TWENTY-SEVENTH LESSON
Pentecost
or Whitsunday.
"The Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send, he will teach you all things. "—ST. JOHN 14:26.
My children, after Jesus Christ's Ascension the Apostles were cast down with sorrow. The absence of their kind Master grieved them so deeply, that nothing could console them. Nevertheless they waited with confidence the fulfilling of our Lord's last promise; I will not leave you orphans, had Jesus Christ said before ascending to heaven, I will send you from the Father the Paraclete, the Spirit of consolation.
No doubt, my clear children, this promise might have been fulfilled immediately; but God willed to wait a few days, and thus put the apostles' faith to the test; moreover, He desired that the descent of the Holy Ghost in their souls should be attended by such wonderful circumstances, as to make his power appear all the more transcendent in the sight of all nations.
Ten days had passed since the Ascension, the Apostles, shut up in the upper chamber with the blessed Virgin, who had wished to remain with them, had passed that time in prayer and pious retirement. Suddenly a noise is heard from heaven, like that of a high wind; it approaches: it fills the whole house in which the Apostles are assembled, There appeared then a shining light, which shaping itself into tongues of fire, rested on the head of each of the Apostles, and all were filled with the Holy Ghost. At the same time they received the gift of languages, that is to say, by a miracle of the divine Spirit, they knew all at once how to speak the different languages of all the nations to whom they were to go and preach the Gospel.
A less visible miracle, but a no less striking one, took place in their hearts. These men, so timid, so weak, so irresolute, who had so cowardly forsaken Jesus Christ at the time of his Passion, become steadfast, courageous, dauntless; and the Holy Ghost, who is also the Spirit of strength, gave them the courage required to accomplish, even at the risk of their lives, the divine mission entrusted to them.
We also, like the Apostles, are elected to receive the Holy Ghost with all his gifts, in the sacrament of Confirmation. On the day chosen for you to receive this sacrament, my dear children, you will not, indeed, see tongues of fire appear above your heads, but you will receive the spiritual grace, of which this miracle was the sign. You will not receive the gift of all languages, which would be useless to you; but God will vouchsafe to inspire you with the language you are to make use of under all circumstances, so as to render a due homage to religion, to truth, and never to be wanting in charity towards others. At that time, my children, you will receive detailed instructions on the sacrament of Confirmation; at present you can meditate on it with benefit to your soul; and it is particularly on this day that you ought to do so. In the first place, try to understand what is meant by receiving the Holy Ghost. It means to have our minds filled with the Spirit of God, who being a Spirit of Truth, of Holiness, and of Strength, should make us more upright, more pious, and more steadfast Christians.
This Spirit is infinitely superior to ours: and on that account gives us its supernatural strength. We are but as little children in the eyes of God, and just as a dutiful child, who in the ordinary occurrences of daily life, allowing himself to be guided by his parents, reaps the benefit of their experience, of their wisdom, and by degrees shakes off the weakness and ignorance of his infancy, so our soul, strengthened, enlightened, and transformed by the Holy Ghost, is enriched at last by the full enjoyment of his precious gifts.
The gifts of the Holy Ghost, that on this day he lavishes so abundantly on the Apostles are: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and the Fear of the Lord. These different gifts would be of great value to you, my children; ask them of God. Above all, pray him to grant you Wisdom, from which it is said all good deeds spring; also that Fortitude so necessary at your age, so that you may succeed in getting the better of your evil propensities, and work earnestly at the great doing of your salvation; and last of all Piety, by which you will learn to love prayer, and feel yourself truly happy in God's service.
May these holy sentiments penetrate deeply into your hearts, my dear children, for then indeed will the feast of Pentecost, like the good seed in the Gospel, bring forth fruit to a hundred fold, and you will be well prepared to receive hereafter the sacrament of Confirmation.
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