Page:The Great Encyclical Letters of Pope Leo XIII.djvu/441



THE HOLY SPIRIT. 435

fulness and profusion." * The divine Spirit, proceed- ing from the Father and the Word in eternal light of sanctity, HimseK both Love and Gift, after having mani- fested Himself through the veils of figures in the Old Testa- ment, poured forth all His fulness upon Christ and upon His mystic Body, the Church; and called back by His presence and grace men who were going away in wicked- ness and corruption with such salutarj' effect that, being no longer of the earth earthy, they relished and desired quite other things, becoming of heaven heavenly. y

These sublime truths, which so clearly show forth the infinite goodness of the Holy Ghost towards us, cer- tainly demand that we should direct towards Him the highest homage of our love and devotion. Christians may do this most effectually if they will daily strive to know Him, to love Him, and to implore Him more earnestly; for which reason may this Our exhortation, flowing spontaneously from a paternal heart, reach their ears. Perchance there are still to be found among them, even nowadays, some who, if asked, as were those of old by St. Paul the Apostle, whether they have received the Holy Ghost, might answer in like man- ner: We have not so much as heard whether there be a Holy Ghost? At least there are certainly many who are very deficient in their knowledge of Him. They frequently use His name in their religious practices, but their faith is involved in much darkness. Wherefore all preachers and those having care of souls should remember that it is their duty to instruct their people more diligently and more fully about the Holy Ghost â€” avoiding, however, difficult and subtle controversies, and eschewing the dan- gerous folly of those who rashly endeavor to pry into divine mysteries. What should be chiefly dwelt upon and clearly explained is the multitude and greatness of the benefits which have been bestowed, and are constantly bestowed, upon us by this divine Giver, so that errors


 * St. Aug. de Trin. 1. \\., c. 9. ' Acts xix. 2.