Vigil of Pentecost

Mary And The Holy Ghost

Preparation. - The intercession of Mary is one of the most efficacious means to dispose us for the feast of Pentecost. We shall see to how great a degree the Immaculate Virgin was filled with the Holy Ghost, first, for her own self, and secondly, for us, and then we shall beseech her to help us to be animated with sentiments of humility and confidence, as she was on the day of Pentecost when she received so perfect a fulness of the Spirit of love. "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee" (Luke 1. 35).

I. Mary Was Filled With The Holy Ghost.

Already at her Immaculate Conception the Blessed Virgin had received a fulness of the Spirit of God, far superior to that which sanctified all the angels and saints combined; when He came upon her at the moment when the Eternal Word became incarnate in her through His operation, this plenitude surpassed all our conceptions. The spotless Virgin became, in fact, the Mother of God, a dignity more sublime than any created greatness, and requiring an unspeakable perfection, worthy, in some manner, of the uncreated Being. Mary, at the same time, received the noble and difficult mission to contribute to the Redemption of fallen man; this secured for her the light, gifts and privileges due to so important a vocation. Hence St. Bernardine of Siena says that God alone can conceive the capital of graces invested, so to speak, in Mary on the fortunate day of the Incarnation.

Nevertheless, Mary's incomprehensible holiness went on increasing at every moment of her earthly pilgrimage, and particularly at the epochs of the principal mysteries of Christ's life and death. What virtues did shoe not practice during her Son's Passion? How great her courage on the way to Calvary! How grand her fortitude and constancy at the foot of the cross! These more than heroic acts drew upon her the most precious favors until the moment when the Holy Ghost, descending upon the apostles, concentrated Himself more especially in the soul of their amiable Queen.

Do we wish, after her example, to prepare in our heart a pleasing dwelling to the divine Paraclete? Let us then strive to unite innocence to penance, the fear of God to confidence in Him, humility to greatness of soul, delicacy of conscience to generosity of sacrifice. Let us endeavor, with Mary, to ascend to God through the different degrees of recollection, purity of heart and mental prayer, degrees which will enable us to die wholly to ourselves in union with Jesus crucified.

O Spirit of grace and truth, Thou delightest to dwell in hearts wholly purified from the old leaven of the passions; deign to impart to me the courage to combat self-esteem, the desire of praise, love of ease and comfort and sensuality, so that Thou mayst reign in me, Thou who didst reign so perfectly in the most pure soul of the august Mary, the Mother of Jesus and mine forever.

II. Mary, Channel Of The Graces Of The Holy Ghost.

When Mary was raised by the Spirit of love to the fulness of sanctity in becoming the Mother of God and the Mother of men, she received, at the same time, the means of feeding her spiritual children and enabling  them to resemble Jesus Christ. She manifested this privilege, when her salutation imparted the prophetic spirit to Elizabeth, and suddenly sanctified the soul of John the Baptist. Every where and in every circumstance we behold her intervention, when there is question of dispensing to souls the benefits of the Redemption.

On the day of Pentecost, says the saintly Father Olier, the Holy Ghost descended first on our Blessed Mother, and then spread over the apostles under the form of fiery tongues. Was not the apostolic ministry, indeed, which was destined to impart grace, to receive its final completion through the channel of her who is its dispensatrix? Nevertheless, the apostles undoubtedly owed to the prayers of their lovely Sovereign, as much as to their own dispositions, the plenitude of wisdom and holiness which they received on that great day.

To her we also are indebted for the abundant helps the divine Paraclete prepares for us. "All gifts, virtues and graces," says St. Bernardine of Siena, "are dispensed through the hands of Mary to whom she wishes, when she wishes, and as she wishes." She is more eager to lavish her favors upon us, than we can be desirous of receiving them. Moreover, according to St. Ildephonsus , as fire penetrates and wholly heats iron, so also did the sanctifying Spirit take possession of Mary's soul. Hence she has only to stoop towards us to fill us with the same Spirit.

Let us examine whether there are not certain obstacles in us that render us unworthy of her maternal benevolence. Are we not conceited because of our pretended merits, and instead of humbling ourselves at mental prayer, do we not cherish a high opinion of ourselves? Are we not then often distracted, cold, indifferent and without any desire of uniting ourselves with God?

My most amiable Lady, how little love and confidence accompany the prayers I venture to address to thee! Deign to be mindful of thy mercies, and as sick-nurses are destined to care for the sick, mayst thou, the queenly nurse of mankind, condescend to dress and heal the wounds of my soul and restore it to perfect health. Wherefore, draw to me the Spirit of consolation, who is the efficacious remedy of every ill and every wound. Help me to repeat frequently today with the holy Church this invocation: "Holy Ghost, deign to irrigate what is parched in me, and heal what is sore."