It is often objected that with the sacrament of
Baptism the
Christian already has the Holy Spirit. The Christian
certainly
receives the Holy Spirit in Baptism. But that
presence of the
Spirit is not in that perfect state or total
empowering which
Christ promised. The very practice of Christ Himself
distinguishes the degrees with which the Holy Spirit
is
conferred.
Alabaster
window in the apse
of St.
Peter's Basilica,
Vatican
City