Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 8, 22 February 1923, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR. February 25, Sunday.—Second Sunday in Lent. „ 26, Monday— the Feria. „ 27, Tuesday.— the Feria. ~ 28, Wednesday.—Of the Feria. March 1, Thursday.—Of the Feria. „ " 2, Friday.— the Feria. „ 3, Saturday.Of the Feria. «P "THE SPIRIT ALSO HELPETH OUR INFIRMITY." All that creatures possess on earth or in heaven, whether in the order of nature or of grace, comes to them from the Holy Ghost, the Infinite Love of the Eternal Father and His co-eternal Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Towards the Holy Ghost, therefore, ought all of us to turn our minds and hearts that He may impart His saving grace together with His light and strength to enable us to keep God's commandments, the precepts of Holy Church, and to fulfil in a state of grace the ordinary duties of our state of life in a worthy manner. This is the devotion— is the duty obliging all of us-, and this is, or should be, the daily exercise of all who expect to be saved. By the exercise of true and constant devotion to the Holy Ghost given us to be our Sanctifier we shall honor and glorify Jesus Christ and our Father Who is in heaven. We cannot become holy or sanctified without the grace of the Holy Sanctifier, but it is God's will that we do become holy, for, says St. Paul, "Thine is the will if for your sanctification." It is foolish, therefore, to expect to be able to please God and to do His holy will without the aid of the Holy Ghost. If, therefore, there were no other reason why all men should cultivate devotion to the Holy Ghost this one grave reason is quite sufficient in order to induce them to take up this holy duty. But "the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity." If only we had a clearer insight and knowledge of our own nothingness and misery we would judge ourselves unworthy of God's favors and the esteem of men, and at the same time attribute to God the gifts of body and of mind which He has freely bestowed upon us. Moreover, we would acknowledge that which the Holy Church teaches— that we cannot believe in God, or hope in God, or love God, or have true contrition for our sins without the saving frrace of the Holy Ghost. By having true and constant devotion to the Holy Ghost we acknowledge this teaching of Holy Church. °

“We know not what we should pray for as we ought —but the Spirit Himself asketh for us with unspeakable groanmgs.” When we pray, inspired by the Holy Ghost our prayers are certain of being heard. ’ We know not the Way, the Truth, and the Light bui through the Holy Ghost for it is He who leads unto Jesus. He speaks to us the truth taught us by Jesus, and He the Spirit of Christ, makes us to live in Christ, and Christ our Lord to live in us unless, as St. Paul remarks, we be reprobates.”

We are so infirm that, of ourselves, we are unable to pronounce the adorable Name, Jesus, as we ought without the aid of the Holy Ghost, and yet we are bound to keep the ten commandments of God. We are obliged to observe the precepts of the Church, and we are to imitate Christ's holy virtues. How can this be done unless the Spirit of Sanctity and of Fortitude comes to our aid ? Strive, therefore, to have, from now onwards through life, true and constant devotion to Him, for then God will "give you a new heart, and put a new spirit within you." "I will put My Spirit in the midst of you and I will cause you to walk in My commandments" (Ezechiel xxxvi. 27).

Grains of Gold A CRY FOR HELP. Stay, Lord! beside me—danger night and day Is hovering near; Redeemer, with me stay! Too frail my barque to strive 'gainst storm and wave; Lord, be my pilot, cheer me, guide and save! ■ Look! how the tempest flies o'er sky and sea, Help! help 'mid perils! stay, oh! stay with me! .