Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/785

 the holy  Sacraments  also  He  makes  use  of  outward  and  visible  signs, by which  He  imparts  inward  and  invisible  graces  and  gifts.

The wonderful  workings  of  the  Holy  Ghost  were  made  manifest; i. in  the  apostles  themselves,  and  2. in the  people.

1. The  uneducated  fishermen  of  Galilee,  who  had  so  often  misunderstood our  Lord,  were  suddenly  illuminated,  so  that  they  were  able  to understand  the  great  truths  of  the  Christian  Faith,  and  to  expound  the prophecies contained  in  Scripture. They, who  had  been  so  timid,  were all at  once  filled  with  courage  and  holy  zeal,  and  boldly  confessed  their faith in  Jesus  Christ,  before  thousands  of  people. Peter, who  but  a short  time  ago  was  afraid  to  confess  his  faith  before  a maid-servant, now openly  preached  faith  in  Him  who  was  crucified  and  who  had risen from  the  dead.

2. The  very  people  who  seven  weeks  before  had  cried  out:  “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”  were  now  impelled  to  believe  in  our  Lord  and repent of  their  share  in  His  crucifixion,  and  were  received  by  holy Baptism into  His  Church. So wonderfully  can  the  Holy  Ghost  transform the  hearts  of  men!

The effects  and  necessity  of  grace.  How  came  it  that  the  words  of Peter  made  such  an  impression  on  his  hearers? How came  it  that  the Jews, who  but  a short  time  before  cried  out  in  their  frenzy  against  our Blessed Lord:  “Crucify  Him! Crucify Him!”  were  suddenly  converted and were  ready  meekly  to  do  whatever  the  apostles  prescribed? The reason was  that  the  Holy  Ghost,  with  whom  Peter  was  filled,  enlightened with His  grace  the  understanding  of  those  who  heard  his  words,  and moved their  hearts  and  wills  to  believe  and  to  do  what  was  right. He enlightened the  understanding  of  the  unbelieving  Jews  by  His  grace, to enable  them  to  believe  in  the  Godhead  of  Jesus  Christ,  by  means of His  Resurrection  and  Ascension,  by  the  Descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost and the  gift  of  tongues. He moved  their  hearts  to  repent  of  their wickedness towards  Jesus,  for  Scripture  says:  “They  had  compunction in their  heart”;  and  He  moved  their  wills  to  humbly  ask  the  apostles: “Brethren, what  shall  we  do?”  This  question  of  theirs  proved  that  they desired to  do  what  was  right,  and  they  proved  their  good  intention  by doing  penance  and  being  baptized. If the  Holy  Ghost  had  not  enlightened and moved  the  hearts  of  the  hearers,  St.  Peter’s  discourse  would  have borne no  fruit.

Resistance to  grace.  All  the  assembled  Jews  were  witnesses  of  the gift of  tongues,  all  heard  the  mighty,  rushing  sound,  and  all  heard St. Peter’s  inspired  discourse; but  not  all  were  baptized,  some  remaining obstinate and  satirical. These men  resisted  grace,  because  they  hated Jesus and  were  resolved  not  to  believe  in  Him.

Pentecost (fifty days  after  Easter). In the  liturgy  of  the  Church  the season of  Pentecost  lasts  till  the  end  of  the  ecclesiastical  year,  in  the  same