If you ever thought the Holy Spirit was just for big moments like Pentecost, Sister Mary Teresa Bettag is here to blow that holy misconception out of the Upper Room. 🎈🕊️ On Morning Air with John Morales, she explained the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, from Rome to Arizona, conclaves to cross-country practice.
🕊️The Holy Spirit Isn’t Just for the Vatican
Sister Mary Teresa kicks things off by grounding us in a beautiful truth: the Holy Spirit isn’t some far-off mystery locked inside the Sistine Chapel. Nope. He’s your daily companion: at work in your heart every single day, whether you’re electing a pope or figuring out what to make for dinner.
Front Row at History (Twice!)
Let’s talk God-incidences. Sister was in Rome both when Pope Francis was elected AND when he passed away. You can’t plan that stuff! She was a college student in the square when a total stranger jumped for joy because he used to ride the bus with the new pope (and took them out for gelato to celebrate, because of course he did! 🍦).
Then… years later: she lands in Rome on Easter Monday… just as news breaks that Pope Francis has died. Everything gets canceled. Mourning begins. Sister’s fellow pilgrims say, “This is your fault, Sister!” She laughs but recognizes the deep providence in it all. God writes wild, holy stories, and this is one of them.
🔥Conclave 101: It’s NOT Politics, It’s Pentecost
Sister explains what sets the conclave apart from every other election on Earth:
-No campaigning. 🚫
-No lobbying. 🚫
-No agendas. 🚫
Instead, it’s a sacred act of listening. The cardinals don’t pick the next pope like they’re drafting fantasy football players. They listen to the Holy Spirit to discern who God has already chosen.
That’s why she says, “Pray for the Cardinals.” This kind of discernment is tough. It takes humility, silence, and a total openness to God. It’s not about “winning”… it’s about faithfulness.
🎧Real Talk: How Do You Even Listen to the Holy Spirit?
One of her students hit her with the real question:
“Sister, what do you mean when you say you listen to God?”
She didn’t brush it off. Instead, she gave these practical tips:
-Be silent. You can’t listen while you’re talking.
-Ask a question. Prayer is a conversation, not a monologue.
-Expect God to speak. He is the Word, after all.
She reminds us that we’re so good at talking at God… but if we learned to listen, our lives would radically change. 💥
✝️Final Word: The Holy Spirit is Not a Side Character
Sister ends with a gentle, joyful reminder:
“The Holy Spirit is God. And we don’t want to leave God behind.”
This whole season of Easter leads to Pentecost for a reason. The Acts of the Apostles is basically the “Gospel of the Holy Spirit.” It’s all about letting the Spirit animate your heart and mind wherever you are.
📣 Wanna Be the First to Know When the Smoke Turns White?
🕊️ Keep up with everything happening in the conclave at Conclave2025.com
Sign up for Smoke Watch and stay tuned as the Church listens for the Spirit and reveals the next successor of Peter!
✨ TL;DR
Don’t just watch the conclave like it’s papal reality TV. Live it. Pray. Listen. Invite the Holy Spirit into your daily chaos, and He’ll show you He’s been there all along… 😄
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