Question:
Is it possible that the Holy Spirit descends on us hypostatically? Can He unite with us hypostasis? What can this hypostatic unity be, and with whom can it take place?
Answer:
We use the term “Hypostasis” when
we talk about the three persons of
the Holy Trinity, and each of these persons has the divine nature.
It is said about the three persons of the Trinity, “these three are one” (1 Jn. 5: 7) .. And the Son, the Lord Jesus said, “I and my father are one” (Jn. 10:30) that is: one in the Godhead and in essence….
There is also a hypostatic unity between the divinity and humanity in the nature of Christ.
But we do not say that there is a hypostatic unity between the Holy spirit and any person, for this means to unite with the Godhead and acquire the divine attributes and be able to do whatever God alone can do, being united Hypostatically with God’s Spirit…
However, we can say that the Holy Spirit descended hypostatically, temporarily, on the Virgin Mary for a double divine purpose:
- To form within her womb a body for the Lord Christ, so we say in the Creed and in the Holy Mass, (.. and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary and became man..)
- To sanctify her womb so that the babe born of her would not inherit the original sin so can perfect the redemption which requires Him to die for the sins of others…
So the angel Gabriel said to her
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the
power of the Highest will overshadow you: therefore also that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.” (Lk. 1:35)
The Holy Spirit, after forming a body in the Virgin’s womb, united hypostatically with this body since the very first moment of the Holy pregnancy.