These sublime truths, which so clearly show forth the infinite
goodness of the Holy Ghost towards us, certainly 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 manner:
"We have not so much as heard whether there be a Holy Ghost" (Acts
19.2). 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--avoiding, however,
difficult and subtle controversies, and eschewing the dangerous
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 and ignorance concerning matters of such moment may be
entirely dispelled, as unworthy of "the children of light." We
urge this, not only because it affects a mystery by which we are
directly guided to eternal life, and which must therefore be
firmly believed; but also because the more clearly and fully the
good is known the more earnestly it is loved. Now we owe to the
Holy Ghost, as we mentioned in the second place, love, because He
is God: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart,
and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole strength" (Deut. 6.5).
He is also to be loved because He is the substantial, eternal,
primal Love, and nothing is more lovable than love. And this all
the more because He has overwhelmed us with the greatest benefits,
which both testify to the benevolence of the Giver and claim the
gratitude of the receiver. This love has a twofold and most
conspicuous utility. In the first place, it will excite us to
acquire daily a clearer knowledge about the Holy Ghost; for, as
the Angelic Doctor says, "the lover is not content with the
superficial knowledge of the beloved, but striveth to inquire
intimately into all that appertains to the beloved, and thus to
penetrate into the interior; as is said of the Holy Ghost, Who is
the Love of God, that He searcheth even the profound things of
God" (1 Cor. 2.19; _Summ. Theol_., 1a, 2ae, q. 28, a. 2). In the
second place, it will obtain for us a still more abundant supply
of heavenly gifts; for whilst a narrow heart contracteth the hand
of the giver, a grateful and mindful heart causeth it to expand.
Yet we must strive that this love should be of such a nature as
not to consist merely in dry speculations or external observances,
but rather to run forward towards action, and especially to fly
from sin, which is in a more special manner offensive to the Holy
Spirit. For whatever we are, that we are by the divine goodness;
and this goodness is specially attributed to the Holy Ghost. The
sinner offends this his Benefactor, abusing His gifts; and taking
advantage of His goodness becomes more hardened in sin day by day.
Again, since He is the Spirit of Truth, whosoever faileth by
weakness or ignorance may perhaps have some excuse before Almighty
God; but he who resists the truth through malice and turns away
from it, sins most grievously against the Holy Ghost. In our days
this sin has become so frequent that those dark times seem to have
come which were foretold by St. Paul, in which men, blinded by the
just judgment of God, should take falsehood for truth, and should
believe in "the prince of this world," who is a liar and the
father thereof, as a teacher of truth: "God shall send them the
operation of error, to believe lying" (2 Thess. 2.10). "In the
last times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to
spirits of error and the doctrines of devils" (1 Tim. 4.1). But
since the Holy Ghost, as We have said, dwells in us as in His
temple, We must repeat the warning of the Apostle: "Grieve not the
Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed" (Eph. 4.30). Nor is it
enough to fly from sin; every Christian ought to shine with the
splendor of virtue so as to be pleasing to so great and so
beneficent a guest; and first of all with chastity and holiness,
for chaste and holy things befit the temple. Hence the words of
the Apostle: "Know you not that you are the temple of God, and
that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? But if any man violate the
temple of God, him shall God destroy. For the temple of God is
holy, which you are" (1 Cor. 3.16-17): a terrible, indeed, but a
just warning.
Lastly, we ought to pray to and invoke the Holy Spirit, for each
one of us greatly needs His protection and His help. The more a
man is deficient in wisdom, weak in strength, borne down with
trouble, prone to sin, so ought he the more to fly to Him who is
the never-ceasing fount of light, strength, consolation, and
holiness. And chiefly that first requisite of man, the forgiveness
of sins, must be sought for from Him: "It is the special character
of the Holy Ghost that He is the Gift of the Father and the Son.
Now the remission of sins is given by the Holy Ghost as by the
Gift of God" (_Summ. Th_., 3a, q. iii, a. 8, ad 3m). Concerning
this Spirit the words of the Liturgy are very explicit: "For He is
the remission of all sins" (Roman Missal, Tuesday after
Pentecost). How He should be invoked is clearly taught by the
Church, who addresses Him in humble supplication, calling upon Him
by the sweetest of names: "Come, Father of the poor! Come, Giver
of gifts! Come, Light of our hearts! O, best of Consolers, sweet
Guest of the soul, our refreshment!" (Hymn, _Veni Sancte
Spiritus_). She earnestly implores Him to wash, heal, water our
minds and hearts, and to give to us who trust in Him "the merit of
virtue, the acquirement of salvation, and joy everlasting." Nor
can it be in any way doubted that He will listen to such prayer,
since we read the words written by His own inspiration: "The
Spirit Himself asketh for us with unspeakable groanings" (Rom.
8.26). Lastly, we ought confidently and continually to beg of Him
to illuminate us daily more and more with His light and inflame us
with His charity: for, thus inspired with faith and love, we may
press onward earnestly towards our eternal reward, since He "is
the pledge of our inheritance" (Eph. 1.14).
Such, Venerable Brethren, are the teachings and exhortations which
We have seen good to utter, in order to stimulate devotion to the
Holy Ghost. We have no doubt that, chiefly by means of your zeal
and earnestness, they will bear abundant fruit among Christian
peoples. We Ourselves shall never in the future fail to labor
towards so important an end; and it is even Our intention, in
whatever ways may appear suitable, to further cultivate and extend
this admirable work of piety. Meanwhile, as two years ago, in Our
Letter _Provida Matris_, We recommended to Catholics special
prayers at the Feast of Pentecost, for the Reunion of Christendom,
so now We desire to make certain further decrees on the same
subject.