, we are constantly looking for something dramatic or extraordinary.  We want our "burning bush" or moment on the mountain of Transfiguration with Jesus.  Something tremendous.  Yet, God's voice so often is very quiet, gentle, and familiar.  The gentle nudge at us to call that person we've been holding onto anger over.  The simple prodding when we see a Priest or a nun and that voice says "I wonder if that's what God's calling me too..." 

If we stop looking for our own Cecil B, DeMille moments, we might be surprised at the daily interactions that the Lord has with us.

Fr Jim