July 10
Daily Gleanings of the Saintly LifeWednesday in Whitsun Week
(Ember Day.)
The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God. 1 Corinthians 2:14.
If a parent bestows property on a child, it is of no avail unless he provides him also with a guardian. So the Paraclete is to the regenerate in Christ a Guardian and a Comforter. Therefore by the Holy Spirit in baptism we are regenerated unto life, after baptism we are confirmed for the conflict; in baptism we are nourished, after baptism we are strengthened. What the Apostles gained by the coming of the Holy Spirit, our Lord Himself clearly explains: "When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth." When the Holy Spirit is infused, the faithful heart is expanded to prudence and constancy. Accordingly, before the descent of the Holy Spirit, the Apostles are driven by terror even to denial; but after His visitation they are armed with indifference for their own safety, even to martyrdom. Hereby we learn that we are redeemed by Christ, but it is by the Holy Spirit that we are illuminated with the gift of heavenly wisdom, are built up, are taught, that we may be able to hear that voice of the Holy Spirit, "I will give them understanding, and instruct thee in the way in which thou shalt go." It is from the Holy Spirit that we receive the gift of being made spiritual. It is from the Holy Spirit that we receive the intelligence to discern between good and evil, to love what is righteous, to reject what is unrighteous. It is from the Holy Spirit that we receive the power of being enkindled with the love of life and the ardour for glory, so as to be able to lift up our minds from things earthly to things heavenly and Divine.
Thou my mind dost raise To airs of spheres, yes, and to Angels' lays.