_Colloquy_ with our dear Lord, asking eagerly for light and grace, and laying before Him special resolutions and earnest supplications that we may improve. MEDITATION V The Holy Ghost Sanctifies Us _1st Prelude._ Listen to the words of Christ: “I will ask the Father and he shall give you another Paraclete” (St. John xiv, 16). _2nd Prelude._ “Come, O Holy Ghost, replenish the hearts of Thy faithful.” _POINT I._ It is a great consolation to us to remember that we are not expected to work out our perfection by our own power. _The Holy Ghost is to be the principal agent in this work of sanctification_; for St. Paul wrote: “The charity of God (and this is sanctity) is poured forth in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, who is given to us” (Rom. v, 5). See what He did in the Apostles, in the early Christians generally, what he has done in all the Saints, in the faithful throughout the ages, and in particular in religious, whom He has selected and separated from the world to make them masterpieces of holiness. Conceive eager desires of His gifts and a firm confidence in His assistance. Beg earnestly for His light and grace to advance in virtue. _POINT II._ _How does the Holy Ghost sanctify us?_ Not in a miraculous way, in which He sanctified the Apostles, but by a gradual process: 1. By the Sacraments, Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Penance He has been working in our souls from our early infancy. Make earnest acts of thanksgiving, for these Divine graces already received. 2. By our spiritual exercises, our meditations, attendance at Mass, examinations of conscience, visits to the Blessed Sacrament, spiritual readings, vocal prayers of various kinds; during which the Spirit of God enlightens us, suggests holy resolutions, encourages and strengthens us to make generous sacrifices. Thus we have gradually been formed, to some extent, into spiritual men. If we are not yet more spiritual, it is because we did not sufficiently comply with the inspirations of the Holy Ghost, but resisted His efforts to sanctify us further, like those to whom St. Stephen said: “You always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so you do also” (Acts vii, 51). 3. The Spirit of God sanctifies us by assisting all our efforts to advance in virtue, aiding us to believe, to hope, to love God, to practise charity to the neighbor, humility, prudence, mortification, etc.