First Prelude: Enter the holy assemblage in the Supper Room and note the fervor and reverence with which the disciples pray in union with the Blessed Mother of God.
Second Prelude: O Holy Ghost, Thou Divine Teacher, I pray Thee quicken my zeal and support my prayer with Thy all-powerful aid.
First Point
THE HOLY GHOST TEACHES US HOW TO PRAY
Jesus had promised His disciples that the Holy Ghost, Whom He would send, should teach them all things. He, the Spirit of Love and Truth, should give them to understand the lessons that the Divine Master had taught them during the period of three years. By means of His enlightenments and inspiration the Holy Ghost should continue to the end of time the wondrous work begun by the Eternal Wisdom. The sublimest and most exalted of all sciences is prayer, interior communion with God, and herein, in particular, the Holy Ghost would be our Teacher, Who would teach us to pray according to the Words of St. Paul: “As it behooves us and sustains our weakness by the sweet unction of His divine grace.” We will revert to Him, therefore, with unbounded trust, as often as we go to prayer, imploring His assistance that we may know what is good and wholesome for us.
We can, indeed, pronounce the words of the Lord’s Prayer or the Divine Office; but without the grace of the Holy Ghost we are not of our own strength capable of a single pious thought. Being incompetent of ourselves to pray with devotion, with attention and fervor, let us ask the Holy Spirit to purify our heart. Should we not, therefore, heed the injunctions of our Holy Rule when it exhorts us to commence our daily task and the chief exercises of devotion with an invocation of the Holy Ghost? The Holy Ghost in a very special manner is a Master of interior prayer, for through Him it is given us to comprehend the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. He elevates the truly humble soul to the knowledge of the eternal truths, as the author of the Imitation says: He teaches us contempt of earthly things, implicit and unbounded trust in Him, that we may desire naught save Him, and love to labor for Him and His interests. How prudent and happy are souls that hearken to the voice of their Divine Master Who would teach them how to pray! What a rapid transformation will the Spirit of Holiness effect in their hearts! What facility will they acquire in confiding, trustful prayer!
Second Point
THE HOLY GHOST PRAYS IN AND FOR US
It would not suffice for the Holy Ghost to enlighten and assist us in prayer: He would pray in and for us, as St. Paul observes, with inexpressible groanings. Our Blessed Saviour is our advocate with the Father, as St. John assures us: “But if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Just” (1 John 2, 1). The Holy Ghost speaks in us, writes the Apostle: “For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of the Father, that speaketh in you” (Matt. 10, 20). Oh, what efficacy will attach to our prayers if the Holy Ghost Himself prays with us and in us! Let us consider, however, that He will impart His gracious assistance only to such as zealously co-operate with His grace. He will assist our weakness and supply our deficiency. We must, therefore, make every effort to render our heart a pleasing abode to the Spirit of Holiness, by fervor in prayer and by perfect submission to the holy Will of God. If we spare no pains, the Holy Ghost will aid us in the measure of our exertion, and impart to us that tender filial piety which elevates us to the most intimate union with the highest Good and constitutes our sole happiness. What a consoling thought! The Holy Ghost, the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, Himself prays in us! Must not such a thought animate and quicken our faith, strengthen our hope and inflame our heart anew with the fire of Divine Love? Let us abase ourselves profoundly in His holy Presence, and be circumspect lest we grieve Him by our coldness and tepidity!
Was I not frequently guilty of irreverence and lack of devotion in prayer, utterly forgetful of the debt I owe the Divine Majesty?
Affections: Most adorable Holy Spirit, how grateful ought I be to Thee for having bound Thyself to pray for me and to assist my unworthy prayers! Why have I been so unmindful of Thy holy presence? Why have I so seldom had recourse to Thy infinite goodness for help in my misery and utter inability? With humble and contrite heart I acknowledge my fault and entreat Thy pardon. Full of reverence and childlike trust, I will henceforth say: “Lord, teach me how to pray.” Let me understand the words my lips utter,—penetrate my heart, with a holy ardor, quicken my faith, strengthen my hope, and inflame anew the fire of divine love, that it may consume whatever would hinder the bountiful operations of Thy grace.
Resolution: I will invoke the Holy Ghost with special fervor before every prayer and in all difficulties beg His assistance.
Spiritual Bouquet: “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Thy Love.”
Prayer: Our Father…
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