Today the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross who was killed on this day in Auschwitz. A few months before her death she composed for her Carmelite community in Holland a brief novena to the Holy Spirit in seven verses or "Beams." They comprise a remarkable poetic theology of the Holy Spirit.The seventh reads:Are You the sweet song of love and holy aweThat eternally resounds around the Triune throne,That weds in itself the pure ringing of every being?The harmony that joins together the members to the Head,In which each finds the mysterious meaning of being blessedAnd joyfully streams forthFreely surrendered in Your streams:-- Holy Spirit, Eternal Jubilation!

Robert P. Imbelli, a priest of the Archdiocese of New York, is a longtime Commonweal contributor.

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