The Gift of God: The Holy Spirit Fr. Andrew Apostoli During the past two decades more references to the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of God have probably been made than were made in the last several centuries. The Second Vatican Council stirred a new interest in the identity and the activity of the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity and opened up whole new avenues of study into the scriptural and traditional teaching of the Church on the Holy Spirit. In this very readable and down-to-earth work, Father Andrew Apostoli has provided a real service to devout readers who are interested in deepening their knowledge and love of this inestimable gift of God. It is an introduction to the Holy Spirit which is at one and the same time both simple and profound, serious and full of humor. Andrew Apostoli, C.F.R., is the Community Servant of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. His many talks on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), along with his retreats and parish missions, have endeared him to millions. Young people are especially attracted to him because he tells it like it is and is not afraid to challenge them to follow Christ more closely and, inspired by the Spirit, to live the truth in love. His three-volume trilogy: The Gift of God: The Holy Spirit, (1994), The Comforter: The Spirit of Joy (1995), and The Advocate: The Spirit of Truth (1999), crystallize his timely message on the Holy Spirit and His role in the Church today. I can't think of any other recent book of this size and popularity, that can inform and encourage the believing reader in the practice of Christian life with the help of the Holy Spirit. --Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, C.F.R.