The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-07-22
THE GRACE OF THE HOLY GHOST.

The priest, before Daptizing an in
FAINT says: 81 exercise thee, every un-
clean spirit, in the name of the ON
nipotent God the Father 4 and in the
name of Jesus Christ His Son Our Lord
and our Judge i. and in virtue of the
Holy Spirit + that thou depart from
this image of God there the priest
mentions the names of the child about
to be baptized), which Our Lord has
deigned to call unto His holy temple,
so that it may become the temple of
the living God, and His Holy Spirit
may come and dwell therein. Through
the same Christ Our Lord, Who will
come to Judge the living and the dead
and the world by fire.-Amen."
At Baptism, therefore, we are made
to be temples of God and the dwelling
place of Gods Holy Spirit Would you
know why? Because of our utmost
need of Him to make us holy unto God,
to preserve us on our journey through
life always in this state of sanctifying
grace, that we be ever ready to meet
God at any moment of our life, to en-
tighten our mind in all things neces-
sary for us to see the way which leads
to heaven, to protect and defend us
from the enemies OF our soul, chief
among whom is the devil; to feed and
nourish our souls through prayer-be-
cause without this help we cannot pray
as we ought-and the worthy reception
of the Sacramento instituted by Jesus
Christ, which holy Sacraments we also
cannot worthily receive without His
helping grace. Are there many who
think of this when preparing for Con-
fession and Holy Communion? In
coming to us at Baptism the Holy
Ghost seals, and marks us out among
countless other souls, as belonging to
Jesus Christ, member of His Church
and as the adopted child of God our
Father Who is in Heaven, wherein a
place is there awaiting us through the
merits of Christ, and which place we
shall most certainly occupy in the life
to come, if only we do not evict the
Holy Spirit, the pledge of our Redemp-
ton, by knowingly and of our own free
will consenting to a mortal sin, and
depart this life in this unhappy state.
Yet, it may be truly said that even
should a soul be so ungrateful as to
evict, by mortal sin, the Holy Spirit Of
God, even then He is goodness, love,
and mercy itself to that poor sinner.
For, as a bird driven from it's nest by
a serpent hovers near to return, SO the
Heavenly Dove, the Holy Spirit, is ever
nigh, ready to return to that soul, if
only it will repent and amend
Well may the Royal Psalmist say:
20, how good and sweet is Thy Spirit,
o Lord of all things
Why, therefore, should not all have a
great love for the Holy Spirit of God,
Who by His presence enables our soul
to live in the grace and friendship of
God? Because you are sons, God
hath sent the Spirit of His Son into
your hearts, crying: Abba, Father +"
Why not, then, by the help of the
sweet Spirit of Jesus abiding in us, do
we not always mention and every
where do the works of God, since we
are sons of od?-that is to say, works
or actions that are just and holy.
Christ said to the Jews on one occa-
sion, IF you are children of Abraham,
do the works of Abraham"
1t must be admitted that those who
fail to live in this manner do so be-
cause they separate themselves from
Gods Holy Spirit. Seldom or never
even giving Him passing thought,
they seldom or never raise up to Him
in prayer their mind and heart They
ask not-therefore they receive not
the grace and assistance of which they
always and everywhere stand in need.
1t is written. Thou shalt love the
Lord thy God with thy whole heart
etc. Well, in order that we may OBJ
serve this, the greatest of all COM
mandments, we are told in Holy
Writ ''the charity of God is poured
forth in our hearts by the Holy Ghost,
Who is given us" Take notice that
the Holy Spirit of the Father and the
Eternal Son is the Person itself of
Divine Charity; having Him, there
fore, we by Him both can, and do,
love God in manner most pleasing
and worthy of Him.
BY the love or the charity of the
Holy Spirit of God abiding in US, we
can do all things pleasing to God and
make it our delight, always and every
where, to honor and praise and give
glory to the Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost.
We are obliged to love our neighbor
also. Well, then, St Paul tells US
how, or rather the Holy Ghost Him
self, Who inspired this great Apostle
to write for our instruction. Ask him
how, and what is his reply? BY the
charity of the spirit serve one
another (Gal. V. 49,. There is no
other way than by the grace of the
Holy Spirit Yet how can we expect
Him to help us if we neglect Him?
They, however, do not neglect Him
who strive to show devotion to Him
No cause for wonder need there be
at the GOODNESS Of charity one towards