MARY AND THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
3. The Effects.
a) All were filled with the Holy Spirit. How generously is that same gift of God lavished upon us. Altissimi donum Dei! What a transformation He works in souls! Look how the Apostles instantly change into other men. A few days ago they cowardly fled; or, like St. Peter, denied Christ; or, like the disciples of Emmaus, doubted the words of the Master; or, like St. Thomas, would not believe. But now no longer cowards they have become courageous and brave; from weak and frightened they are strong and unconquerable; from ignorant and rough into docile and wise; from petty and jealous, preoccupied about the first places of honor, into hearts burning with ardent charity. What an extraordinary, a miraculous transformation!
b) And they began to speak. That is to say, to preach, to labor for souls, to give them a share of the same gift they themselves had just received. It is characteristic of the charity of the Holy Spirit to spread good to all. Note, however, that in order that the activity may be fruitful, it must be inspired and directed by the Holy Spirit.
c) They preached the great things of God. --These souls so filled with God could not speak of anything else. Of what would the Apostles speak once they were set on fire and inspired by the Holy Spirit? And do you also like to speak of the things of God? You can thereby gauge the measure of the Spirit of God within you. The spirit of the world leads you to talk of lowly and earthly things. The spirit of self-love induces us to talk only of ourselves. The Spirit of the Lord leads us to behave as the Apostles did.
[Excerpted from 'MARIAN MEDITATIONS' Book by Rev. Dr. Ildefonso R. Villar, Salesian Philippine Province, Nihil Obstat; Imprimatur]
3. The Effects.
a) All were filled with the Holy Spirit. How generously is that same gift of God lavished upon us. Altissimi donum Dei! What a transformation He works in souls! Look how the Apostles instantly change into other men. A few days ago they cowardly fled; or, like St. Peter, denied Christ; or, like the disciples of Emmaus, doubted the words of the Master; or, like St. Thomas, would not believe. But now no longer cowards they have become courageous and brave; from weak and frightened they are strong and unconquerable; from ignorant and rough into docile and wise; from petty and jealous, preoccupied about the first places of honor, into hearts burning with ardent charity. What an extraordinary, a miraculous transformation!
b) And they began to speak. That is to say, to preach, to labor for souls, to give them a share of the same gift they themselves had just received. It is characteristic of the charity of the Holy Spirit to spread good to all. Note, however, that in order that the activity may be fruitful, it must be inspired and directed by the Holy Spirit.
c) They preached the great things of God. --These souls so filled with God could not speak of anything else. Of what would the Apostles speak once they were set on fire and inspired by the Holy Spirit? And do you also like to speak of the things of God? You can thereby gauge the measure of the Spirit of God within you. The spirit of the world leads you to talk of lowly and earthly things. The spirit of self-love induces us to talk only of ourselves. The Spirit of the Lord leads us to behave as the Apostles did.
[Excerpted from 'MARIAN MEDITATIONS' Book by Rev. Dr. Ildefonso R. Villar, Salesian Philippine Province, Nihil Obstat; Imprimatur]
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