Divinum
illud munus Encyclical of Pope
Leo XIII on the Holy Spirit, 9 May 1897
Section 11
We ought to pray to and invoke the Holy Spirit, for
each one of us greatly needs His protection and His help.
The more a man is deficient in wisdom, weak in strength,
borne down with trouble, prone to sin, so ought he the
more to fly to Him who is the never-ceasing fount of
light, strength, consolation, and holiness. And chiefly
that first requisite of man, the forgiveness of sins,
must be sought for from Him: "It is the special
character of the Holy Ghost that He is the Gift of the
Father and the Son. Now the remission of all sins is
given by the Holy Ghost as by the Gift of God. "
Concerning this Spirit the words of the Liturgy are very
explicit: "For He is the remission of all
sins." How He should be invoked is clearly taught by
the Church, who addresses Him in humble supplication,
calling upon Him by the sweetest of names: "Come,
Father of the poor! Come, Giver of gifts! Come, Light of
our hearts! O best of Consolers, sweet Guest of the soul,
our refreshment!" She earnestly implores Him to
wash, heal, water our minds and hearts, and to give to us
who trust in Him "the merit of virtue, the
acquirement of salvation, and joy everlasting." Nor
can it be in any way doubted that He will listen to such
prayer, since we read the words written by His own
inspiration: "The Spirit Himself asketh for us with
unspeakable groanings" (Rom. viii., 26). Lastly, we
ought confidently and continually to beg of Him to
illuminate us daily more and more with His light and
inflame us with His charity: for, thus inspired with
faith and love, we may press onward earnestly towards our
eternal reward, since He "is the pledge of our
inheritance" (Eph. i. 14).