Holy Spirit in Christianity

===Symbolism===
[[File:Faroe stamp 537 jolavisan.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|The Holy Spirit as a dove on a stamp from [[Faroe Islands]]]]
The Holy Spirit is frequently referred to by metaphor and [[Christian symbolism|symbol]], both doctrinally and biblically. Theologically speaking these symbols are a key to understanding of the Holy Spirit and his actions, and are not mere artistic representations.<ref name=cathhs/><ref name="watsonsym">{{cite book |author=Watson |first=David |author-link=David Watson (evangelist) |title=One in the Spirit |publisher=Hodder and Stoughton |year=1973 |pages=20–25 |language=en}}</ref>
* Water – signifies the Holy Spirit's action in Baptism, such that in the manner that "by one Spirit [believers] were all baptized", so they are "made to drink of one Spirit".<ref>{{Bibleref2|1Cor|12:13||1Cor 12:13}}</ref> Thus the Spirit is also personally the living water welling up from Christ crucified<ref>{{Bibleref2|John|19:34||Jn 19:34}}{{Bibleref2|1John|5:8||1 Jn 5:8}}</ref> as its source and welling up in Christians to eternal life.<ref name=watsonsym/><ref name=catechism>''CCC'': [https://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p1s2c3a8.htm#II Symbols of the Holy Spirit (nos. 694–701)].</ref> The ''[[Catechism of the Catholic Church]]'', item 1137, considers the [[Water of Life (Christianity)|Water of Life]] reference in the [[Book of Revelation]]<ref>[[s:Bible (American Standard)/Revelation#21:6|Revelation 21:6]] and [[s:Bible (American Standard)/Revelation#22:1|Revelation 22:1]]</ref> "one of most beautiful symbols of the Holy Spirit".<ref>{{cite web|title=Catechism of the Catholic Church – Celebrating the Church's liturgy|url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s1c2a1.htm|access-date=2020-08-10|website=www.vatican.va}}</ref>
* Anointing – The symbolism of blessing with oil also signifies the Holy Spirit, to the point of becoming a synonym for the Holy Spirit. The coming of the Spirit is referred to as his "anointing".<ref>{{Bibleref2|2Cor|1:21||2Cor 1:21}}</ref> In some denominations anointing is practiced in Confirmation; ("chrismation" in the [[Eastern Christianity|Eastern Churches]]). Its full force can be grasped only in relation to the primary anointing accomplished by the Holy Spirit, that of Jesus. The title "[[Christ]]" (in Hebrew, ''messiah'') means the one "anointed" by God's Spirit.<ref name=watsonsym/><ref name=catechism/>
* Fire – symbolizes the transforming energy of the Holy Spirit's actions. In the form of tongues "as of fire", the Holy Spirit rested on the disciples on the morning of Pentecost.<ref name=watsonsym/><ref name=catechism/>
* Cloud and light – The Spirit comes upon the Virgin Mary and "overshadows" her, so that she might conceive and give birth to Jesus. On the mountain of transfiguration, the Spirit in the "cloud came and overshadowed" Jesus, Moses and Elijah, Peter, James and John, and "a voice came out of the cloud, saying, 'This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!'"<ref name=catechism/><ref>{{Bibleref2|Lk|9:34–35||Lk 9:34–35}}</ref>
* The dove – When Christ comes up from the water of his baptism, the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, comes down upon him and remains with him.<ref name=watsonsym/><ref name=catechism/><ref>{{Bibleref2|Mt|3:16||Mt 3:16}}</ref>
* Wind – The Spirit is likened to the "wind that blows where it will,"<ref>{{Bibleref2|Jn|3:8||Jn 3:8}}</ref> and described as "a sound from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind."<ref>{{Bibleref2|Acts|2:2–4||Acts 2:24}}</ref><ref name=watsonsym/>