THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE AFRICAN CHURCH OF THE 21ST CENTURY

Résumé

Saint Paul was correct when he said: “No one can say that Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit” 1Cor 12:3. Unlike the previous centuries when the Holy Spirit was scarcely mentioned, Christians including Catholics of the 21 century are on fire with the movement of the Holy Spirit. The various charismatic movements have challenged people all over the world including Africa to bear witness to the Holy Spirit with their lives. However, it is certain that the Holy Spirit which always dwells in the Church is still as active in it now as during the lives of the Apostles. We know and recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit only in the movement by which he reveals the Word of God— Christ himself to us and disposes us to welcome him in faith. It is this Spirit to whom Paul bore witness that empowers us to say: “Jesus is Lord.” It is this movement of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Christians in the African church that this article intends to explore to determine how the Holy Spirit has manifested himself in African Catholics in general and in Nigeria in particular.