Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/784

 Church. He declared  in  the  presence  of  a hundred  and  twenty  of  the faithful that  another  apostle  must  be  chosen  in  the  place  of  Judas,  and they did  exactly  as  he  told  them,  without  seeing  any  pretension  or arrogance  in  his  thus  putting  himself  forward;  for  they,  one  and  all, knew that  our  Blessed  Lord  had  appointed  him  to  be  the  chief  pastor of His  Church.

Let us  see  what  virtues  were  exercised  by  the  apostles  and  disciples in the  history  of  the  election  of  Matthias,  and  in  their  conduct,  while waiting for  the  coming  of  the  Holy  Ghost.

1. Obedience, for  they  obeyed  our  Lord’s  command  to  remain  in Jerusalem,  until  He  should  send  the  Holy  Ghost.

2. Hope  (and  confidence),  for  they  trusted  the  word  of  the  Lord that He  would  send  the  Holy  Ghost,  although  He  had  not  told  them at what  time  He  would  come.

3. Piety, for  they  prayed  earnestly  and  perseveringly  that  the  Holy Ghost might  come.

4. Brotherly  unity, for  they  kept  together  in  unity  of  spirit.

The number  ( twelve ) of  the  apostles  (see  also  chapter  XXXI). So significant was  this  number  that  the  gap  made  by  the  apostasy  of  Judas had to  be  filled  up  before  the  Holy  Ghost  descended,  and  before  the preaching of  the  apostles  began.

Preparation for  the  Sacrament  of  Confirmation.  The  earnest  preparation made  by  the  disciples  for  the  Descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost  ought to serve  as  an  example  of  how  we  ought  to  prepare  ourselves  for  receiving the Sacrament  of  Confirmation.

The Holy  Ghost  was  sent  to  the  Church  to  maintain  her  in  her threefold office,  doctrinal,  priestly  and  pastoral,  and  to  impart  to  individual souls  the  graces  won  by  Jesus  Christ. He preserves  the  Church free from  all  error  in  the  exercise  of  her  doctrinal  office,  and  blesses the preaching  of  the  word  of  God,  making  it  penetrate  the  hearts  of men  for  the  improvement  of  their  lives. He works  in  the  priestly  office of the  Church  by  bestowing  grace  through  the  holy  Sacraments,  and by thus  enlightening,  sanctifying  and  strengthening  individual  souls. He protects and  governs  her  in  her  pastoral  office  by  giving  to  her  a supernatural vitality,  so  that  the  gates  of  hell  cannot  prevail  against  her.

The outward  signs  of  inward  graces.  The  effects  of  the  Holy Ghost were  signified  by  the  outward  signs  which  accompanied  His coming. Fire, which  enlightens,  warms  and  purifies,  and  under  the  form of which  He  descended,  was  intended  to  show  that  the  Holy  Ghost inwardly illuminated  the  apostles  (and  through  them  the  faithful)  with the light  of  faith,  inflamed  their  hearts  with  love,  and  purified  them from sin. The gift  of  tongues  proved  that  the  Holy  Ghost  could  make the uneducated  apostles  eloquent  in  speaking  to  the  hearts  of  men. In