In particular He wishes to bestow on us the Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost. The very name of “Gift” shows that we are not expected to acquire those excellent qualities by our own exertions. They may be compared to the sails attached to a boat, or to the steam or electricity propelling a machine. It is thus the Holy Ghost makes the practice of virtue easy for those who implore His assistance. Have we not all experienced this in many ways? In particular in embracing the religious state? What God has begun in us He will not desist from, provided in the future as in the past we co-operate with His graces. _POINT III. What co-operation does the Holy Ghost expect from us?_ We have seen that the sanctification of the soul comes chiefly from the Holy Ghost. Yet He ordinarily requires our co-operation. In what does this consist? 1. In complying with the inspirations of His grace. This supposes that we carefully avoid all wilful sins. By mortal sins we would drive Him entirely from our souls; by deliberate venial sins we oppose His work, turning to creatures and attaching ourselves to them, thus opposing His efforts to unite our will with God’s, in which union sanctity consists. By indeliberate venial sins also we resist His influence, but to a less degree. Yet we must also strive to diminish their frequency. Then acting on the promptings of grace, we shall perform a multitude of virtuous acts, by which the Holy Spirit will advance us to ever higher sanctity. 2. Our co-operation consists in the second place in the fervor of our prayers, that is in all manner of direct intercourse with God by any of our spiritual exercises, or by aspirations after God or His gifts, uttered in the midst of distracting occupations. For these direct dealings with God are the ordinary means which He provides for the supply of light and strength to the soul, enabling it to lead a fervent and faithful life. Our prayers become all the more efficient in this regard when they are combined with the sacramental graces derived from confession, Holy Communion, the Holy Mass or visits to the Blessed Sacrament. Am I thus faithfully and fervently co-operating with the influence of the Holy Ghost? What can be improved? _Colloquy_ with the Holy Ghost, asking what efforts He desires on our part, and grace to make those efforts. TRIDUUM E MEDITATION I Preparation for the Triduum _1st Prelude._ Imagine you see the graveyard of the Novitiate. _2nd Prelude._ Ask grace to view all things as those buried there view them at present.