Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/297

 II. If Christ  wished  His  Apostles  to  prepare  themselves in  this  manner  for  the  reception  of  the  Holy Ghost, how  much  more  necessary  is  it  for  those,  who have embraced  the  same  vocation,  to  remain  in  solitude and retirement,  and  to  prepare  themselves,  by  the  continual contemplation  of  divine  things,  for  their  office, until "  they  be  endued  with  power  from  on  high?" (Luke xxiv.  49.)  Imitate  the  fervor  of  the  Apostles,  in preparing  yourself  for  the  reception  of  the  divine  spirit; pray with  the  Royal  Penitent,  "  Create  a  clean  heart  in me,  O  God,  and  renew  a  right  spirit  within  my  bowels," (Ps. 1.  12.)  and  be  convinced  that  no  one  can  be  saved, without the  influence  of  the  Holy  Ghost.

III. The coming  of  the  Divine  Spirit  was  delayed  ten days, in  order  that  we  might  learn  to  expect  with  patience, the  coming  of  the  Lord,  whose  presence  in  our souls, though  of  short  duration,  will  abundantly  recompense every  delay. "God by  delaying,"  observes  the pious St.  Augustine,  "  increases  our  desire;  by  our  desiring, He  enlarges  our  hearts,  and  makes  them  more capacious."

I. Consider  the  causes,  which  induced  the  Divinity  to communicate  the  Holy  Ghost  to  mankind. The first was the  infinite  goodness  of  God,  "Whoso  loved  the world,  as  to  give  His  only  begotten  Son." (John iii.  15.) Although the  world  had  treated  this  only  begotten  Son so ill,  God  nevertheless  for  our  advantage  was  determined to  send  the  Holy  Ghost  "  to  teach  us  all  truth." (John xvi.  13.)    The  second  cause  was  the  prayers  and