Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/298

 merits of  Christ. " I  will  ask  the  Father,"  he  says, "and He  shall  give  you  another  Paraclete." (John xiv. 16.)  The  third  motive  was,  to  perfect  the  work  of  our redemption by  bestowing  on  us  the  gifts  of  his  divine grace, thus  enabling  us  to  obtain  heaven.

II. Nothing can  be  more  excellent  or  divine  than  this gift, for  it  is  nothing  less  than  God  Himself. " The charity  of  God  is  poured  out  into  our  hearts,  by  the Holy  Ghost,  Who  is  given  to  us." (Rom. v.  5.)  With Himself, therefore,  He  gives  us  all  good  things,  for  the Holy Ghost  is,  as  the  Church  sings,  "the  bestower  of gifts,  and  the  light  of  our  hearts." " He  that  believeth in  me  (as  the  Scripture  saith),  out  of  His  belly  shall  flow rivers  of  living  water.  Now  this  He  said  of  the  Spirit, which  they  should  receive,  who  believed  in  Him." (John vii. 39.)

III. To whom  is  this  divine  Spirit  given? First, to poor,  illiterate  fishermen;  for  God  is  the  Father  of  the poor, "and  His  communication  is  with  the  simple." (Prov. iii.  32.)  Secondly,  He  is  given  to  all  faithful souls, who  fervently  desire  this  gift. " I  will  pour  out My  spirit  upon  all  flesh,"  says  God,  by  the  prophet  Joel. (Joel ii.  28.)  Pray  therefore,  with  a  fervent  desire,  and prepare yourself  worthily,  in  order  that  this  divine  guest may come  and  abide  with  you  forever.