July 13
Daily Gleanings of the Saintly LifeSaturday in Whitsun Week
(Ember Day.)
Renew a right spirit within me. Psalms 51:10.
LET us daily invite the Holy Spirit's presence by purity of action and purity of heart. For we ought to be so pure and cleansed in thought and feeling, to keep such watch over lips and heart, that we may make ourselves always worthy of His visitation, and be found free from all uncleanness of thought, seeing that "froward thoughts separate from God." Let us take pains to be free from all detraction and all malice, for into a malicious soul wisdom shall not enter, nor dwell in a body that "is subject unto sin." Through anger and pride are the souls of the negligent stripped of the Holy Spirit's watchful protection. Let us not then grieve Him by such passions; but rather through the grace of humility and gentle peace call Him to take His seat in our hearts, and gladden Him by our good works and our progress in piety; for He Himself says, "Upon whom shall I rest, save upon him that is humble, and quiet, and that trembleth at My words?" If we then desire to secure the entrance of so great a visitor, let us first cleanse the house of our soul from the unworthy passions of carnal lust, from abominable pride, from loathsome arrogance, from horrible lukewarmness. Let us therefore prepare this house daily for the coming of the sacred King, and adorn it with the varied flowers of an approved life. Let us fill it with the pleasant and precious odours of chastity, the incense of faith, the balsam of benevolence, and the fragrant fumes of charity; so that vices may be cut off and virtues planted, and thus we may be changed into the temple of God, that this blessed Guest, well pleased with so fair a lodging, may make in us His constant and perpetual abode. For this was the object of His descent to us, that we might be able to ascend to Him,
Brought forth from out a deep captivity.