The Holy Spirit keeps Christians young at heart, supporting them in times of trial and helping them praise God no matter what is going on, Pope Francis said.
Celebrating morning Mass May 28, the Pope told the story of a priest who asked a group of children who the Holy Spirit is. They answered, "The paralytic."
While their confusion with the word "paraclete" is understandable, the Pope said that too many Christians "think the Holy Spirit is a paralytic."
"The word 'paraclete' means one who is alongside me to support me so that I don't fall, so that I keep moving forward, so that I preserve the youthfulness of the Spirit," the Pope said. "A Christian remains young. Always. When the heart of a Christian starts to get old, one's Christian vocation begins to diminish. You are either young at heart, have a young soul, or you are not fully Christian."
