I continue to hold that Holy Ghost is more evocative than Holy Spirit.
THAT CHRIST WAS BORN OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
1 Although, of course, every divine operation by which something is accomplished in creatures is common to the entire Trinity (as has been shown in the points made above), the formation of Christ’s body, which was perfected by the divine power, is suitably ascribed to the Holy Spirit although it is common to the entire Trinity.
2 Now, this seems to be in harmony with the Incarnation of the Word. For, just as our word mentally conceived is invisible, but is made sensible in an external vocal expression, so the Word of God in the eternal generation exists invisibly in the heart of the Father, but by the Incarnation is made sensible to us. Thus, the Incarnation of God’s Word is like the vocal expression of our word. But the vocal expression of our word is made by our spirit, through which the vocal formation of our word takes place. Suitably, then, it is through the Spirit of the Son Of God that the formation of His flesh is said to have taken place.
3 This is also in harmony with human generation. The active power which is in the human seed, drawing to itself the matter which flows from the mother, operates by the spirit, for this kind of power is founded on the spirit, and by reason of its control the seed must be cloudy and white. Therefore, the Word of God taking flesh to Himself from the Virgin is suitably said to do this by His Spirit—to form flesh by assuming it.
4 This also helps to suggest a cause moving to the Incarnation of the Word. And this could, indeed, be no other than the unmeasured love of God for man whose nature He wished to couple with Himself in unity of person. But in the divinity it is the Holy Spirit who proceeds as love, as was said. Suitably, then, was the task of Incarnation attributed to the Holy Spirit.
5 Sacred Scripture, too, is accustomed to attributing every grace to the Holy Spirit, for what is graciously given seems bestowed by the love of the giver. But no greater gift has been bestowed on man than union with God in person. Therefore, suitably is this work marked as the Holy Spirit’s own.
Interesting explanation. Plus, he was doing his figuring without the science of today, whch scientific information, may or may not have been obtained properly.
But the Archangel Gabriel says it in completion:
26 And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.
31 Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever.
33 And of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34 And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?
35 And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren:
37 Because no word shall be impossible with God.
38 And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. Luke 1: 26-38.
God bless, C-Marie
Sometimes I think (quite often, really) Ole Tom does his main argument a disservice by trying to be too specific about some material aspects that are essentially guesswork.
While I fully endorse his apparent intention to reasonably show that physical and metaphysical reality are essentially coincident and complementary (having come from the same Mind) occasionally I cringe a bit when he seems to spoil his case by “trying to prove too much”. (There’s a concise Latin phrase for that which I forget).
Anyhow, however the male gamete was produced by the person agent, being the Divine Will (i.e. the Holy Ghost) doesn’t seem to matter very much to me. Surely the Life, Intellect and Will that can cause a whole Universe can produce a male gamete from whatever He likes and how and when He likes. There’s one “mystical explanation” from a sentimental old nun that I found particularly fascinating (Mary of Agreda, perhaps). It said, roughly, that upon the angelic Annunciation in a convulsion of the Virgin’s Heart a male gamete was formed (contemporary genetics might say that one of her X chromosomes “mutated” into a Y chromosome) and from that the Divine zygote was formed in Her womb. Interesting stuff. If we get to Heaven we’ll have all the rest of eternity to explore the Mind of God.
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