Although the three adorable Persons of the blessed Trinity, concur unanimously in the sanctification of our souls, our spiritual regeneration, and all the graces we receive from heaven, are, nevertheless, attributed more especially to the operations of the Holy Ghost; because these favours being the effects of God's love towards us, we acknowledge him as the author of them, who is the love of the Father and the Son.
It is inconceivable what blessed effects this divine Spirit produces in the souls of such persons as oppose no obstacles to his operations. What abundance of light and strength doth he not communicate by his seven gifts, and those fruits and beatitudes which peculiarly flow from his bounty, if, with fidelity and attention, we are docile to his inspirations!
Let us then rejoice at being under the conduct of so wise and beneficent a guide; let us continually study the motions of our hearts; let us follow those which the Holy Spirit produces, and which alone can vanquish every evil inclination excited in us, either by the corruptness of our nature, or the machinations of our spiritual enemy; let us dread nothing so much as to resist, or desire nothing so much as to preserve his grace; or, if we have incurred the misfortune of losing it by sin, let us have immediate recourse to the sacrament of reconciliation, by which we may regain it, and live more attentive to our spiritual welfare in [the] future.
A Prayer To The Holy Ghost.
Author of the sanctification of our souls—Spirit of Love and Truth! I adore thee as the primary source of my eternal happiness; I thank thee as the sovereign dispenser of the benefits I receive from on high; I invoke thee as the beneficent giver of that portion of light and strength, which thou knowest to be necessary for me in the practice of good works. Spirit of Wisdom! enlighten my understanding, fortify my will, purify my heart, regulate all its motions, and grant me an attentive docility to all thy holy inspirations.
Pardon, O Spirit of Grace and Mercy! pardon my continual infidelities, and the unworthy blindness with which I have so often refused to correspond with the most tender and moving inspirations of thy grace. I purpose for the future, with thy assistance, to cease to be rebellious, and to follow the motions of thy grace with so much docility, that I may be enabled to taste those fruits, and enjoy those beatitudes, which are produced in our souls by the influence of thy sacred gifts. Amen.
Tuesday.
We ought to have such profound sentiments of respect, gratitude, love, and confidence, towards our Guardian Angels, as the dignity of their nature, their tender care of us, and the solicitude they conceive for our welfare, require. Let us then incessantly invoke their assistance; let us consult them in all our undertakings; let us frequently beseech them to procure the joint intercession of the heavenly host, their companions in glory, in our behalf; but, above all, let us be particularly docile to their holy inspirations.
A Prayer To Our Guardian Angel.
O holy Angel, whom God, by the effect of his goodness, and the tender regard of my welfare, hath charged with the care of my conduct; who doth assist me in all my wants, and comfort me in all my afflictions; who supporteth me when I am discouraged, and continually obtaineth for me new favours; I return thee profound thanks, and conjure thee, most amiable protector! to continue thy charitable care and defence of me against the malignant attacks of all my enemies. Keep me at a distance from all occasions of sin. Obtain for me the grace of hearkening attentively to thy holy inspirations, and of faithfully reducing them to practice. Protect me in all the temptations and trials of this life, but more especially at the hour of death; and do not quit me till thou hast conducted me into the presence of my Creator, in the mansions of everlasting happiness. Amen.