XXX — GOING TOWARD THE HOLY SPIRIT

Presence of God. — Come, Holy Spirit, take hold of me by your action and lead me to God.

Meditation

1 — Considering gifts of Holy Spirit and beatitudes that are their fruits, we understand ever better with what wonderful riches God has endowed us. From day of Baptism every Christian possesses these precious gifts. Therefore it is not rash to desire they develop in us to full maturity, so that our soul may be wholly taken over by action of Holy Spirit.

Indeed, by this desire we go to meet God’s own desire, who gave us these gifts precisely so we might be moved and guided by his Spirit, “for whosoever are led by Spirit of God, they are sons of God” (Rom. 8:14). And if we desire to be true children of God, does not heavenly Father desire it immeasurably more, He who for this very end created us and raised us to state of grace?

Let us then launch our souls into great desires. No, it is not too much, not rash, not presumption. God wills it: voluntas Dei, sanctificatio vestra (1 Thess. 4:3), this is will of God, our sanctification! But lest our desires be vain, let us apply ourselves with increasing generosity to dispose our soul for action of Holy Spirit.

Let us be convinced that before making us taste God and his divine union, divine Paraclete must perform in us work of deep purification. As green wood cannot be penetrated by fire unless first dried and purged of its dampness, so soul cannot be seized and transformed by fire of divine love unless first purified of all imperfections.

Let us therefore be disposed to undergo courageously this indispensable purification. Better still, let us try to anticipate it ourselves by cutting without pity all threads still binding us to earth, and above all those binding us to self-love and pride.

“O humility, humility!...” exclaims Teresa of Jesus. “Fault of those who do not advance [in spiritual ways] lies all here,” in lack of humility, “because humility is foundation of building, and Lord will never raise it very high unless this virtue is truly well established” (M. III, 1, 7; 2, 8; VII, 4, 8).

2 — To generosity, detachment, and humility let us join fervent prayer to invoke work of Holy Spirit. Let us raise our supplications with very words of hymn:

Veni, Creator Spiritus ... Accende lumen sensibus, infunde amorem cordibus, infirma nostri corporis virtute firmans perpeti.

In darkness of our senses we need interior light. May divine Spirit come and, kindling this light in us, make us know God by loving contemplation of his greatness. We need charity. May He come and infuse it into our hearts, often so dry and cold because full of self-love and egoism. “The charity of God is poured forth in our hearts by Holy Spirit” (Rom. 5:5). Only from Him can we receive it.

We need fortitude to conquer ourselves, to face difficulties, to remain serene and generous. May He come to sustain us with his gifts, and we shall no longer follow foolish demands of self-love. We shall no longer be so frightened or impressed by suffering and difficulties; we shall no longer lose peace so easily amid contradictions. Strong in his strength, we shall maintain that interior balance and serenity enabling us to be always generous, always in act of giving ourselves totally to God.

Hostem repellas longius, pacemque dones protinus ...

When Holy Spirit has led us to that perfect balance which is holiness itself, we shall have nothing more to fear from devil. Evil one will flee far away, and if at times he still succeeds in troubling us, he will be able to reach only threshold of sensitivity, while under valid protection of Holy Spirit bottom of our soul will remain in peace.

Full balance and perfect peace are characteristics of life of union with God. Holy Spirit will introduce us and make us progress in this union, even to entering sanctuary of intimate life of God, Trinitarian life. This is most beautiful fruit of his action in our souls: exquisite fruit, pledge of eternal glory, fruit that will mature perfectly in heaven, in beatific vision of our most beloved God.

Colloquy

“O Holy Spirit, You draw, so to speak, from glory of Father a most bright and shining ray of glory, and from Incarnate Word a most burning and piercing dart of love, to enlighten and darken, to wound and heal, to enkindle and refresh, to humble and dazzle, to make glorious creatures who receive You in their hearts and make them walk in love. Who can tell what and how many your influences are? They are so many, so many that they are without number.

“But where do You go infusing your gifts and graces? Into souls You find disposed. These You renew and lead to understanding of God. What is it then, my God, that deprives soul of your Spirit? It is perverse self-love, source and origin of every sin. Alas, I see well how world lies submerged and drowned in self-love! One with intellect, another with memory, another with will, another with whole soul goes sinking in it.

“And what displeases You most, O God, is that this perverse self-love dwells also in your ministers and your spouses. Let us not think disorder of our self-love, of our own will, is small. Mountains of enormous sins are not needed; grain of these defects — which seem small and are not — suffices to hold back flow of this swift river and ocean of grace!

“O Holy Spirit, purify, purify whole world; purify my soul of self-love so it may return there no more!” (cf. St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi).

“O Holy Spirit and Sanctifier, almighty God, essential love of Father and Son, adorable bond of august Trinity, I adore and love You with all my heart. Inexhaustible source of graces and love, enlighten my mind, sanctify my soul, inflame my heart. God of goodness and mercy, come to me: visit me, fill me, remain in me. Make of my heart a temple and living sanctuary where You may receive my adorations and homage and find your delights.

“Source of living water springing up unto eternal life, irrigate and water my soul thirsting for justice. Sacred fire, purify me; grant that I burn with your flames and that they never be extinguished in me. Ineffable light, enlighten me; perfect holiness, consecrate me; Spirit of truth, without You I am in error; Spirit of love, without You I am ice; Spirit of unction, without You I am dryness; Spirit of life and giver of life, without You I am in death.

“O divine Spirit, make sweet violence to my heart to engage it to desire You, seek You, love You, and possess You in time and eternity. Amen” (Fr. Aurillon).