I receive the Holy Ghost : stories and prayers for my confirmation \Zon cr>kH - ft?o I 4.v>k{ pvQy-Kfc- a^n/o<273 ir and rayers Confirmation Elizabeth von Schmidt-Pauli I Receive the Holy Ghost • STORES AND PRAYERS FOR MY CONFIRMATION Translated from the German by Rev. Geo. M. Dennerle Verse Arrangement by Rev. John C. Rath CATECHETICAL GUILD ST. PAUL, MINN. Printed in U. S. A. I RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST This little book of stories and prayers is for boys and girls who are preparing for Confirmation. You will notice that it is divided into twelve days. Read the first nine days before your Confirmation. They will help you to prepare, as Mary and the Apostles prepared, for the coming of the Holy Ghost. The tenth day is for your Confirmation Day itself. The two days which follow are in thanksgiving, in order that your joy may not end too quickly. Read these stories and prayers to your parents or to your brothers and sisters at home. Some of you may not receive this book until the very day of your Confirmation. You may begin reading with the tenth day. Read the other eleven lessons after your Confirmation, as a reminder of all -the gifts the Holy Ghost brought to you. Now I would like to make a bargain with you children, far and near, who learn to love this little book. Won't we meet every year during the nine days before the feast of Pentecost? We can read over the stories and say the prayers together. We'll make our promise again of being true and faithful, and we'll receive new strength from the Holy Ghost. We need this strength very much, if we want to be on the side of God in these days when so many peo- ple are against Him. 3 CONTENTS Page Prayer to the Holy Ghost - 5 Noe and the Dove ------- 6 Jesus and the Dove - -- -- -- 9 The Promise - -- -- -- --13 Coming of the Holy Ghost - - - - - 15 Changed! - -- -- -- --19 Laying on of Hands - -- -- --20 The Indelible Mark ------- 24 Made Strong! - -- -- -- -28 Knights of Christ --------31 Your Confirmation Day ------ 36 Dove, Wind-Storm, and Fire ----- 40 Fruits - -- -- -- -- - 44 This English version has been made from the original "Ich empfange den Heiligen Geist", published by Herder & Co., Freiburg im Breisgau, 1932. Here and there we have taken the liberty of departing somewhat from the German text. Thus the prayers for the various days have been arranged in rhymed verse, and the hymn "Come, Holy Ghost" has been substituted for the "Freudenlied" on Confirmation Day. The prayers on the last two pages are not in the German original. Nihil Obstat: Floyd L. Begin, D.D., Censor Deputatus Imprimatur: -^Josephus Schrembs, Episcopus Clevelandensis Copyright 1941—Catechetical Guild — Printed in U. S. A. PRAYER TO THE HOLY GHOST Holy Spirit! Lord of light! From Thy clear celestial height, Thy pure beaming radiance give: Come, Thou Father of the poor! Come, with treasures which endure! Come, Thou Light of all that live! Thou, of all consolers best, Visiting the troubled breast, Dost refreshing peace bestow; Thou in toil are comfort sweet; Pleasant coolness in the heat; Solace in the midst of woe. Light immortal! Light Divine! Visit Thou these hearts of Thine, And our inmost being fill: If Thou take Thy grace away, Nothing pure in man will stay; All his good is turn'd to ill. Heal our wounds—our strength renew; On our dryness pour Thy dew; Wash the stains of guilt away; Bend the stubborn heart and will; Melt the frozen, warm the chill; Guide the steps that go astray. Thou, on those who evermore Thee confess and Thee adore, In Thy sevenfold gifts, descend; Give them comfort when they die; Give them life with Thee on high; Give them joys which never end — Amen. 5 NOE AND THE DOVE First Day Noe looked out of the window of the Ark. He was waiting for his dove. If it came back with a green branch in its mouth, Noe would know that some- 6 where a tree had lifted its head out of the high waters of the Flood. That would make Noe and his family happy. Very soon the water would disap- pear. There would be dry land again.. Look! What is that? Isn't it the white dove off in the distance? Can you see anything in its mouth? It is still too far away. But as it comes nearer—oh, no—there is nothing in its mouth. Noe knew there was no green tree to be seen. Still he trusted in God. He did not doubt. After some days, he again sent forth the dove out of the Ark. He looked out over the high waters of the Flood and waited. And all his family waited with him. One evening a white speck was seen in the sky. It moved nearer and nearer. "The dove! The dove!" cried all. And when it came quite close, they could see that it carried the twig of a tree with green leaves. They were the leaves of an olive tree. Noe fell to his knees* He thanked God, for he knew that the waters had gone down and soon the earth would be dry. After seven days, he sent the dove out a third time. If it did not come back, that would be a sign that it had found dry land on which to rest. And sure enough the dove did not come back. Noe opened the roof of the Ark and saw that there was dry land all about. So he and his family and the animals and birds went out of the Ark. He built an altar and gave thanks to God. Thus long, long ago, the good God made use of the dove as a messenger of peace and joy. 7 PRAYER FOR THE FIRST DAY Dear God, You cared for Noe in a very kindly way; I wonder, do You care for us so very much today? Poor Noe never called You Father, like we children do, For Jesus said that men are children who belong to You. A home to make him happy for a few short years of life, And children, too, the good God gave to Noe and his wife; But think about the promise that the future holds in store — A happy home in heaven with ' Our Father evermore! For needs of soul and body You have such a Father's care, That heaven's happy home above Your children soon may share. And now I hear the joyful news about the Holy Ghost You want to send to strengthen me who needs His help the most; I thank You, Father, for the joy You promise soon to give — The coming of the Holy Ghost to teach me how to live! \ 8 Amen. JESUS AND THE DOVE Second Day Jesus stood in the river Jordan. He was being baptized by St. John. As soon as He came out of the water, something very wonderful happened. John looked up into the blue sky. Suddenly the heavens opened. A dove flew down and rested over the head of Jesus. Jesus knew at once that it was not an ordinary dove of this earth. It was a dove that came with a message from heaven. God the Father could send 9 no more worthy messenger. Here in the form of the dove was the Holy Ghost, the Love of God, Who Himself came down upon Jesus. At the same time a voice spoke from heaven. It was the voice of God the Father. "This is My be- loved Son, in whom I am well pleased." All this was very wonderful. For the first time the Holy Ghost showed Himself to men. He showed Himself in the form of a dove, for otherwise the eyes of men could not have looked at His brightness. Do you know why the Holy Ghost chose the form of a dove? Wasn't it that we might learn that the Holy Ghost brings joy wherever He goes? \ 10 PRAYER FOR THE SECOND DAY Dear God, when I was baptized and my soul made white as snow, You must have looked from heaven at this world so far below, And said: "Behold My little child in whom I am well pleased!" On Confirmation Day my soul shall hear those words again, And know the Holy Ghost is come to make us like the men Who followed after Jesus and in whom God was well pleased! But tell me, God, what have I done to make You pleased with me? I've done so very little, but I promise now to be A better follower of Him in Whom You were well pleased! While from Your home in heaven You watch every girl and boy, And see the little things they do to give their Father joy, May I be always with the good in whom You are well pleased! Amen n Come to Me, all you that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you. 12 THE PROMISE Third Day When we love some one very much, we find many ways of showing that love. We put our arms around that person, kiss him, give him presents, do kind things to make him happy. Still we cannot tell all the love that is in our heart. Our words are too few and too weak. So the one we love must read it in our eyes or catch it from our heart. Long, long ago, people were able to read the Love of God in the eyes of Jesus. Persons who were sick and sad came to Jesus. He looked at them and made them healthy and happy. Others came who were wicked and weary. Jesus looked at them. His look made them good and glad. See how the Love of God spoke from the eyes of Jesus! But we cannot look into the eyes of Jesus. Jesus knew that. So before He left this world, He said to His friends: "I will not leave you orphans!" Jesus thought of everything. So He made plans that men could know the Love of God, even when they could no longer see Him. And that is why He said to His friends: "I will send you a Comforter—the Holy Ghost." He wanted the Love of God to be on earth always. But how was that to take place? The Apostles believed the word of Jesus. They knew He would keep His promise. So they waited and waited. 13 PRAYER FOR THE THIRD DAY Dear Holy Ghost, though heaven is so very far away That only prayers can reach it, yet I know that if I pray And wait for Jesus' promise to come true, He'll send to me Your own dear Self to raise my soul as close as it can be to heaven] Dear Holy Ghost, You see the things I do, both good and bad; The good things make You happy, but the others make You sad; So fill my heart with love that all may read it in my eyes, And know the God of Love, Whose Home is far beyond the skies — in heaven! Amen. \ 14 COMING OF THE HOLY GHOST Fourth Day The twelve Apostles with Mary, the Mother of God, and other friends of Jesus, were waiting in the 15 upper room of Jerusalem. Nine days they waited and prayed. They said to one another: "He promised us the Love of God . . . He will send us the Holy Ghost . . . When is the Holy Ghost com- ing?" And they kept on waiting; they kept on pray- ing. Still they noticed nothing. But their hearts opened wider and wider each day. When the heart is open wide, it can see more than the eye. Since the time that people could not read the Love of God in Jesus' eyes, they could get that Love only with their hearts. Nine days and nine nights have passed in that upper room. Listen! What noise is that? It is a sound from heaven, like the coming of a mighty wind. It fills the whole room. Mary and the Apos- tles tremble. They look up. Tongues of fire are just above them. Their hearts are all aflame. They fall to their knees in fear and joy. They know the Holy Ghost has come. Jesus has kept His promise. The great storm passed. The tongues of fire dis- appeared. The Apostles looked at one another, they looked at Mary—but they saw no special change. And yet each one knew: I am a changed person. Yes, different than I was before. The Love of God has gone through and through me. It has set fire to my heart. I know it is in me, never to leave me again. \ 16 PRAYER FOR THE FOURTH DAY Dear Holy Ghost, I cannot pray like Mary and the rest, Yet I shall try in everything to do my very best — Preparing for the day When You will come to stayl It makes me very happy just, to think that when You're near, I never will be lonely, nor have any cause to fear; For You will make me strong enough to keep from every sin, And always tell me what is right, that I may heaven win. And best of all, with You to help, when big things come along That I must do, I'll do them, for Your Love will make me strong — Come, Holy Ghost, I pray, Come help me on my way] Amen. 17 Thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build My Church 18 CHANGED! Fifth Day Peter acted the coward when he denied Jesus three times and said: "Truly, I do not know the man!” Later, Peter cried bitterly, and Jesus forgave him. But who could be sure that Peter would be true to Jesus from then on? Yet Jesus was going to build His Church upon Peter. Did anything happen when the Holy Ghost came in the mighty wind and in the tongues of fire? Yes, a great change came over Peter. Before, he had been afraid of a servant girl. After, he feared noth- ing—not even the crowds of pagans before whom he preached. He was not afraid of the dark prison, where he lay bound with chains until the angel freed him. Now he cried out so all could hear him: "Jesus Christ is God!" And when the pagans wanted to crucify him, Peter said: "I am not good enough to die like my Master; crucify me head down." And even while he was dying, he kept on calling out the name of Christ. See how strong the Holy Ghost, the Love of God, made poor, weak Peter! The Holy Ghost also made the other Apostles strong. They all became heroes and saints. 19 PRAYER FOR THE FIFTH DAY Great Holy Ghost, for love of You, Shall I become a hero, too? Shall I be good and strong and brave Enough my own poor soul to save? Little by little, I want to grow Stronger and stronger, that I may show Better and better the Love of God Flaming within my heart! Little by little, my love shall be Greater and greater, that men may see Clearer and clearer the Love of God Helping me do my part! Great Holy Ghost, help me to play A hero's part from day to day That other men may hear of You, And I shall die a hero, too!—Amen. LAYING ON OF HANDS Sixth Day The Apostles understood well that Jesus was not sending the Holy Ghost only to them, but to all. They knew also that just as Jesus died for all, so too He wanted all to be made new with water and the Holy Ghost. That is why the Apostles went about from country to country, baptizing people every- where. Then they laid their hands upon those they had baptized and called the Holy Ghost down upon them. 20 Today Jesus still has Apostles. They are the Bishops. The Bishop holds his hands over the chil- dren and grown people who have come to be con- firmed and prays out loud: Come down upon them, Holy Ghost, with Your seven gifts! Like the Apostles of old, the Bishop lays his hand on the head of each person who kneels before him, anoints him and prays. The Bishop will soon do that to you. You will not see tongues of fire, you will not hear the blowing of the wind, as the Apostles did. But you will know that the great moment has come. The Holy Ghost, like a breath of air, will enter your soul. The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of God's Love. And what will happen to you? Will you be able to speak in a strange language? Will you be able to work miracles? You are still a child. Just wait! By and by the Holy Ghost will do many wonderful things with you and through you. Your soul is now like a garden in the early spring-time. Look at the garden! You can see only the black ground. But underneath many tiny seeds are growing. Some day when you come to the garden, the little green heads of these seeds will be lifting themselves out of the ground. Slowly they will grow. First the bud, then the flower! What beautiful colors! How wonderful it is! In the same way, the Holy Ghost will make every good thing within you grow, if only you, like good ground, will wait and help along. 21 PRAYER FOR THE SIXTH DAY Come, Holy Ghost, I've opened wide my little garden gate: Please come and plant Your seven gifts; my soul can hardly wait! As days go by, I'd like to know just what You want of me; What others and all creatures of this earth were meant to be. Come, Holy Ghost, and plant Your gift Of Wisdom! I would that I could understand the daily life of man; That I could live a better life, according to Your plan. Come, Holy Ghost, and plant Your gift Of Understanding! I try to use my time aright, and waste it not at all; To listen when You speak to me, and answer when You call. Come, Holy Ghost, and plant Your gift Of Counsel! I do not want to be afraid along the way I trod; To those who wonder at my strength, I'll teach the Love of God. Come, Holy Ghost, and plant Your gift Of Fortitude! 22 I seek to learn the things of God, above all earthly things; And what it's like in heaven with the mighty King of Kings. Come, Holy Ghost, and plant Your gift Of Knowledge! I wish that I could walk with God, and hold His hand in mine; And thank Him for His wondrous gifts, and talk of things divine. Come, Holy Ghost, and plant Your gift Of Piety! I'd like to keep the sight of God before me, day and night, Lest when I die my fudge shall send me ever from His sight. Come, Holy Ghost, and plant Your gift Of Fear of the Lord! Come, Holy Ghost, and make my soul as beautiful as Spring, When flowers bloom in praise of God and pretty songbirds sing! Amen. 23 THE INDELIBLE MARK Seventh Day When the Holy Ghost comes to fill your heart with His seven great gifts, He leaves you a remembrance that will last forever. It is a mark upon your soul that cannot be erased. 24 After Cain killed his brother Abel, God sent him off to roam the world. Cain was afraid. He cried out: "Now anyone that meets me can kill me." So he begged God to protect him. God listened to this cry for help. He put a mark upon Cain, so that no one would kill him. No one dared to harm Cain after God had put that mark upon him. How good God is! He protects even the wicked Cain. But God saves the best mark in heaven and on earth for His friends, for His own children. This is the sign of the cross which is made in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. One who receives this mark in Confirmation be- comes a soldier, God's soldier. No one can really harm him. Wherever he goes on the face of the earth, this mark stays with him, so that all may know: He comes from God. And through it, he should one day gain entrance to heaven. Soon the Holy Ghost will put this mark upon you. Of course the sign of the cross has been made over you many times before. But this time, the Holy Ghost Himself will make it. So He sends a person who takes His place, the Bishop. On the day of your Confirmation, you will kneel before the Bishop. He will call you by name. That tells you that what the Bishop says and does is meant just for you. You will receive that mark. The Bishop says: "I sign you with the sign of the cross/' Then he traces the sign of the cross with holy oil upon your forehead. 25 Do you know who sees God's bright mark that is now upon you? The Archangel Michael sees it. He knows that now you belong to his army and that you will fight against all of God's enemies on earth. The angels and Saints see it. They expect to have you one day join their company in heaven. The bad angels see it, too. They will all run away if you have courage and pass them by. But if you dilly dally, they will rush in upon you. They cannot erase the sign of the cross that is on you. But they will try to cover it over with their own wicked sign. Never let that happen! Otherwise the Holy Ghost has trusted you in vain. Can people you meet see this sign too? No, be- cause it is on your soul which they cannot see. But they must know it is thereby your good words and deeds. That is the main reason the Holy Ghost puts this mark upon you. People should learn from all your actions that you are God's messenger. They should be able to say of you: "He carries the sign of the Three Persons of God. He brings us God's Love." If you come among people who are sad and broken-hearted, the mark on your soul will strength- en them. For wherever you go, this cross will go with you. If you come among people who have for- gotten God—you have God's sign on your forehead. So it is there in their midst. Anywhere you visit, even in places where otherwise there is no cross, you carry it with you. Well then, soldier of Christ, be proud of your sign! Carry it with honor! 26 PRAYER FOR THE SEVENTH DAY Dear Father, Son and Holy Ghost, I thank You for the sign You've given me! How powerful it is! How great! How fine! This holy sign shall lead me on to conquer in the strife, For with this sign my God has marked the manner of my life. Each thought I think, each deed I do, each single word I say, Will start with God's most Holy Name, and end the selfsame way. When evils rise within me, or I see them drawing near, I'll make this sign upon me, and have nothing more to fear. How pleased Archangel Michael and his army all will be, When they behold me fighting for the Holy Trinity! Amen. 27 MADE STRONG! Eighth Day Long ago the little dove flew over land and sea, carrying the olive branch with its message of joy to Noe. That dove is a symbol, a re- minder, of the Holy Ghost. For the Holy Ghost, too, brings a message of joy from heaven to souls all over the world. The olive branch also reminds you of something that takes place at Confirmation. Before the Bishop marks the sign of the cross upon your forehead, he dips his thumb in holy oil. This oil is pressed from the fruit of the olive tree, mixed with a little balsam, and is blessed by the Bishop himself on Holy Thurs- day. We call it holy chrism after it is blessed. Isn't it nice to know that from this earth, where often good and bad things are side by side, a little something is set apart and made holy for God? Don't you think that since the sign of the cross of Christ has been made upon you with holy oil, you also have been set apart and made holy for God? This really happened some time ago at your Baptism. The priest anointed your head with holy chrism. You were set apart thereby, and marked for the service of God. Then you were only a babe. You did not realize what had taken place. And as you grew older, many a time you did not stop to think that even your body was made a holy place of God, a temple of the Holy Ghost. 28 Now you understand. Happy child! The great work that was begun in you at Baptism will be completed when the Bishop marks the cross of Christ with holy chrism upon your forehead and says: "I sign thee with the sign of the cross and I con- firm thee with the chrism of salvation, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost/' In the Old Testament, priests and kings were anointed with oil at the command of God. In the Church of Christ, Bishops and priests are anointed with holy oil. You also are to be anointed. Are you to be a priest or Bishop? Yes, in a way. Of course, you are not ordained to the service of the altar. You cannot offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. You cannot hold the Sacred Host in your hands. You cannot forgive sins. You will not re- ceive the Bishop's cross; nor his ring, or mitre, or crosier. Still you are to be a priest in your little way. You are to carry Christ in your heart. You are to take Him to other people. Like an Apostle, you are to fight for Christ, suffer for Him, even die for Him if need arises. You are to be made strong for this with holy oil. True, the holy oil that the Bishop puts on your forehead will be wiped off with cotton by one of the priests; and the cotton will be burned. But the sign of anointing can never be erased. You will have that sign for time and eternity, now and forever. 29 PRAYER FOR THE EIGHTH DAY Dear God, You know that I believe whatever You have said; But should it ever happen that I start to doubt instead, Then, Holy Spirit, strengthen me, Make firm my faith, that I may see! Dear God, I want to always fight against the world and sin; But should the danger be so great that I could scarcely win, Then, Holy Spirit, strengthen me, That I may gain the victory! Dear God, when health and joy are here, I know I will be strong; But should my courage melt away when sickness comes along, Then, Holy Spirit, strengthen me, That I may suffer patiently! Dear God, You want to live in me as in a temple hall; But should a sin arise to put a blot upon the wall, Then, Holy Spirit, strengthen me, That I may keep my purity! Dear God, I love You more than all the things that You have made; But should the pleasures of this world make love of heaven fade, Then, Holy Spirit, strengthen me, And fill my heart with charity! Amen. 30 KNIGHTS OF CHRIST Ninth Day Many years ago it was considered a great honor to be a knight. A great feast was prepared when a boy was made a knight and received his sword and shield. The night before, he had to pray and stand watch alone in the church. His armor lay upon the altar before him. The next morning he was allowed to speak the solemn promise of knighthood—to attend 31 Mass every day, to fight always for what is right and good, and to defend the weak and the poor. Then the Bishop solemnly handed him the shield and sword. With the sword, the Bishop tapped the boy lightly on the head. That made him a knight. Of course such a boy was a knight of the world. You are to be made a Knight of Christ at your Confirmation. Your Bishop will give you a light tap on the cheek with his right hand. At the same time he will speak the greeting words of Jesus Christ: "Peace be with you/' Whether you are a boy or a girl makes little dif- ference in the service of Christ. Boys and girls have different talents, they take up different tasks; but both must try in their own way to win the world for Christ. You must do your part to spread Christ's kingdom. Wherever you are, you must drive out evil and do what is good. It does not have to be always some- thing great that you do. Every prayer, every good word, every kind thought, every little act of service helps to spread the kingdom of God on earth. Like the Apostles you must sleep and wake, work and think, talk and act for Jesus. To do this well, you will be filled with the Holy Ghost. He will mark you with the sign of the cross. He will make you strong. He promises to stand by you in all things; and His promise will never fail. But this is a holy agreement between God and yourself. So you must also promise something to God. Some years ago, your god-parents made cer- 32 tain promises for you at your Baptism. Then you were little, and could not understand or speak for yourself. But now you are old enough to make these promises for yourself. At Baptism God made you His child. Picture God before you now. Listen to Him. Answer the ques- tions He asks you. MY PROMISES God's question to your soul: When you were little and wanted to enter the kingdom of God, the priest asked you certain questions. Your god-parents spoke for you, be- cause you were not able. But God took that answer as though it came from your own lips. At your Baptism the priest put this question: "What do you ask of the Church of God?" Your god-parents replied: "Faith." And what is your answer today when you can speak for yourself? Answer: "I ask of the Church of God that faith which Jesus Christ, my King and Lord, gave into her keeping." God's question to your soul: The priest then said: "What does faith bring you to?" Your god-parents answered: "Life everlasting." And what do you answer today? 33 Answer: "I know that every man, woman and child must die. I know, too, that Jesus did not want us to die. He wanted to give us life that would last forever in heaven. I believe that He earned this eternal life for us by His life and death. I believe that in Bap- tism I received the promise of living forever in heaven." God's question to your soul: At Baptism the priest asked: "Do you renounce Satan?" Your god-parents answered: "I do renounce him." And what is your answer today? Answer: "I promise not to have anything to do with the devil, especially in these days when the devil leads so many people to turn their backs on God." God's question to your soul: Then the priest went on: "Do you renounce all of Satan's works?" Your god-parents promptly said: "I do renounce them." And what have you to say today? Answer: "I shall not make this beautiful earth a hateful place through wicked deeds. I shall rather by good deeds help to spread Christ's Kingdom. I shall turn my back on all sin." God's question to your soul: Again the priest spoke: 34 "Do you renounce all of Satan's pomps?" Your god-parents said: "I do." And your reply today? Answer: "I promise to adore God, the Lord of heaven and earth, and to serve Him alone. I promise to do all in my power to keep from serving myself, my pride, my vanity, and my own pleasure." God's question to your soul: Your god-parents, speaking for you, said that you believed in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. Speak now for yourself. Do you believe in God— Father, Son and Holy Ghost? Answer: "Yes, I believe in God the Father, Who created all things, seen and unseen. I believe that He is my Father, that He loves me and takes care of me. "I believe also in Jesus Christ, His Son, Who is my King and Lord, because He bought me with the price of His own blood. I am marked with His sign and I will serve Him. "I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Love of God, Who is soon coming to me on a special visit. He will make me strong and He will teach me every- thing I must do to remain God's child." God's question to your soul: Are you ready to receive the Holy Ghost? Answer: "Yes. I made my soul pure for His coming. I told 35 my sins in Confession. I was sorry for them all. I know that I was not always as good as I should have been. But I promise from now on to be a true soldier of Christ. I will fight all evil that is within me and around about me. Please help me, Holy Ghost." You are ready now, my child. Jesus is with you. The great day is near. Receive the Holy Ghost and be true. YOUR CONFIRMATION DAY The Bishop He comes in the name of Jesus Christ. He is the messenger of the Most High God. That is the reason you greet him with honor and joy. The Bishop blesses you in the name of the Three Persons of God. He will call the Holy Ghost down upon you. The church bells are ringing merrily. You hear them, but you cannot hear the song of gladness that the angels and Saints are singing. They are happy because you are signed and anointed and are to belong to them forever. Your Clothes When you were baptized, the priest placed a little white cloth on your head and spoke these words: "Receive this white garment and carry it without spot before the judgment seat of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you may have life everlasting. Amen." If you are a boy, you have your best suit on to- day. You are neat and clean. Jesus shall know that you want to come with spotless soul and that you 36 want to join the company of those who love and defend their Church. If you are a girl, you are wearing a white dress and perhaps a white veil. You want Jesus to see that you are eager to keep your soul just as pure and beautiful. The Altar Today you can again come very close to the altar. This is a great honor. Can you understand these words of the Bible? "You are a chosen race and a kingly priesthood." They have a special meaning for you on this day. The Candles At your Baptism, your god-parents held a blessed candle and the priest said these words: "Receive this burning light and keep your Baptism so as to be without blame; observe the commandments of God, that when our Lord shall come to His wedding- • feast, you may meet Him together with all the Saints in the heavenly court, and live forever and ever. Amen." Today the altar is decorated with many burning candles. They should remind you that you are soon to receive a Divine Guest, the Holy Ghost. A Temple of the Holy Ghost The Holy Ghost will live in you. You will be His temple, His church, His house. When you are at play today, speak a whispered word to Him now and then. Above all thank Him for being so good to you. He wants to stay with you—not only today, but always. 37 CONFIRMATION HYMN Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest, And in our hearts take up Thy rest; Come with Thy grace and heavenly aid, To fill the hearts which Thou hast made. To fill the hearts which Thou hast made. OjComforter, to Thee we cry; Thou heavenly Gift of God Most High; Thou Fount of life and Fire of love, And sweet anointing from above. And sweet anointing from above. O Holy Ghost, through Thee alone, Know we the Father and the Son: Be this our never-changing creed, That Thou dost from them both proceed. That Thou dost from them both proceed. Praise we the Father and the Son, And Holy Spirit with them One; And may the Son on us bestow The gifts that The gifts that from the Spirit flow, from the Spirit flow. —The Baltimore Catechism 38 EVENING PRAYER ON THE DAY OF CONFIRMATION Dear Holy Ghost, how good You've been, To give Your gifts to little men! And when I see the work You've done, Your Love seems like the Springtime sun That makes the grass and trees to grow, And pretty flowers, row on row. The earth can never understand What makes the blossoms fair and grand, But keeps on looking at the sky And asking for the reason why. Like sunbeams come to every tree, So let Your Love come down to me; Awaken what is good and true, And let it blossom forth for You! Each day I'll look to You above And make another act of love — More perfect than the day before, For I shall know a little more! And so tonight, for just a start, I thank You, God, with all my heart! Amen. 39 DOVE, WIND-STORM, AND FIRE Eleventh Day How did the Holy Ghost come to you? Was it in the gentle form of a dove, or as a mighty storm, or as fire? Was it with you, as it was with the blind man to whom Jesus said: "What wilt thou that I do to thee?" Did Jesus bend over you and did the Love of God, the Holy Ghost, then pass gently, softly from Him to you? 40 Or did Jesus look at you with eyes afire, and light the spark of God's Love in you with these words: "lam come to cast fire on the earth: and what will I, but that it be kindled?" Perhaps you did not notice any of these things. As you grow older, God will often speak to you. Sometimes it will be softly and lovingly; sometimes, strongly and with burning words. Perhaps you do not understand all this now. Well—long, long ago, during the life-time of Jesus, there lived a very wise man. His name was Nico- demus. He was a lawyer and a Pharisee. Even he \ could not understand what Jesus told him about the Holy Ghost. He wanted to ask Jesus. But he was afraid to visit our Lord during broad daylight. He thought people would make fun of him. So he started out on his journey in the dark of night. Jesus heard the rap at the door. It was rather late, but Jesus never sent anyone away, whether he came by day or by night. Jesus and Nicodemus sat out on the flat roof of the house, under the stars. And Jesus let Nicodemus ask as many questions as he wanted. Nicodemus asked about the Holy Ghost, and how He comes to souls. This is the answer Jesus gave him. "The wind blows where it wills. You hear its voice, but you cannot tell from where it comes or where it will go. So it is with the Holy Ghost." And Nicodemus looked up at the stars and thought and thought. 41 PRAYER FOR THE ELEVENTH DAY Dear Jesus, come and answer, for I'm knocking at Your door, And let me sit beside You, just to learn a little more About the Holy Ghost Who came to me. 42 Sometimes I was all eager to be doing noble things, And then I felt the joy of soul that love of Jesus brings . . . Was that the Holy Ghost at work in me? You said that men know not from where the wind shall come or go; Like Nicodemus I must think and say that it is so . . . Whence comes the Holy Ghost to work in me? He comes from out of heaven, like the wind itself, I know, That He might help God's children, and His seven gifts bestow . . . That's how the Holy Ghost came into me! And now that He lives in me, let me feel Him working there; And make me always listen when He speaks to me in prayer . . . Oh, let the Holy Ghost work hard in me! As mighty as a windstorm, or as gentle as a dove; With words that burn like tongues of fire or words that tell of love That's how the Holy Ghost works now in me! 43 Amen. FRUITS Twelfth Day Jesus gave generously of the Love of God wher- ever He went. Yet He was sometimes stern and severe. For He knew that God must punish the wicked. One day Jesus told His disciples the story of the fig tree. A certain man had a fig tree that grew in his vineyard. This tree grew in good ground. The owner of the vineyard passed by the fig tree one day and wanted to pick some fruit. But he found none. Then he said to his caretaker: "See here! Three years I have come to this tree, hoping to pick some figs. Not once have I found any. Cut the tree down! Why should it take up space?" 44 The caretaker begged the owner to spare it. "Let it stand this one year. I'll dig up the ground around it and fertilize it. Maybe it will bear fruit next year. If it does not, then you may cut it down." You also are planted, like that tree, in good ground—in the garden of Jesus Christ, in the Catho- lic Church. God nourishes you. Jesus Himself takes care of you. The Holy Ghost, as a kind sun, warms you. How often has God passed by your soul, look- ing for fruit? Perhaps He found none. But Jesus asked His Father to spare you. Jesus gives you everything! Himself, even to the last drop of His Blood! In the Sacred Host, He stays near you, comes to you! It was He Who sent the Holy Ghost, the Love of God, to you! Do you want Jesus to say to His heavenly Father: "Maybe this tree will bear fruit; if it does not, You may cut it down!"? Surely, you do not want Jesus to say that. You want Him to say: "This tree will certainly bear fruit!" Surely, you would not let God look for fruit and find none in your soul. From today on let fruit of many kinds grow and ripen within you—all for God! God Himself tells you what these fruits of the Holy Ghost are: Charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, good- ness, long-suffering, mildness, faith, modesty, con- tinency, chastity—twelve in all. Would you like to have one of these fruits in a very special way in your soul? Ask the Holy Ghost for it every day. Practice it every day. 45 PRAYER FOR THE TWELFTH DAY Dear God, have patience with Your child when stormy clouds arise And cover up Your sunshine that I look for in the skies! Since God the Father made me, and His Son once died for me, And God the Holy Ghost has come, I should forever be A tree that grows and spreads afar upon the Church's land — That bears good fruit for all to see when summer is at hand. It would be wonderful to be a Sister or a Priest, Perhaps to work on missions, but I want to be at least A man or woman trying to be good along the way That leads to God's own Kingdom, where He wants us all to stay. In honor of the Father, and the Son and Holy Ghost, I promise to be faithful, for I love my God the most!—Amen. 46 A PRAYER TO THE HOLY GHOST O HOLY GHOST, divine Spirit of light and love, I consecrate to Thee my understanding, heart and will, my whole being for time and for eternity. May my understanding be always submissive to Thy heavenly inspirations, and to the teaching of the Catholic Church, of which Thou art the infallible Guide; may my heart be ever inflamed with love of God and of my neighbor; may my will be ever con- formed to the divine Will, and may my whole life be a faithful imitation of the life and virtues of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to Whom with the Father and Thee be honor and glory for ever. Amen. The Raccolta—300 days indulgence, once a day. . , :t A 47 A SONG TO THE HOLY GHOST O Holy Spirit, Lord of grace, Eternal source of Love, Inflame, we pray, our inmost hearts With fire from Heaven above. As Thou dost join with holiest bonds The Father and the Son, So fill Thy saints with mutual love And link their hearts in one. To God the Father, God the Son, And God the Holy Ghost, Eternal glory be from man, And from the angel-host. Amen. O Fons Amoris Spiritus, translated by John Chandler, 1837. 48