Monday Meditation
The manner of the coming of the Holy Ghost was this. Upon the day of Pentecost, at nine o’clock in the morning (according to our account), the disciples being all together in a room—and as some think, and is most probable, in that great chamber where Christ had instituted and given them for their comfort his Body in the Blessed Sacrament—the Holy Ghost descended upon every one of them in particular, under the visible sign of tongues of fire. The tongues were bipartite, or cloven asunder, all but at the one end. It was done with a vehement wind, filling all the room with the din or noise thereof.
Whereupon the disciples were endued with those gifts which those visible signs signify: to wit, with the knowledge of speaking and understanding all tongues and languages of the world, and that very excellently well—being otherwise of themselves simple, illiterate, and unlearned men. This skill in all tongues and languages was signified by the tongues that descended upon them.In that the tongues were fiery was signified their fiery love of God, wherewith their hearts were inflamed. In that the tongues were cloven was signified their love not only to God, but also to their neighbour, for the love of God. In that these tongues came with a wind or breath was signified that the Holy Ghost inspired or breathed into their hearts the knowledge of all truth, which Christ promised he should suggest unto them. He therefore called the Spirit of verity, or truth; insomuch that Christ bid them not to be studious or solicitous what to say when they were questioned concerning their doctrine, for it should be given them in that very hour, to wit, by the inspiration and breathing of the Holy Ghost.
In that the wind was vehement was signified their vehement and admirable zeal and courage, wherewith they preached the Gospel with whatsoever danger and opposition, torments were joys to them, and death a banquet.With these gifts of the Holy Ghost the Apostles being armed and furnished, they went forth into all the world and planted the Gospel of Christ. They laid the first foundation of Catholic Religion. They are the Fathers of our Faith, without whom we had remained ignorant and out of the state of salvation, as Infidels and Pagans are.This benefit of the coming of the Holy Ghost upon the disciples, though it be past many hundred years in time, yet is it present to us in effect. Thankfulness for a benefit past oftentimes deserveth another at the hands of our bountiful God.
Let us therefore yield God most humble and hearty thanks for so great a benefit, and desire of him those gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost that the disciples had given unto them: to wit, knowledge of tongues—not to speak and understand all tongues and languages as they did (for that is not now necessary), but to order our tongues to speak aright to and of all other persons; also a fiery and ardent love of God and of our neighbour, for and in God; also a vehement zeal, and yet with discretion (for that is also a gift of the Holy Ghost), to the honour of God and the Saints in heaven, especially the Blessed and glorious Virgin Mary; also the knowledge of truth in matters of religion and service of God—not so as to expect to have it revealed or suggested into us in particular, nor to believe or presume any such matter of ourselves (for that is the ready way to error), but to be obedient unto the doctrine of the Catholic Church, united to her head, unto whom Christ promised the Holy Ghost to direct her into all truth; also all other gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost that are necessary for our salvation.
Of which gifts and graces there are many divisions, as St. Paul saith—yea, almost as many as there are men: one having them in one manner and in one degree, and another in another, and all from one Spirit, the Holy Ghost, dividing to every one as he will.
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