Tractatus Alter, Pars Altera, Cap. 7. De praedicatione apostolorum et divulgatione sanctissimi nominis Domini nostri lesu ChriHi in toto orbe terrarum pro

Tractatus Alter, Pars Altera, Cap. 7. De praedicatione apostolorum et divulgatione sanctissimi nominis Domini nostri lesu ChriHi in toto orbe terrarum pro

Amen. I give you thanks, Lord Jesus Christ, Nazarene, Son of the Most High God, for all the saints, both men and women, blessed forever, because today, with the Holy Spirit coming upon us in visible fire, you sent him to the earth, and thus the hearts of the faithful have been ignited invisibly in love and praise of your holy name, so that soon through your blessed apostles this same name of yours, glorified by the Father above all names of the saints, has begun to be publicly proclaimed, praised, spread, and magnified before all the people in Jerusalem and among the nations, announced openly day by day, exalted, honored, and adored. As the number of disciples grew, there arose such great devotion and brotherly love among all the faithful men and women that there was one faith in their minds and one piety in their actions, and they all had one heart and one soul through true love for God, not seeking their own interests, but those of Jesus Christ, and all their possessions became common in the holy primitive church gathered in the Holy Spirit. There was such great joy, peace, and harmony among them that no one claimed anything as their own, nor did anyone possess anything as if it were theirs alone, but they all rejoiced in having and sharing everything in God with those in need. The holy and heavenly life of the holy apostles was first learned from our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and they took care to observe it from then on, holding fast to it until the end of their lives for the faith of Jesus Christ, even unto death. I praise and bless you, holy Father, eternal and almighty God, together with your only Son and the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, for all your benefits and spiritual gifts, which you once bestowed upon your chosen friends, the holy patriarchs and prophets, through whom you revealed the secrets of your wisdom and the judgments of your mouth, especially the mystery of your incarnation, long ago through words and signs. But after your coming, gentle Jesus, you revealed many more hidden things of Scripture through yourself and made them clearer, and what the little ones could not yet grasp, you patiently withheld until the sending of the Holy Spirit. And what is even more wonderful and worthy of praise, you suddenly ignited the simple hearts of the apostles with the fire of the Holy Spirit, and you taught them perfectly within, elevating them above the wise of the world, chosen from the vanity of the age, and you strengthened them to convert the whole world. I praise and glorify you, most illustrious Jesus Christ, illuminator and restorer of all humanity, for the conversion and gathering of many peoples, whom you have brought together from various parts of the world and from different languages of nations into the unity of the Catholic faith and apostolic doctrine, to praise your sweetest and holy name in hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs in all places, in churches and monasteries of religious and various orders, gathered for this holy solemnity of the Holy Spirit to be devoutly celebrated. In this, many wonders are recounted in the church, even as the common people listen along with the leaders and nobles, about the divine works that the Holy Spirit has accomplished for the salvation of believers from the beginning of the world until the day of judgment, and He will not cease to work. If God is for us, who can be against us? Therefore, in the psalm, the Holy Spirit encourages all the faithful, saying: "In the churches, bless the Lord God from the fountains of Israel." Benjamin, a young man, in the quiet of his mind, contemplates heavenly things and turns away from all earthly matters. Blessed are those servants who eagerly strive for divine praise and rejoice to bless God with the angels; blessed are those who disregard worldly things and wholeheartedly turn their hearts to God, so that they may receive the grace of the Holy Spirit, through which they conquer all carnal love and resist the devil. For greater and stronger is the virtue and grace of the Holy Spirit for good than the evil spirit in wickedness. I bless and praise you, most excellent Jesus, for the great grace and wisdom given to your apostles to proclaim your word with courage before all who dwell in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth; and especially for the steadfastness and perseverance of those who remained constant in faith during the persecution of their fellow citizens, rejoicing to suffer insults in your name, to be imprisoned, beaten, tormented by hunger, and tortured in various ways. All these things seemed light and insignificant compared to the eternal crown of life and the greatness of future glory, as blessed Paul says: "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us." Grant that I may be worthy of this, most loving Jesus, Son of God, through your most merciful kindness and the immense grace of the Holy Spirit, after the sorrowful and perilous struggles of this life, through the glorious intercessions of all your saints, who live and reign with the Father and the same Holy Spirit, one God in three persons, equal in essence, and equal in glory, for endless ages of ages.^✦ Amen. [F I N I S.]