St. Dumitru Staniloae - How Do We Recognize the Holy Spirit?

When I truly believe, with warmth of heart, it is a sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Fr. Dumitru Staniloae was canonized by the Romanian Orthodox Church in 2024, together with 15 other modern-day Romanian Elders. St. Dumitru Staniloae’s first Feast Day is celebrated this year on October 4.

Here are St. Dumitru Staniloae’s words:

The question we face is how to recognize the Holy Spirit and not confuse Him with some mere impulse, with a worldly inspiration, or with a movement of purely psychological or physical origin.

The Spirit of the Father cannot inspire us with a thought or an action that would oppose His divine Son. That is why the inspiration of the Spirit of God is always fundamentally connected with prayer directed to Christ. The inspiration of the Spirit is closely bound to faith. Those who do not believe do not have this experience. The demons, too, have faith—but they do not have love, for they do not believe that in God there is love.

The Holy Spirit strengthens my faith. He gives me the power of faith. I feel that this power does not come from me. It is a power that comes from someone else, and often I feel its absence. It is a power that comes from above. But why does it come only through prayer? Here lies the mystery of synergy—the cooperation between human freedom and the divine will.

I must make efforts in order to believe, and these efforts—just like the power of prayer that comes to me—are the work of the Holy Spirit. At times, I strive to believe, but I fail; I see no results and remain with a wavering faith.

“Lord Jesus Christ, You sent Your Holy Spirit upon Your disciples as they prayed. Remember us also, sinners. Kindle within us the burning desire for that same Spirit, give us the thirst for Your living water, so that when He comes in power, the Spirit may not find us indifferent or asleep.”

When I truly believe, with warmth of heart, it is a sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit. This cannot come from me. I cannot give this power to my faith. The Holy Spirit gives it to me.

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