First Prelude: Unite yourself most intimately with your Blessed Mother and the disciples in the Supper Room in devout prayer awaiting the coming of the Holy Ghost, the Teacher and Dispenser of all holiness.
Second Prelude: O Holy Spirit, make me receptive for Thy holy inspirations, and generous in complying with them, that under Thy divine guidance I may advance rapidly on the path of holiness.
First Point
THE HOLY GHOST WOULD LEAD US TO SANCTITY
It is the mission of the Holy Ghost not only to govern and preserve the Church from all harm to the end of time, but, through His grace, to render her fruitful in works of holiness and sanctity. He desires to bring forth in the Church saints and children of God. He would form apostles who will spread the Church in all the world,—martyrs, who, by their blood will testify to the purity and truth of her doctrine,—teachers, who will enlighten her by their knowledge,—and hosts of elect, who, by their virtuous lives, will be a source of edification and will constitute her glory and renown. He desires to erect in every soul the edifice of sanctification and justice according to the infinite plans of the Eternal Wisdom. How marvelous! The great God in His incomprehensible mercy condescends to guide and direct the human soul and thus render her worthy of her lofty destination! He asks for admittance into our hearts by means of holy inspirations, and if we lend Him a willing ear, He will enter, take possession of our hearts, and diffuse heavenly light and grace. He attracts souls by the sweet unction of His grace, vouchsafes them a realization of the beauty and lovableness of virtue and sanctity, and imparts strength for the execution, of the once recognized good.
Again, He warns and admonishes thoughtless and distracted souls, reproves unfaithful souls with a holy severity, and in punishment deprives them of the light and comfort of His holy presence. He is a prudent Teacher, Who deals with souls according to their disposition, zealously eager to have His lessons well taken to heart; a tender Father, Who is deeply concerned in the welfare of his beloved children, and Who will exhaust Himself to render them truly happy. How enviable are those whom the Holy Ghost has in early youth led into His school, and trained to sanctity under His watchful eye! Oh that all who have been called to religious perfection, and whom the Holy Ghost assists with so many special inspirations, would adequately treasure such happiness, and in a spirit of gratitude faithfully correspond to His tender solicitude and love!
Am I mindful that every good thought, every inspiration, every desire for perfection, is an inspiration of the Holy Ghost? To the practice of which virtue does He impel me most frequently?
Second Point
IT IS OUR DUTY TO FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY GHOST
“Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God” (Sph. 4, 30) said the Apostle, “by resisting Him.” He guides by divine inspirations only souls who have surrendered themselves to Him, and advances them in perfection in the measure of their fidelity. How solicitous should we, therefore, be to hear and heed His voice, and generously make all the sacrifices, however difficult they may be, that are inseparable from the faithful discharge of our duties! Would we perceive the promptings of the Holy Ghost, we must retire into the solitude of our hearts, and listen with a docile mind to the voice of grace. Happy the souls, we read in the Imitation, who hear the Lord in the depths of their heart. Blessed the ears that are closed to the world but attentive to the interior lessons of truth. Attention to the promptings of the Holy Ghost must be accompanied by fidelity and perseverance in doing good, for what should His direction profit those who entirely, or in part, neglect to follow them! His graces would only be a cause of new and graver responsibility.
Oh, that we would realize the danger of abusing the proffered grace! St. Teresa was shown the place in hell that was to be her doom provided she would continue to resist the grace of God, when it demanded of her the combat of vanity and self-love. Had St. Anthony ignored the grace offered Him through the reading of the gospel, he should not have become a holy anchoret and wonder-worker. The Holy Ghost loves strong and noble souls, who obey His voice unhesitatingly, cost what it may. To what progress will He not incite them on the path of perfection!
Am I attentive and docile to the voice of the Holy Spirit?
Affections:
O Holy Spirit, Thou Lover of purity and Dispenser of all sanctity! Thou seekest noble and docile souls who labor and struggle courageously for love of Thee. Oh, that I had always lent an attentive and reverent ear to Thy loving admonitions! What progress in virtue should I have made, and what happiness and blessed peace should now be mine! Pardon me, O Holy Spirit, for having suffered the precious spark of Thy Divine Love to die out in my heart. Forsake me not on account of my infidelities! Do not cease to speak to my soul. I will henceforth obey Thy sweet voice and surrender myself wholly to Thy divine guidance.
Resolution:
I will heed the inspirations of the Holy Ghost and make the sacrifices He requires of me.
Spiritual Bouquet:
“Come Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of the faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Thy divine Love.”
Prayer: Take, O Lord…
(Indulgence of 300 days, once a day. — Pope Leo XIII, May 26, 1883.)
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