Friday Before Pentecost
Dispositions For Pentecost.
Preparation. - Since the Holy Ghost is the Sanctifier of souls, let us ardently desire His coming. Wherefore we shall consider, first, how He draws and unites us to Himself, and secondly, in which hearts He delights to dwell, and we shall then adopt the custom of frequently repeating these days: "Come, Spirit Creator, and visit the minds of Thy servants."
I. How The Holy Ghost Draws Us To Himself.
Before the Redeemer's coming, men, having strayed away from God, refused to obey Him. Far from seeking Him, they shunned Him and turned to creatures. The Lord then, instead of inflicting punishments, resolved to win our hearts by means of love, saying: "I will draw them with the bands of love" (Osee 11. 4). And, indeed, these bands of love, that is the prodigies of the Incarnation, the Redemption, the Church, the Blessed Eucharist, the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the apostles, converted the world and brought men's souls back to God.
And what better means could He have chosen? Is not charity, as St. Paul says, "the bond of perfection"? (Col. 3. 14). It disengages us from the earth and from ourselves, and enables us to make progress in every virtue, and reach the closest union with the supreme Good. Who then would refuse to bear the sweet fetters of love, which produces such effects in us? As we know, the bonds of the world are chains of death, but those of the Holy Ghost are chains of life and salvation (Eccli. 6. 31). As the divine Paraclete unites through love the Father and the Eternal Word, so also He unites our hearts to God with the bonds of divine charity, which imparts to us a new life, superior to that of all the beings God could create, for it enables us to participate in the nature of the supreme and uncreated Being. O how beautiful the life which renders us sharers in the Lord's power, wisdom and holiness! then God is in us, and we are in Him. He supports and directs us and makes us live by His Spirit.
O my God, essential Charity, grant that my union with Thee be the continual object of all my thoughts, projects and aspirations. Hitherto, instead of seeking Thee alone, I have had no other object in view than the interests and gratification of my self-love. Even yet daily do I worry , complain and grieve, when some duty is disagreeable to me, or requires some sacrifice of me. Does not this prove, O my god, that I love myself more than Thee, that I prefer my own satisfaction to Thy infinitely amiable will? Through the merits of Jesus and Mary, impart to me, O Holy Ghost, Thy most precious gifts which will lift up my soul above herself, and enkindle in her the desire of immolating herself for Thee. Give me those bright lights with which Thou enlightenest Thy saints, so that, knowing Thy infinite perfections and boundless benefits, I may unreservedly cling to Thee until my last breath.
II. In Which Hearts The Holy Ghost Delights To Dwell.
The state of grace is an indispensible condition for receiving the Holy Ghost, for our Saviour says, "If you love Me, keep My commandments, and I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Paraclete" (John 14. 15, 16). The Holy Ghost enters the soul that desires Him and attracts Him by her pious affections, even if she possessed but one degree of sanctifying grace.
He lavishes His gifts on those who seek Him in retreat. Why does Scripture praise the soul that, like a turtle-dove, keeps herself concealed from the world? (Cant. 1. 9). Because solitude and the recollection enjoyed therein render us more attentive to the voice of the Spirit of God, to His interior attractions and aspirations. He, in fact, formed the prophets in the desert, and made of John the Baptist a burning and shining light. Was it not in the solitude of the Supper-room that the apostles were changed into new men? For the saints, retreat was always a heaven here below; they knew, indeed, by experience, the choice graces and sweet consolations that God imparts therein to those who love Him.
From them He specially requires a submissive and docile heart. "If you love Me," says our Saviour, "keep My commandments, and I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Paraclete, that He may abide with you forever." Just as if He said: "You shall have the Holy Ghost in you inasmuch as you love Me, keep My commandments, submit to My will, are docile to My graces and carefully abstain from grieving Him by resisting His inspirations." "God," says St. Peter, "giveth the Holy Ghost to all that obey Him" (Acts 5. 32).
O Holy Ghost, I will always keep my soul prepared to receive Thee. Wherefore, I will strive to adorn it with the flowers that please Thee and are cultivated in solitude, silence and prayer. I will fill it with faith, purity, and devotion, and will banish therefrom whatever may be displeasing to Thy divine eyes, and especially the defect which is most hurtful to me, and which I have to confess most frequently. Finally, with the help of Thy Grace, I am resolved, from now till next Sunday, first, carefully to heed the voice of Thy reproaches and inspirations, and sceondly, to make generously, not withstanding my repugnance, all the sacrifices Thou mayst require of me. I place these resolutions under the protection fo the Blessed Virgin Mary, Thy ever faithful Spouse.
