Responsory Spíritus Paraclitus

V. Spíritus Paraclitus, * Allelúja, allelúja. R. Spíritus Paraclitus, * Allelúja, allelúja. V. Docébit vos ómnia. R. Allelúja, allelúja. V. Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. R. Spíritus Paraclitus, * Allelúja, allelúja.

Since Whitsuntide has ended with the Office of None today, it would indeed be fitting to end this blessed season with a consideration of the Responsory that occurs in the Office of Sext in Whitsundtide, wherein our favorite verse occurs and wherein is to be found the most consoling mystery of the Holy Ghost, who teaches us all things with lux jucunda, lux insignis, the glad and singular light of which Adam of Saint Victor speaks in his celebrated Sequence.

Let us, however, allow Saint Hildegard, Prophetissa Spiritus Sancti splendoribus illustrata, the Prophetess enlightened by the splendors of the Holy Ghost (Ant. Mag., Vesp., Off. S. Hildegardis Virg., Breviarium Monasticum), to shows us the glorious workings of the Holy Ghost in her Sequence O ignis Spiritus Paraclite. The Saint calls Him Vita vitae omnis creaturae, the life of every creature's life. Whereas our first Parent Adam received the spiraculum vitae when the Lord formed him out of the slime of the earth (Gen. ii. 7), the children of Holy Mother Church receive the spiraculum sanctitatis, the breath of holiness, wherewith we are given a new and greater life, wherewith we are made partakers of the divine nature (II Pet. i. 4).

Our Blessed Lord declared I am the way, and the truth, and the life (St. John xiv. 6), and the Holy Ghost is also the way: O iter fortissimum, quod penetravit omnia, in altissimis, et in terrenis, et in omnibus abyssis, quum omnes componis et colligis (O Way most irresistible, that penetratest all things in the highest, and on earth, and in every abyss, ordering and unifying all things!). Thus Saint Hildegard gives us to undertand the power of the Holy Ghost, penetrating all things with His omnipotence and light, even the recesses of the human heart: Tu etiam semper, the Saint continues, educis doctos, per inspirationem sapientiae laetificatos (Thou ever leadest the learned, gladdened through the inspiration of wisdom).

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Ps. cx. x), wisdom lies in the holy dread of Our Lord as the Creator, Sovereign and Reedemer of every one of us, acknowledging our supreme and indissoluble duty to pay supreme worship to Him alone, to love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind (St. Matt. xxii. 37). Only when we love the Lord and His commandments can we gain the wisdom that the Holy Ghost brings.

Thus, with the light of the Holy Ghost, we can indeed love the precepts of the Lord above gold and the topazius (Ps. cxviii. 127). For wisdom is better than all the most precious things: and whatsoever may be desired cannot be compared to it (Prov. viii. 11). The things of this world cannot compare to the holy wisdom of the Lord: And if riches be desired in life, what is richer than wisdom, which maketh all things? (Wisd. viii. 5). The Holy Ghost can give this precious wisdom to us, the only wisdom that matters: the science of the Saints, the knowledge to gain eternal salvation.

O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God! How incomprehensible are his judgments, and how unsearchable his ways! (Rom. xi. 33) shall the Epistle of tomorrow's Mass declare! How wonderful is the clemency of God in the sacred mysteries of Whitsuntide! Let us, with Saint Hildegard, render our due worship to the Holy Spirit that teaches us the great Mystery we shall celebrate tomorrow: Unde laus tibi sit, qui es sonus laudis, et gaudium vitae, spes et honor fortissimus, dans praemia et lucis. Amen (Praise, then, be to Thee, Who art the sound of praise and joy of life, hope and honor most strong, giving the reward of light. Amen.)