TODAY’S RESPONSORIAL PSALM (PSALM 15)

R. Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you.

1. Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you.
I say to the Lord: “You are my God.”
O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup;
it is you yourself who are my prize. (R.)

2. I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel,
who even at night directs my heart.
I keep the Lord ever in my sight:
since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm. (R.)

3. And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad;
even my body shall rest in safety.
For you will not leave my soul among the dead,
nor let your beloved know decay. (R.)

4. You will show me the path of life,
the fullness of joy in your presence,
at your right hand happiness for ever. (R.)

ALLELUIA

Alleluia, alleluia!
I will send you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord;
he will lead you to the complete truth.
Alleluia!

 

WHEN WE OPEN OURSELVES TO THE SPIRIT, THE DIVINE SUN BEGINS TO DO ITS HEAVENLY WORK

THE ETERNAL GOD CAUSES THE SOUL TO BLOSSOM FORTH AND TO PRODUCE GOOD FRUIT OF VIRTUE; AND THE JOY IN THAT SOUL NO TONGUE CAN TELL.

And yet the soul remains cold and hard, for although the sun grows warmer, it is yet far from summer’s clear and genial light. But soon all is changed.

THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The divine sun begins to do its heavenly work in the well-prepared garden of the soul. When, therefore, the genial sun of God’s grace begins to shine brightly upon this well-cultivated garden, all the soul’s inner and outer faculties being fully prepared, all its higher and lower tendencies directed towards heaven, then indeed the sweet flowers of May begin to bloom, and all the welcome gifts of summertime.

The eternal God causes the soul to blossom forth and to produce good fruit of virtue; and the joy in that soul no tongue can tell. For now the Holy Spirit is there, and his brightness shines directly upon the soul, yea, into its inmost depths. Well may he now be called the true Comforter, since his influence is so delicious.

O HOW GREAT A JOY!

O how great a joy! O how rich a feast, the sweet odours of whose nourishing food excite the soul’s deepest longing! These are granted in every plenty of enjoyment to the rightly prepared soul by the gentle Spirit of God. One drop of this divine comfort is worth more than all the joys of created things put together; and it overpowers and quenches all longing for them whatsoever.

DWELLING FOREVER IN THE JOY OF THE SPIRIT COMFORTER

When a man feels this action of the divine comforter so wonderfully great and so unexpected, he would gladly sink down into its depths and rest and slumber in it for ever. He feels like Saint Peter at the Lord’s Transfiguration; it is good for him to be there, and he would set up three tabernacles of joy out of one drop of the happiness now granted him, and there dwell for ever.
– Fr Johann Tauler, 14th century