Letter, Sala Balust no. 35. To a lady, on the feast of Pentecost

God grant you to realise the happiness of Whitsuntide, not only by hearsay, but by experiencing in your heart what was felt by Christ’s faithful servants assembled in the Cenacle, when the Holy Ghost was poured into their souls. He so strengthened their weakness, enlightened their ignorance, and filled them with joy, that all could see that our Lord’s Blood had not been shed in vain, but had gained them, through His prayers, a participation in the divine nature. When they felt themselves thus transformed by grace, and saw how wonderfully God loved them, they had such an ardent love for Him, that they sang forth praises to Christ their Lord and Master, for having, as God, sent them this gift, which, as Man, He had earned for them. They remembered His promise that the Holy Ghost would come to make Him known, and bear testimony of Him to the disciples and the world, to teach all that every good comes through Him alone, so that all might feel bound to render Him service and gratitude, as their most true and generous Benefactor. Because of this they loved Him even better after His departure, than while He was amongst them, and felt so great an affection infused by the Holy Ghost into their souls for the Word of God, from Whom He proceeds and in Whom He reposes, that they fearlessly preached Him to the world, even at the cost of their lives.

If the mystery of this feast were accomplished in our hearts, we should be sure to celebrate its outward ceremonies well. Were our souls watered with but one drop from the mighty river which flows from the throne of God and the Lamb, it would quench in us all thirst for anything in this world, and remove the aridity and hardness which make us so dry, tepid, and miserable. How grateful should we feel to our Saviour for having redeemed us, and blotted out our sins and given us perfect joy instead of sorrow! Suffering, exile, the absence from those we love, the want of things we now think necessary, or other trials would no longer afflict us. So powerful is the fire of the Holy Spirit, that it mounts upwards, and gives us a love and trust in God that no water of sorrow or affliction can extinguish: it remains ever alight; it fills and inflames our hearts, burning away all evil, so that not even death can conquer him whose evil passions it has destroyed.

This is the beloved Guest, Who cured the wound which our Lord’s departure made in the hearts of those who loved Him, and filled the place He had left empty. If the Paraclete cOuld console them for the absence of Jesus, how much mote can He comfort us in any grief caused by the loss of creatures ! He is the Parent Wild cares so tenderly for the orphaned that He clothes them with power from on high, and sheltering them beneath His mantle, teaches them that there is One in heaven Whom they tnay dare, Without presumption, to call their Father. He raises the fallen, enlightens OUr darkness, warms what is frozen, brings back the erring, refreshes the Weary, and each day gives souls new strength to fly upwards, eVeti to the mount of God.

Surely such a wonderful gift should fill us With zeal, and make us give all out hearts* affections to purchase this precious pearl, which Is Our true treasure, and which alone can make us happy. All around we hear the tidings of His coming to ttien, and of His longing to dwell in their hearts. Let us not allow Him to pass by, but constrain Him to visit and comfort us that we may serve Him the better. He will need little entreaty; ask Him in our Lord’s name, for the Father sends Him through JesUs Christ His Son. It is our Savidur WhO Obtained for us poor mortal creatures; frail, impure and subject to many evils though We be* the gift of the Holy Spirit, Who is higher 1 above Us than the firmament is from the eatth. Our vileness could never have attracted Him. Our Redeemer, the Only-Begotteh of His Father in heaven, abased Himself to become Man on earth, and taking our weakness on Himself, suffered, toiled and gave His life, that the Paraclete, the Creator of all things, might deign to come to us, poor vessels of clay.

Let us then thank our Saviour, and rejoice in the fruit of His labours. Since, through His merits, the Holy Spirit wills to dwell within us, let us not be so ungrateful as to lose both of these favours, nor so foolish as to reject the Holy Ghost, Who deigns to become our Father and our Guide. We should go forth with love, to meet Him Who comes with love; we should feel an ardent longing to receive Him, for where He is much longed for, He gladly stays. Let us cry, with Isaias: “My soul hath desired Thee in the night: yea, and with my spirit within me in the morning early I wiU watch to Thee.” (XXVI. 9.) That soul “desires” the Holy Spirit by night, which in the time of sorrow puts no confidence in itself, but sighs to Him, as the Comforter of the afflicted and the Solace of all in pain: it “ watches for Him in the morning early,” when its first care is to provide a dwelling for this divine Guest, and to study how best to obtain this grace. If the Holy Ghost is thus eagerly desired and invoked, He will come, like our Lord, Who was the Desired of all nations, and will assuredly enter our hearts, for He loves those who long to possess Him.

Let us invite the Paraclete, then, by heart and voice, to dwell within us, and let us be sure we have some feast to offer Him when He comes. To please Him we must destroy our fleshly passions, for He detests them; we must mortify our own judgment, so that we can be taught by Him, for two people cannot govern a house well unless the wiser take control. We must also renounce our own will, which is the chief enemy of the Holy Spirit, Who teaches us to say “ Not my will, but Thine be done. ” (St. Luke. XXII. 42.) Let us too, cleanse our consciences by confession and penance from the slightest defilement, for this Heavenly Guest is a Lover of purity, and there must be nothing to offend Him in the place where He lodges : we must keep peace both with ourselves and with others, for even quarrelsome people hide their dissensions before a guest whom they wish to honour.

When this mighty King deigns to make our hearts His palace, we should close them to all else, and being recollected in His presence, not let our minds leave Him to wander elsewhere. We should worship Him with the deepest reverence, assuring Him that nothing shall ever make us desert Him, or be allowed to come between us. Then we shall enjoy Him as we ought, for He can give us a happiness of which nothing can deprive us. Then our sorrows shall be turned into joy, and we shall drink of the river of the delights of God until it inebriates us. It will be a great consolation to me to know that you are in the hands of Him Whp '(fill preserve, and teach, and save you eternally, and J beg of Him to take you under His protection.

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