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from them, God with them, and fulfilling in our regard a mission of peace, and mercy, and love, as our "Lord and Life Giver," imparting to us, and maintaining in us, that spiritual life here on earth, which is to be the forerunner of the life eternal awaiting us hereafter in Heaven.

Consult "Projets d'Instructions" par M. Guillet, Inst. cxviii. Preparation to receive the Holy Ghost. See Third Lesson, Feast of Pentecost, Breviary. Read the Liturgy of the Church for the Vigil, Feast and Octave of Pentecost, to select suitable phraseology for the subject, also Butler's "Feasts and Fasts "—Whitsuntide.

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In our previous discourse we considered, as well as our feeble understanding enabled us, what the Holy Ghost is in Himself, as also what He is in reference to the other two Divine Persons of the Most Holy Trinity. We, moreover, entered on the consideration of what He is with regard to mankind. In this latter view of the Holy Ghost we saw how He fulfils towards us a mission of goodness, mercy, and charity, revealing to us the hidden things of God, thereby providing us with that heavenly food, which is contained in the Divine word. We saw further how He imparts to us those dispositions of heart and soul necessary, on our part, in order to benefit of the additional good furnished by the sacraments and prayer; and we announced, but had not time to develop, the large share He had in the establishment, and continues to have in the government of the Church, which is to preserve for mankind until the end of ages the blessings of our redemption. We, therefore, take up this portion of the mission of the Holy Ghost as our subject for this evening. But feeling our great deficiency of understanding in presence of a subject so high and holy, let

us have recourse to the Divine Spirit Himself for light and succour, saying, &c.

[Here recite some appropriate stanza or two of the "Veni Creator."]

BODY OF THE SUBJECT.

1. The mission of the Holy Ghost in establishing and ruling the Christian Church commenced even with the Incarnation, when Mary pleaded for her virginity, saying: "How shall this be done, because I know not man?"—(Luke, i. 34). The Archangel replied: "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”—(Luke, i. 35).

Follow on by adducing the fact of the Descent of the Holy Ghost on our Lord at His baptism; our Lord's promises (John, xiv. 26—xvi. 7), (Matt. x. 20); all which recite continuously, as if all announced together.

2. The fulfilment of these promises in the Descent of the Holy Ghost. Describe this mystery, and the effects produced on the Apostles and first Christians, as stated in the Acts of the Apostles. Relate specially the facts of Ananias, (Acts, v.); of Philip, (Acts, viii.); mission of Saul and Barnabas, Acts xiii.); the Council of Jerusalem, quoting the words, "For it hath seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay no further burden upon you than these necessary things," &c. (Acts, xv. 28.)

3. The organisation of the Church, by a distribution of gifts, so, that as in the natural body there are several members with their various functions, so likewise in the Church various offices are appointed; (quote 1 Cor. xii.), as far as necessary to bring out the conclusion, (Eph. iv., 11). Add that this organisation took form in the process of time, early in the fifth century, so that the Church in her government consisted

thenceforth, first, of Pope at the head of all; secondly, Patriarchs; thirdly, Primates; fourthly, Archbishops, or Metropolitans; fifthly, Bishops; sixthly, Priests.

Observe that if the organisation of the Church appear to have been slow, we should recollect, according to the words of St. Peter, that " a thousand years with the Lord are as a single day," (2 Pet. iii. 8.)

4. Proceed to observe the constant superintendence of the Holy Ghost over the Church, to keep her from error in faith and morals. First, in the infallibility of the Pope (Vatican Council). Secondly, in the infallibility of General Councils (Acts xv. 28). Thirdly, in the infallibility of the Church, dispersed according to the promise of our Divine Lord, "That the gates of hell should not prevail against it," (Matt. xvi. 18). In these various ways does the Holy Ghost preserve and maintain the Church, "reaching from end to end mightily," (Wisd. viii).

CONCLUSION.

Conclude by acts of thanksgiving to the Holy Ghost for His share in building up the Church of Christ, and the providence with which He rules over her, guarding her from error, and guiding her in justice and holiness "for the perfecting of the saints," &c. (Eph. iv. 12, 13.)

Consult Theology; also Guillet's "Projets d'Instructions," Inst. xxviii. Also read the Liturgy of the Church for the Vigil, Feast and Octave of Pentecost, in order to find appropriate phraseology for the subject. Also consult Butler's "Feasts and Fasts," Whitsuntide.

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We have seen that the works of Divine mercy, love, and goodness are ascribed to the Holy Ghost. On this account the sanctification of our souls being preeminently a work of Divine mercy, love, and goodness, that work is in a special manner the office of the Holy Ghost. Hence St. Paul says-"The charity of God is poured forth in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, who is given to us" (Rom. v. 5). This charity of God is, in other words, the grace of God, or the means of our sanctification, which, as it is imparted to us, becomes "a fountain of living water springing up into life everlasting." Therefore, after considering the work of the Holy Ghost in reference to the Church at large, it will be more than interesting to bestow some thoughts on the action He exercises on the souls of the faithful, individually, for their sanctification. How deeply concerned are we not in this subject? Our eternity depends upon it, for, as we hope to be glorified in the life to come, we must be in a state of sanctification, or, as we may otherwise say, in a state of grace, leaving this life.

[Engage attention, and ask a blessing.]

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