by Faith Central & Steve Welsh
“‘Through the Holy Spirit we are restored to paradise, led back to the Kingdom of heaven, and adopted as children, given confidence to call God “Father” and to share in Christ’s grace, called children of light and given a share in eternal glory.’ – St. Basil, De Spiritu Sancto ….”
“… when the Spirit of Truth blows where He Wills (cf. Jn 3:8) the words of each nation become common in the mouth of the Church. Since that day Showers of Charisms and Streams of Blessings have watered every desert and every wilderness (cf. Is 35:6), for in order to renew the face of the earth (cf. Ps 103:30), ‘God’s Spirit hovered over the waters’ (Gen 1:2), and to dispel the old darkness flashes of a new light appeared, while from the splendour of sparking tongues sprang the ardent Word of the Lord and His Fiery Destiny (cf. Ps 18:9), in which is found efficacy to enlighten and strength to burn in order to form minds and conquer sin.”
“We pray to the most kind Father through you, His only-begotten Son, who for us became Man, was crucified and Glorified, that He send us out of His Treasures the Spirit of Sevenfold Grace who rested upon you in all fullness: the Spirit, I say, of Wisdom … Understanding … Counsel … Fortitude … Knowledge … Piety, by which we may acquire a merciful heart; the gift of Fear, by which we may draw away from all evil and be set at peace by submitting in awe to Your Eternal Majesty. …”
“In the course of the ages two great revolutions have shaken the earth; we call them the two Covenants. The first one caused people to pass from idol worship to the Law, and the second, from the Law to the Gospel. A third upheaval is predicted: that which will transport us from below to above, whereupon there will be no more movement or disturbance. Now these two Covenants both share one same characteristic..: neither of them suddenly caused an instantaneous transformation… They were not to force but to persuade us. For what is imposed by force does not last…”