Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap, taught the history of Christian origins at the Catholic University of Milan and served on the International Theological Commission. He devotes his ministry to preaching and writing, and from 1980-2024 served as the Preacher to the Papal Household. Cantalamessa is author of Shepherds and Fishermen; Jesus Began to Preach; The Mystery of God's Word; Come, Creator Spirit; Mary: Mirror of the Church; The Eucharist: Our Sanctification; The Holy Spirit in the Life of Jesus; The Mystery of Easter; The Mystery of Pentecost; and Life in Christ; (all published by Liturgical Press).

• Contents1. "GOD ANOINTED JESUS OF NAZARETH WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND POWER"The baptism of Jesus and the mystery of the anointing   51. "Christ, because anointed by the Father"   62. What is the significance of Jesus' baptism   103. From the anointing to the outpouring of the Spirit   124. The mystery of the anointing in the Church and in ourselves   152. KINGLY ANOINTINGThe Spirit urges Jesus and the Church on — to struggle against Satan   201. "The Spirit drove him out into the wilderness"   222. The Dragon and the Woman   253. The silence about Satan   274. The devil exists, all the same   295. The spirit in the air   316. The discerning of spirits   327. Freeing ourselves from Satan to free others from Satan   343. PROPHETIC ANOINTINGThe Spirit urges Jesus and the Church on — to evangelize   381. The Spirit, force of the Word   392. From Jesus to the Church   413. The gospel, or kerygma, in the apostolic Church   424. A glance at the evolution of the kerygma   455. A return to the kerygma   48 4. PRIESTLY ANOINTINGThe Spirit urges Jesus and the Church on — to pray   511. Jesus at prayer   512. The Holy Spirit, soul of Jesus' prayer   533. The Spirit moves the Church to pray   544. Prayer renewed by the Spirit   59

This slim volume contains rich meditations on the meaning and role of the Spirit as portrayed in the New Testament, particularly the GospelsThe Bible Today