"The divine Saviour appearing to His disciples after His resurrection, and showing them His wounds, as so many furnaces whence proceeds the living flame of love, as the hollow place in the rock whence issues the dove, says: 'Receive the Holy Ghost.' He says not, as St. Cyril remarks, receive the grace of the Holy Ghost, but receive the Holy Ghost in person. He imparts it to them as the fruit of His prayers and tears, His sufferings and death. . . .
The year is the course of the sun in the heavens, and the life of Jesus Christ is the course of the Sun of Justice on earth. His suffering life is the season of winter; His resurrection, the springtime, when all things are resuscitated; His ascension, the summer; but autumn, which is the harvest, is the mission of the Holy Ghost, the fruit of the death of Jesus Christ, the end and crown of His admirable life." Fr. Noel, Meditations.
CALL TO ACTION: Pray for the Gift of Holy Fear.
The gift of Fear fills us with a sovereign respect for God, and makes us dread nothing so much as to offend Him by sin. It is a fear that arises, not from the thought of hell, but from sentiments of reverence and filial submission to our heavenly Father. It is the fear that is the beginning of wisdom, detaching us from worldly pleasures that could in any way separate us from God.
Source of quotation: "Fountain of Living Water" by Rev. A. A. Lambing LL.D., pages 174-175; Fr. Pustet & Co. Publishers and Booksellers (copyright 1907); Nihil Obstat: Remigius Lafort, S.T.L., Censor; Imprimatur: John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York
Photo by Linda Christiansen