21 MAY – TUESDAY IN PENTECOST WEEK

Dom Prosper Guéranger:

Yesterday we were admiring the work of the Holy Ghost by which He drew mankind to the Faith and Name of Jesus, to whom “all power was given in Heaven and on Earth” (Matthew xxviii. 18). The instruments used for this conquest were the Apostles and their immediate successors. The Tongue of Fire was victorious, and the Prince of this world was defeated. Let us continue our reflections and see the further workings of the Holy Spirit for the glory of the Son of God, who had sent Him into the world.

Our Emmanuel came down from Heaven that He might effect the union He had desired from all eternity. He began it by uniting our human nature to His own divine Person, but this personal union did not satisfy His love. He mercifully deigned to invite the whole human race to a spiritual union with Himself by giving her to become His Church, His own dearest “One” (Canticles vi. 8), as He calls her — His “glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle, but holy and without blemish” (Ephesians v. 27). But how could mankind, deformed as it was by sin, be worthy of such an honour? His love would make it worthy. He tells us that this Church is His Spouse (Matthew ix. 15; xxv 6; Mark ii. 19; Luke v. 34; John iii. 29), and thus chosen, He beautified her in the laver of His own Precious Blood and gave her, in dowry, the infinite merits He had acquired.

Thus prepared, her union with Him was to he of the closest. Jesus and his Church are one body. He is the Head, she is the aggregate of the Members united together under this one Head. Such is the teaching of the Apostle: “Christ is the Head of the Church: We are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones” (Ephesians v. 23, 30). This Body is to be formed of all who will in each successive age be faithful to the call of divine grace and enrol themselves as children of the Church. The world we inhabit is to be preserved till the last elect required to complete the mystic body of Jesus will be added to the Church Triumphant: then, all will be consummated. The divine Mystery of the Incarnation will have achieved its whole work.

But, as in the Incarnate Word there was the invisible Soul and the visible Body, so also the Church was to have a Soul and a Body: a Soul whose hidden beauty no eye but God’s can fully see (at least during her earthly sojourn) and a Body which is to be visible to men — an ever-living proof of God’s power, and of His love for the human race. Up to the Day of Pentecost, the just who had been united under Jesus, their head, had belonged only to the soul of the Church, for the body was not then in existence. The heavenly Father had adopted them as His children. The Son of God had accepted them as His members, and the Holy Ghost (who is now about to work exteriorly), had interiorly wrought their election and sanctification. The new order of things is to begin in Mary’s person. As we have already explained, the Church in its entirety, that is both soul and body, resided first in Her. It was but fitting that she who was as truly the Mother of the Son of God according to His Human Nature, as the heavenly Father was His Father according to the Divine Nature, should be superior to all other members of the Church, and this not only in the high degree of grace, but also in the precedence of time.

When our Saviour gave His Church an existence outside the loved sanctuary of His Mother’s Heart, He with His own hands set the Foundation Stone (Peter the Rock). He raised up the Pillars, and we have seen how He spent the forty days before His Ascension in organising this Church, which was then so small, but which was afterwards to cover the whole Earth. He told His Apostles that He would be “with them all days even to the consummation of the world” (Matthew xxviii. 20). It was the same as telling them that even after His Ascension into Heaven, His Church was to continue on Earth, even to the end of time.

He left the plan, thus begun by Himself, to be perfected by the Holy Ghost. It was necessary that this Holy Spirit should come down from Heaven in order to strengthen those whom Jesus had chosen as His Apostles. He was to be their Paraclete, their Comforter, in the absence of their Master. He was to be the Power from on high, who was to serve them as armour in their future combats. He was to remind them of all the words spoken to them by Christ. He was to give fruitfulness by His own action to the Sacraments which Jesus had instituted, and over which the Apostles had power, because of the character impressed upon them by this Holy Spirit. It is on this account that Jesus said to His Apostles: “It is expedient to you that I go. For if I go not, the Paraclete will not come to you” (John xvi. 7). We have seen this Divine Spirit on the Day of Pentecost producing His effects on the Apostles and Disciples. Let us now see His action in the creation, maintenance and perfecting of this Church, which Jesus has promised to assist, by His mysterious presence, even to the consummation of the world.

The first operation of the Holy Ghost in the Church is the election of its members. This right of election is so especially His prerogative that, as we learn from the Scriptures, it was by the Holy Ghost (Acts i. 2) that Jesus chose the Apostles, who were to be the pillars of His Church. We have seen how this Holy Spirit began His Mission on the Day of Pentecost by the election of three thousand Jews. A few days after, five thousand were added to the number, being converted by the preaching of Peter and John (Acts iii. And iv. 4) The Gentiles also, were called to the Church, and the Holy Ghost having led Peter to Cornelius the Centurion, descends upon this Roman and his household, thus declaring them to be elected as candidates for holy Baptism.

The Liturgy put this history before us in the Mass of yesterday. We seem able to keep pace with these first workings of the Holy Spirit, but the sequel is all impetuosity —divine rapidity of action —irresistible conquest. He sends forth His Messengers: “their sound goes forth into all the Earth and their words to the ends of the world” (Psalms xviii. 5). He goes before them. He goes with them. He works the victory while they speak. We come to the commencement of the third century, and we find a Christian writer (Tertullian) addressing mhe Magistrates of the Roman Empire in these words: “ We are but of yesterday, and we abound everywhere — in your cities, in your towns, in your camps, in the palace, the senate, the forum.” Nothing can withstand the Spirit of God, and in less than three hundred years from the day of His first manifestation, He calls the very Emperors of Rome to be members of the Church.

Thus does the Spouse of Jesus advance in her beauty and strength. He looks on her from His throne in Heaven and tenderly loves her. In the early part of the fourth century the Church — the work of the Holy Ghost — exceeds the limits of the Roman Empire. Here and there, within this vast Empire, there are places where paganism is still rife, but they all know what the Church is, and the very hatred they bear her is a proof that they are aware of her progress.

But let us not suppose that the Mission of the Holy Ghost is limited to the founding the Church on the ruins of the great pagan empire. No, the Spouse of Jesus is to be immortal. She is to exist in every place and age. She is to be superior, both by the extent of her dominions and the number of her subjects, to every other human power. The Divine Spirit could not, therefore, suspend His Mission. The Roman Empire has merited by her crimes to be swept away by the inundation of barbarous nations: it is the preparation of a new triumph for the Spirit. He comes and works, invisibly and silently, amidst this huge mass: He has His elect there, and by millions. He has renewed the face of the pagan world. He renews the face of the world now that the Barbarians rule it. He chooses His co-operators, and right faithful are they. He creates new Apostles, and He selects them from all classes, for He is Master to do as he wills. Queens such as Clotilda, Bertha, Theodelind or Hedwiges are ready to do His biddings: they deck the Spouse of Jesus with their royal hands, and she comes forth to the world once more, younger and lovelier than ever.

There are, indeed, immense tracts of country in Europe not yet in the Church. It was necessary first to give stability to the work in those that had previously been Christian, and had been well-near submerged beneath the deluge of the invasion. But at the close of the sixth century the Holy Spirit visits Britain, Germany, Scandinavia and Sclavonia. He sends them Apostles such as Augustine, Boniface, Anscharius, Adalbert, Cyril, Methodius, Otho. By the labours of missionaries like these the Spouse is compensated for the losses she has sustained in the East where schism and heresy have encroached on her primitive inheritance. That Holy Spirit, who is God together with the Father and the Son, and has been sent by Them to defend the honour of the Spouse, is ever faithful to His trust.

Thus, when the so-called Reformation was preparing for Europe the great apostasy of the sixth century, the Paraclete was extending the glories of the Church in other Continents. The East Indies became the conquest of the Most Faithful Nation, and in the West a New World was discovered by and made subject to the Catholic Kingdom. The Divine Spirit, who is ever jealous to maintain the honour and entirety of the deposit entrusted to Him by the Incarnate Word, then raised up new Apostles to go and carry the Name of Jesus to these immense tracts of country which were to be added to the kingdom of His Spouse. Saint Francis Xavier was sent to the East Indies. His brethren, together with the Sons of Saint Dominic and Saint Francis of Assisi, laboured most perseveringly in preaching the Gospel to the people of the West Indies.

If, later on again, our Europe be misled by false theories and break with the Church. If this beloved Spouse of Jesus be betrayed and pillaged, calumniated and deprived of her rights by those very nations which she had protected for so many ages, as the most loving of Mothers — fear not: the Holy Ghost will add to her glories in some other way.

* * * * *

BE you blessed, then, Holy Spirit, who thus watches over the dear Spouse of Jesus! Thanks to your ceaseless and untiring action, she has never once failed. In every age you have raised up Apostles to enrich her by their conquests, your grace has been uninterruptedly inviting men to give themselves to her. In every nation and period you yourself have chosen the members of her happy and countless family. She is our Mother and we are her Children. She is the Spouse of our Divine Master to whom we hope to be united through her, so that by working for the glory of the Son of God who sent you, Holy Spirit, you have deigned to work for us poor sinful creatures. We offer you our feeble tribute of thanks for all these your benefits to us.

Our Emmanuel has revealed to us that you are to abide with us to the end of the world , and we now understand how necessary is your presence. It is you preside over the formation of the Spouse, that maintains her, that renders her victorious over her enemies, that earns her from one country to another when a people becomes unworthy to possess her, that avenges her when she is insulted, and all this you will continue to do to the end of time.

But this noble Spouse of our God is not to remain forever an exile from her Lord. As Mary was left for several years on the Earth in order that she might labour for the glory of her Son and was then taken up to heaven, there to reign eternally with Him, so likewise the Church is to remain Militant here below as long as God sees her to be needed for completing the number of His Elect. But the time will come, of which it is written: “The Marriage of the Lamb is come, and his Wife has prepared herself. And it is granted to her that she should clothe herself with fine linen, glittering and white; for the fine linen are the justifications of the Saints (Apocalypse xix. 7, 8), that is, the virtues of the Saints she has formed. In those days, the Spouse, ever comely and worthy of her Jesus, will grow no more, nay, she will decrease on Earth in proportion as her Triumphant glory is perfect in Heaven. The Revolt, spoken of by St. Paul (2 Thessalonians ii. 3), will show itself. Men will abandon her, side with the Prince of this world, who is to be let loose for a little while (Apocalypse xx. 3) and serve the Beast, to whom it will be given to make war with the Saints, yes, and to overcome them (Apocalypse xii. 17). The Spouse herself will not be degenerate during those her last days on earth, for you Holy Spirit, will still be with her, supporting her. But as soon as the last of the Elect will have been born, the Spirit and the Bride will say “Come!” (Apocalypse xii. 17). Then will Jesus appear on the clouds of Heaven. The Mission of the Spirit will be accomplished, and the Spouse leaning on her Beloved (Canticles viii. 5) will ascend from this ungrateful barren Earth to Heaven, where the eternal Nuptials with the Lamb await her.

Epistle – Acts viii. 14–17

In those days when the Apostles who were in Jerusalem had heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John. Who when they were come, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost. For He was not as yet come upon any of them, but they were only baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

Thanks be to God.

Dom Prosper Gueranger:

The inhabitants of Samaria had received the word of God through the preaching of Philip the Deacon. They had received, at his hands, the Sacrament of Baptism, which made them Christians. This reminds us of the dialogue between Jesus and the woman at Jacob’s well, and of the three days that He spent in the city. Their faith is rewarded: Baptism has made them children of God and members of Christ their Redeemer. But they must also receive the Holy Ghost in the Sacrament that gives perfection to the Christian character. The Deacon Philip has not power to confer it on them: Peter and John who are invested with Episcopal authority visit them and complete their happiness. This event makes us think of the grace bestowed on us by the Holy Ghost when He strengthened our souls by the Sacrament of Confirmation. Let us thank Him for this favour which brought us into closer union with Himself, and gave us the courage needed for confessing our Faith before heretics or tyrants.

Gospel – John x.1–10

At that time Jesus said to the Pharisee: “Amen, amen, I say to you: he that enters not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up another way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that enters in by the door, is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter opens; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. And when he has let out his own sheep, he goes before them: and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. But a stranger they follow not, but fly from him, because they know not the voice of strangers.” This proverb Jesus spoke to them. But they understood not what he spoke to them. Jesus therefore said to them again: “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All others, as many as have come, are thieves and robbers: and the sheep heard them not. I am the door. By me if any man enter in, he will be saved; and he will go in, and go out, and will find pastures. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I am come that they may have life, and may have it more abundantly.”

Praise be to you, O Christ.

Dom Prosper Gueranger:

The Church's motive for putting this passage of the Gospel before the Neophytes of Pentecost was to put them on their guard against a danger which might probably occur in after years. At present they are the favoured Sheep of the Good Shepherd Jesus, represented by men to whom He Himself has given the charge to feed His Lambs. These men have received their mission from Peter, and he who is with Peter, is with Jesus. But it has not infrequently happened that false Shepherds have got into the fold. Our Saviour calls them thieves and robbers. He tells us that He Himself is the door through which they must pass who can claim the right to feed His sheep. Every Shepherd, if he would avoid the imputation of being a robber, must have received his mission from Jesus, and this mission cannot be given save by him whom Jesus has appointed to be His Vicar and Representative, until He Himself returns.

The Holy Ghost has poured forth His divine gifts on these new Christians, but the virtues that are in them cannot be meritorious of eternal life unless they continue to be members of the true Church. If, instead of following the lawful Pastor, they were to be so unhappy as to go after false Pastors, all these virtues would become barren. They should, therefore, flee, as they would from a stranger, from any guide who has not received his mission from the Master, who alone can lead them to the pastures of Life. During the past centuries, schismatical Pastors have risen up from time to time: the Faithful were bound to shun them: we, who are living now, should take seriously to heart the admonition here given us by our Redeemer. The Church He has founded, and which He guides by his Holy Spirit, is Apostolic. The mission of those Pastors alone is lawful who are sent by Apostolic authority, and whereas Peter lives in his Successors, the Successor of Peter is the source from which alone can come pastoral power. He who is with Peter is with Christ.