Page:The Great Encyclical Letters of Pope Leo XIII.djvu/429



THE HOLY SPIRIT. 423

life. For, in the redemption of the world, the completion of the work was by divine Providence reserved to the manifold power of that Spirit who, in the creation, adorned the heavens * and filled the whole world?

Now We have earnestly striven, by the help of His grace, to follow the example of Christ Our Saviour, the Prince of pastors, and the Bishop of our souls, by dili- gently carrying on His office, entrusted by Him to the apostles and chiefly to Peter, "whose dignity faileth not, even in his unworthy successor." ^ In pursuance of this object We have endeavored to direct all that we have attempted and persistently carried out during a long pontificate towards two chief ends: in the first place, to- wards the restoration, both in rulers and peoples, of the principles of the Christian life in civil and domestic society, since there is no true life for men except from Christ; and, secondly, to promote the reunion of those who have fallen away from the Catholic Church either by heresy or by schism, since it is most undoubtedly the will of Christ that all should be united in one flock under one Shepherd. But now that We are looking forward to the approach of the closing days of Our life. Our soul is deeply moved to dedicate to the Holy Ghost, who is the nfe-gi\dng Love, all the work We have done during Our pontiflcate, that He may bring it to maturity and fniitfulness. In order better and more fully to carry out this Our intention. We have resolved to address you at the approaching sacred season of Pentecost concerning the indwelling and mi- raculous power of the Holy Ghost; and the extent and effi- ciency of His action, both in the whole body of the Church and in the individual souls of its members, through the glorious abundance of His divine graces. We earnestly desire that, as a result, faith may be aroused in your minds concerning the mystery of the adorable Trinity, and espe-

' Job xxvi. 13. ' St. Leo the Great, Sermon ii., on the Anniversary of his Election.
 * Wisdom i. 7.