We have seen that even the human body is elevated, sanctified, hallowed, and made sacred above measure, by its becoming a temple of the Holy Ghost. Such is the extent of the love of the Holy Spirit that He does not hesitate to consecrate our mortal body, which is but dust and ashes, for His temple.
How long does the Holy Spirit remain with us?
The Holy Spirit abides in our soul as long as we preserve ourselves from mortal sin. Mortal sin forces the Holy Ghost to depart from our soul. Light and darkness cannot dwell together. “What fellowship hath light with darkness?” (2 Cor. vi. 14.) The Holy Ghost has no communication nor indwelling with the evil spirit; they cannot co-inhabit a soul, as it is certain that a soul whilst in mortal sin is given over to the power of the evil one. The wisdom of the Holy Ghost does not enter a wicked soul ; the Holy Ghost hates hypocrisy, and does not dwell in a body that serves sin and vice.
Oh, that we would ever remember the dignity to which our body has been raised by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit! What a sacred duty rests upon us to preserve this body undefiled, and never to misuse it! Every member therefore, the eye, the ear, the tongue, the hand, must be a servant of the Holy Spirit. Woe to those who desecrate this temple! The apostle writes: “If any man violate the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which you are” (1 Cor. iii. 17). This temple is desecrated most frequently and most shamefully by sins of impurity. By day and by night the evil one seeks to ignite this hallowed temple with sparks of impure temptations, and to expel the Spirit of Divine Love there from.
Therefore, let us arm ourselves with the fear of the Lord, that the demon may not enter our heart and establish his dominion there. Let us avoid sinful thoughts, imaginations and desires. Let us refrain from using impure language, and avoid works of darkness. Let us not sadden the Holy Spirit. Let us not extinguish the holy fire of Divine love which burns on the altar of our heart. Let us be docile to the promptings of the Holy Ghost, who with His Divine love will illuminate our mind, purify our body and soul, and enkindle our heart.
From this let us conclude what a dreadful misfortune it is to commit a grievous sin which desecrates the temple of the Holy Ghost and drives the Holy Spirit from our heart with His glorious gifts and graces. When the Holy Ghost departs, we also lose Divine love, peace, joy, heavenly consolation, and the hope of eternal salvation. Oh, how sad for the sinner to drive the Holy Spirit from His consecrated temple!
Source: “Devotion to the Holy Ghost”, 1924 Edition
By Benedictine Convent of Perpetual Adoration
Nihil Obstat
Philippus Abbas Neo-Angelo Montanus
Imprimatur
✞ Carolus Hubertus Episcopus Sancti Joseph
“And they came to Jerusalem. And when he was entered into the temple, he began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the chairs of them that sold doves. And he suffered not that any man should carry a vessel through the temple; And he taught, saying to them: Is it not written, My house shall be called the house of prayer to all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves.” (Mark 11:15-17z)
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