Part 23
Peace is a gift of the Holy Ghost, somewhat similar to joy; if we have peace nothing can disturb our soul; even if we are afflicted we are not out of humor, for we see that it is the will of God, Who is our kind Father, and that everything is for our special benefit. We are at peace with our fellow‐creatures, for we are not actuated by inordinate ambition, nor by grasping avarice, so that we are loved by all. Patience is a gift of the Holy Spirit by which we endure the ills of the flesh without a murmur and with resignation. What a beautiful virtue and gift we have in this. We love the virtue in others, and we must endeavor to possess it also in ourselves, so as to be a spectacle of patience to men and angels. With benignity, goodness, and mildness, we meet others and charm them with our kindness; they are virtues that result from the thorough practice of charity; it is the combination of these virtues that makes true Christian politeness. What a beautiful world this would be if every one in it would be imbued with these sentiments.
Prayer.
Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, etc., etc.
Twenty‐ninth Day.
Faith is a holy gift of trust in God, in His holy revelation, in the Church, her precepts and teaching, her discipline, and her devotions. We realize and form our conduct on these matters of faith, so that they become the foundation of our hope and our consolation in trials. God becomes to us a living reality, not a vague speculation; and the Church the representative of God on earth, the spouse of Jesus Christ. The just man lives by faith and in the faith; he is full of the trust, the justice, and the mercy of God. Modesty is a fruit of the possession of the Holy Ghost, because by it we are retired, unassuming, caring nothing for the show and allurements of the world. Prayer, meditation, and pious reading should be our favorite occupations, in which we would find a great deal of pleasure; our duties would be well performed, because we would set our whole mind on them in all the quietness of our soul. Continency and chastity are also the result of the presence in our soul of the Holy Spirit; we abhor the pleasures of sensuality, and keep ourselves pure from all contamination, according to the state of life which we have chosen or in which we find ourselves.
Prayer.
Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, etc., etc.
Thirtieth Day.
The fruits and gifts of the Holy Ghost may be easily seen in the effects the apostles experienced at the coming of the Paraclete. As we noticed, the apostles were rather worldly in their perceptions of the divine intentions; they manifested their frailty in many ways during the life of Christ, so that they were even publicly rebuked by Our Lord. But now they have become apostolic men; they love poverty, and are content to work at their humble trade in order not to be a burden on the newly made converts. As St. Peter asserts, “He desired the money of no man.” They love sufferings, from which they had so often shrank before. They understand that to suffer for Christ was great glory and consolation—they who before had been narrow, selfish, and ready to condemn others, now become full of charity to all the world. Into their heart the Spirit of love has descended, and their motto becomes charity towards others. The charity of Christ is the one motive of all they think and do.
Prayer.
Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, etc., etc.
Thirty‐first Day.
We see another great change in the apostles by means of the presence of the Holy Ghost; they surprise us by the bold stand they take before the Jewish authorities. We know they were timid and cowardly at the apprehension of Our Lord, and were almost scandalized at His death on the cross. Now they challenge the Jews with a freedom of speech that the chief priests are unable to explain; they face the wrath of the Jewish council, the Sanhedrim; and undismayed they say: “Judge for yourselves if it be just in the sight of God to hear you, rather than God.” If then the apostles become such perfect men by the influence of the Holy Ghost, is it not worth our while also to remain in prayer and meditation on the power of the Holy Ghost, in order that we too may be changed from such weaklings and become strong Christians? How little have we in us of this Holy Spirit, how unwilling we are to suffer, how prone to avoid all that is opposed to our natural inclinations! This should be different; and it can only be different by heeding the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. With this intention and for this purpose let us devote some time, now and then, to the stirring up within us of the grace of the Holy Ghost.
Prayer.
Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, etc., etc.
Litany of the Holy Ghost.
(_For Private Devotion Only._)
Lord, have mercy on us. _Christ, have mercy on us._ Lord, have mercy on us. _Christ, have mercy on us._ Holy Ghost, hear us. _Holy Ghost, graciously hear us._ God the Father of heaven, _Have mercy on us._ God the Son, Redeemer of the world, _Have mercy on us._ God the Holy Ghost, _Have mercy on us._ Holy Trinity, one God, _Have mercy on us._ Holy Ghost, Who proceedest from the Father and the Son, _Have mercy on us._ Holy Ghost, co‐equal with the Father and the Son, _Have mercy on us._ Promise of the Father, most loving and most bounteous, _Have mercy on us._ Gift of the most high God, _Have mercy on us._ Ray of heavenly light, _Have mercy on us._ Author of all good, _Have mercy on us._ Source of living water, _Have mercy on us._ Consuming fire, _Have mercy on us._ Burning love, _Have mercy on us._ Spiritual unction, _Have mercy on us._ Spirit of truth and of power, _Have mercy on us._ Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, _Have mercy on us._ Spirit of counsel and of fortitude, _Have mercy on us._ Spirit of knowledge and of piety, _Have mercy on us._ Spirit of the fear of the Lord, _Have mercy on us._ Spirit of compunction and of penance, _Have mercy on us._ Spirit of grace and of prayer, _Have mercy on us._ Spirit of charity, peace, and joy, _Have mercy on us._ Spirit of patience, longanimity, and goodness, _Have mercy on us._ Spirit of benignity, mildness and fidelity, _Have mercy on us._ Spirit of modesty, continence, and chastity, _Have mercy on us._ Spirit of adoption of the sons of God, _Have mercy on us._ Holy Ghost, the Comforter, _Have mercy on us._ Holy Ghost, the Sanctifier, _Have mercy on us._ Who in the beginning didst move over the waters, _Have mercy on us._ By Whose inspiration spake the holy men of God, _Have mercy on us._ Who didst overshadow Mary, _Have mercy on us._ Who didst co‐operate in the miraculous conception of the Son of God, _Have mercy on us._ Who didst descend upon Him at His baptism, _Have mercy on us._ Who, on the day of Pentecost, didst appear in fiery tongues upon the disciples of the Lord, _Have mercy on us._ By Whom we are also born again, _Have mercy on us._ Who dwellest in us, _Have mercy on us._ Who governest the Church, _Have mercy on us._ Who fillest the whole world, _Have mercy on us._
Holy Ghost, _We beseech Thee, hear us._ That Thou wouldst renew the face of the earth, _We beseech Thee, hear us._ That Thou wouldst shed abroad Thy light into our hearts, _We beseech Thee, hear us._ That Thou wouldst write Thy law in our hearts, _We beseech Thee, hear us._ That Thou wouldst inflame them with the fire of Thy love, _We beseech Thee, hear us._ That Thou wouldst open to us the treasures of Thy grace, _We beseech Thee, hear us._ That Thou wouldst teach us to ask for them according to Thy will, _We beseech Thee, hear us._ That Thou wouldst enlighten us with Thy heavenly inspirations, _We beseech Thee, hear us._ That Thou wouldst keep us to Thyself by Thy powerful attractions, _We beseech Thee, hear us._ That Thou wouldst grant to us the knowledge alone necessary, _We beseech Thee, hear us._
That Thou wouldst help us to love and bear with each other, _We beseech Thee, hear us._ That Thou wouldst lead us in the way of Thy commandments, _We beseech Thee, hear us._ That Thou wouldst make us obedient to Thy inspirations, _We beseech Thee, hear us._ That Thou wouldst teach us to pray, and Thyself pray within us, _We beseech Thee, hear us._ That Thou wouldst clothe us with love and compassion towards our brethren, _We beseech Thee, hear us._ That Thou wouldst inspire us with a horror of evil, _We beseech Thee, hear us._ That Thou wouldst direct us in the practice of good, _We beseech Thee, hear us._ That Thou wouldst give us the grace of all virtues, _We beseech Thee, hear us._ That Thou wouldst cause us to persevere in justice, _We beseech Thee, hear us._ That Thou wouldst be Thyself our everlasting reward, _We beseech Thee, hear us._ Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, _Spare us, O Lord!_ Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, _Graciously hear us, O Lord!_ Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, _Have mercy on us, O Lord!_ Holy Ghost, hear us, _Holy Ghost, graciously hear us._
_V._ Create a clean heart in us, O God.
_R._ And renew a right spirit within us.
_Let Us Pray._
Grant, O merciful Father, that Thy divine Spirit may enlighten, inflame, and cleanse our hearts; that He may penetrate us with His heavenly dew, and make us fruitful in good works. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Hymns to the Holy Ghost.
Veni, Creator Spiritus.
Come, O Creator, Spirit blest, And in our souls take up Thy rest; Come with Thy grace and heavenly aid To fill the hearts which Thou hast made.
Great Paraclete, to Thee we cry, O highest gift of God most high, O Fount of life, O Fire of love, And sweet anointing from above.
Thou in thy sevenfold gifts art known; The finger of God’s hand we own; The promise of the Father Thou, Who dost the tongue with pow’r endow.
Our senses kindle from above, And make our hearts o’erflow with love; With patience firm and virtue high The weakness of our flesh supply.
Drive far from us the foe we dread, And grant us Thy true peace instead; So shall we not, with Thee for guide, Turn from the path of life aside.
Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow The Father and the Son to know, And Thee through endless times confess’d Of both th’ eternal Spirit blest.
All glory, while the ages run, Be to the Father and the Son Who rose from death; the same to Thee, O Holy Ghost, eternally! Amen.
Come, Holy Ghost.
Come, Holy Ghost, send down those beams, Which sweetly flow in silent streams From Thy bright throne above. Come, Thou, the Father of the poor, Thou bounteous source of all our store; Come, fire our hearts with love.
Come, Thou, of comforters the best, Come, Thou, the soul’s delightful guest, The pilgrim’s sweet relief. Thou art our rest in toil and sweat, Refreshment in excessive heat, And solace in our grief.
O sacred Light, shoot home Thy darts, Oh, pierce the centre of these hearts, Whose faith aspires to Thee. Without Thy Godhead nothing can Have any price or worth in man; Nothing can harmless be.
Lord, wash our sinful stains away, Water from heaven our barren clay; Our wounds and bruises heal. To Thy sweet yoke our stiff necks bend, To inflame our cold hearts Thy fire send; Our wandering feet repel.
Oh, grant Thy faithful, dearest Lord, Whose only hope is Thy sure word; The seven gifts of Thy Spirit. Grant us in life to obey Thy grace, Grant us in death to see Thy face; And endless joys inherit. Amen.
Act Of Oblation To The Holy Ghost.
On my knees, before the great cloud of witnesses, I offer myself, soul and body, to Thee, eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Thy purity; the unerring keenness of Thy justice; and the might of Thy love. Thou art the strength and the light of my soul. In Thee I live and move and am. I desire never to grieve Thee by unfaithfulness to grace; and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against Thee. Make me faithful in every thought: and grant that I may always listen to Thy voice, and watch for Thy light, and follow Thy gracious inspirations. I cling to Thee, and give myself to Thee, and ask Thee by Thy compassion to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced feet of Jesus, and looking at His five wounds and trusting to His precious blood, and adoring His opened side and stricken Heart, I implore Thee, adorable Spirit, helper of my infirmity, so to keep me in Thy grace that I may never sin against Thee with the sin which Thou canst not forgive. Give me grace, O Holy Ghost, Spirit of the Father and the Son, to say to Thee, always and everywhere, speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth. Amen.
The Office of the Holy Ghost.
At Matins.
_V._ The grace of the Holy Ghost illuminate our senses and hearts.
_R._ Amen.
_V._ O Lord, open Thou my lips.
_R._ And my mouth shall declare Thy praise.
_V._ Incline unto my aid, O God.
_R._ O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
_Hymn._
The Holy Ghost our souls invest With grace that does o’ershade the best Of Virgin maids, when from the spheres An angel came to greet her ears. The Word divine did flesh become, And fruitful made a virgin womb.
_Ant._ Come, Holy Ghost, replenish the hearts of Thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Thy love.
_V._ Send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created.
_R._ And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Prayer.
We beseech Thee, O Lord, that the virtue of Thy Holy Spirit may be present within us, which may both purify our hearts, and defend us from all adversities; through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who with Thee and the same Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth. Amen.
At Prime.
_V._ The grace of, etc. (as before).
_Hymn._
Christ, born of Mary, that blest Maid, Was crucified, was dead, was laid Within a tomb, from whence He rose, And did His person soon disclose To His disciples, in whose sight He soar’d above the starry height.
The anthem, verse, response, and prayer as before.
At Tierce.
_V._ The grace of, etc. (as before).
_Hymn._
God sent from heaven the Holy Ghost Upon the day of Pentecost; He did the apostles’ minds inspire, Inflaming them with tongues of fire. He would not have them orphans left, When of the sight of Christ bereft.
The anthem, verse, response, and prayer as before.
At Sext.
_V._ The grace of, etc. (as before).
_Hymn._
With sevenfold grace God did enrich The apostles, then, by means of which They did both speak and understand The language of each distant land. To preach Christ’s faith they then disperse Themselves throughout the universe.
The anthem, verse, response, and prayer as before.
At None.
_V._ The grace of, etc. (as before).
_Hymn._
The consoling Spirit He Entitled was true charity, The gift of God, a fire inflamed, The vivifying fountain named, A spiritual unction, sevenfold grace, A free gift of celestial race.
The anthem, verse, response, and prayer as before.
At Vespers.
_V._ The grace of, etc. (as before).
_Hymn._
The right hand finger of Our Lord, His spiritual power to us afford A safe defence against all evil, That harm’d we be not by the devil. Protect us, nourish us, and bring Us under shelter of Thy wing.
The anthem, verse, response, and prayer as before.
At Compline.
_V._ The grace of, etc. (as before).
_V._ Convert us, O God Our Saviour:
_R._ And avert Thy anger from us.
_V._ Incline unto my aid, O God.
_R._ O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, etc.
_Hymn._
Vouchsafe, O holy Paraclete, To pour into our souls Thy light, And to direct us in our ways, That when to judgment God shall raise The sleeping world, He bid us stand Upon His right and saving hand.
The anthem, verse, response, and prayer as before.
_Commendation._
These hours canonical, to Thee, O Holy Ghost, addressed be, With piously devoted heart. That to our souls Thou mayest impart Thy inspirations, and that we May live in heaven eternally. Amen.
Novena to the Holy Ghost.
First Day: Fruits Of Charity And Joy.
_Veni Creator._
Let us prostrate ourselves before the majesty of the most Holy Trinity, and uniting our dispositions with those of our blessed Lady and the holy apostles in the upper room at Jerusalem, let us say one Our Father and one Hail Mary, to obtain, by the merits of Jesus ascended, the fruits of the Holy Ghost—charity and joy.
Our Father, Hail Mary.
O most holy Spirit, the Paraclete, we adore Thee with all humility; and with the most lively affections of our hearts, we beseech Thee to assist us in this Thy novena, that we may rightly prepare ourselves to receive Thy heavenly gifts. We cannot, O divine Spirit, receive Thee without Thine own aid preventing us. Without Thee we cannot please Thee. Do Thou then, Who didst prepare the heart of Mary to receive the Word Incarnate, vouchsafe so to dispose our hearts that we may happily conceive the blessed flames of Thy love. Amen.
O let us fall and worship Him, The love of Sire and Son, The consubstantial breath of God, The co‐eternal One!
Ah! see, how like the Incarnate Word, His blessed self He lowers To dwell with us invisibly, And make His riches ours.
Most loving Spirit! Mighty God! Sweet must Thy presence be, If loss of Jesus can be gain, So long as we have Thee!
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Thy love.
_V._ Send forth Thy spirit, and they shall be created.
_R._ And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Burn, O Lord, with the fire of Thy Holy Spirit our reins and our hearts, that we may serve Thee with chaste bodies, and please Thee with clean hearts; through Our Lord Jesus Christ. In the unity of the same. Amen.
May the blessing of almighty God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, descend upon us now, and abide with us always. Amen.
Second Day: Fruits Of Peace And Patience.
_Veni Creator._
Let us prostrate ourselves before the majesty of the most Holy Trinity, and uniting our dispositions with those of our blessed Lady and the holy apostles in the upper room at Jerusalem, let us say one Our Father and one Hail Mary, to obtain, by the merits of Jesus ascended, the fruits of the Holy Ghost—peace and patience.
Our Father, Hail Mary.
O sweetest and most dear Mother Mary, behold us at thy feet, and having kissed them a thousand times with the lips of our hearts, we humbly implore of thee a favor more needful for us than all else in the world. Since thou art the spouse of the Holy Ghost, the dispenser of His treasures, and His sweet stewardess, since thou hast been enriched beyond all other creatures with His heavenly gifts, obtain for us, as thou didst obtain for the apostles, His coming into our hearts; and for this end obtain for us the grace to imitate, so far as in us lies, the examples of thy humility, thy purity, thy charity. Amen.
O let us fall and worship Him, etc.
Come, Holy Spirit, etc.
_V._ and _R._ Send forth Thy Spirit, etc.
O God, to Whom every heart is open and every will speaketh, and from Whom no secrets are hid, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the infusion of the Holy Ghost, that we may perfectly love Thee and worthily praise Thee; through Our Lord Jesus Christ. In the unity of the same. Amen.
May the blessing, etc.
Third Day: Fruits Of Benignity And Goodness.
_Veni Creator._
Let us prostrate ourselves before the majesty of the most Holy Trinity, and uniting our dispositions with those of our blessed Lady and the holy apostles in the upper room at Jerusalem, let us say one Our Father and one Hail Mary, to obtain, by the merits of Jesus ascended, the fruits of the Holy Ghost—benignity and goodness.
Our Father, Hail Mary.
Most holy prince of the apostles, blessed St. Peter, behold us at thy feet, to implore thy aid in obtaining the Holy Spirit. We, indeed, have been unfaithful to Our Redeemer, not three times only, as thou wert, but thousands and thousands of times; so that we could not hope that the spotless Dove would vouchsafe to descend into our poor souls, stained with so many sins; yet thine example, blessed apostle, gives us boldness. Thou didst weep bitterly, and with thy tears wert so cleaned as to receive all the gifts of the divine Paraclete. We too desire to bewail our sins with bitterest grief like thine, while we humbly implore thine intercession to obtain for us, first of all, cleanness of heart, and then the gift of the Holy Ghost, for which we yearn most earnestly. Amen.
O let us fall and worship Him, etc.
Come, Holy Spirit, etc.
_V._ and _R._ Send forth Thy Spirit, etc.
O God, Who hast taught the hearts of Thy faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us by the same Spirit to think the things that be right, and ever to rejoice in His consolations; through the same Jesus Christ. In the unity of the same. Amen.
May the blessing, etc.
Fourth Day: Fruits Of Long‐Suffering And Mildness.
_Veni Creator._
Let us prostrate ourselves before the majesty of the most Holy Trinity, and uniting our dispositions with those of our blessed Lady and the holy apostles in the upper room at Jerusalem, let us say one Our Father and one Hail Mary, to obtain, by the merits of Jesus ascended, the fruits of the Holy Ghost—long‐suffering and mildness.
Our Father, Hail Mary.
O blessed and happy apostles of Our Lord, who in the upper room did receive the Holy Spirit with such fulness that thou wert sweetly inebriated with divine love, we congratulate thee with the most humble and lively affection, and contemplate thy graces with a holy envy. We beseech thee, by that love which thou dost bear the Holy Spirit, Who thus filled thee with His special benedictions, obtain for us efficacious aid rightly to practise that brotherly concord, that continual prayer, and that tender devotion to Mary, whereby we can obtain, even as thou didst obtain, the coming of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
O let us fall and worship Him, etc.
Come, Holy Spirit, etc.
_V._ and _R._ Send forth Thy Spirit, etc.
May the infusion of the Holy Spirit, O Lord, purify our hearts, and by the inward sprinkling of His gracious dew make them fertile in all good works; through Our Lord Jesus Christ. In the unity of the same. Amen.
May the blessing, etc.
Fifth Day: Fruits Of Faith And Modesty.
_Veni Creator._
Let us prostrate ourselves before the majesty of the most Holy Trinity, and uniting our dispositions with those of our blessed Lady and the holy apostles in the upper room at Jerusalem, let us say one Our Father and one Hail Mary, to obtain, by the merits of Jesus ascended, the fruits of the Holy Ghost—faith and modesty.
Our Father, Hail Mary.
O eternal Father, how shall we ever bless and praise Thee sufficiently, or thank Thy goodness as we ought? A thousand times blessed be Thine infinite charity, Thine infinite providence, and Thine infinite mercy, which moved Thee to repair our miseries, and to give unto us a gift wherein is contained all the good that proceedeth from Thee! Thou hast given us also the Holy Ghost, Who proceedeth from Thy will as Thine uncreated love. What can we seek for more? And what shall we give unto Thee for so great a gift? O Lord, vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, of Thy clemency to take for Thine own all our understanding, all our will, all ourselves, and that little for all eternity. Amen.
O let us fall and worship Him, etc.
Come, Holy Spirit, etc.
_V._ and _R._ Send forth Thy Spirit, etc.