May 13, 2016
Francis: Don’t keep the Holy Spirit locked up in your heart
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Without letting the Holy Spirit lead his or her life, a person risks being just an “armchair Christian” who recites “a cold morality” without actually living out the Gospel, Pope Francis said at his morning Mass, May 9.
Do not keep the Holy Spirit a prisoner, locked inside your heart; rather let him “push” and “move” you to boldly bring Jesus to others and to be able to be patient under pressure, the pope said.
There are many Christians today who are unaware of how the Holy Spirit “moves the church,” the pope said. “He’s the one who works in the church, in our hearts, he is the one who makes each Christian” unique, but united together as one family of God.
It’s the Holy Spirit who “opens the doors and invites us to bear witness to Jesus,” 
as well as inspiring people to pray and to see God as father, liberating individuals from feeling like an “orphan,” which is what the devil would like to see, he said.
The pope asked people reflect on whether they are keeping the Holy Spirit, which they received at baptism, locked inside their hearts — like in a “luxury” prison — where he is not free to incite, inspire and explain Jesus’ word to the outside world.