Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi (1566–1607)
The Holy Spirit comes to the soul with the seal of the Word, with the seal of the blood of the sacrificed Lamb, for this blood even has the power to bring Him, although the Spirit Himself breathes and desires to come. This breathing Spirit is in Himself the being of the Father and the being of the Word, and He comes forth from the essence of the Father and from the love of the Word, entering the soul like a gushing spring, and the soul immerses itself into Him.
Just as when two rivers spring forth and merge, causing the smaller to lose its name and take on the name of the greater, so this divine Spirit acts, entering the soul to unite with it. The soul, which is yet smaller, must lose its name and yield it to the Spirit; it will do so if it opens itself sufficiently to blend into one with Him.
And this Spirit, the distributor of the riches stored in the heart of the Father and the guardian of the dealings established between the Father and the Son, penetrates the soul with such gentleness that He is often not even noticed and that only a few people recognize His true greatness. The Spirit flows powerfully and lightly into all places that are ready and prepared to receive Him. He resonates in every ear with His recurring word and with His deepest silence. Unmoving, yet Himself the movement, the surge of love penetrates everything.
You do not remain still, Holy Spirit, in the stillness of the Father nor in the Word, yet you are continually in the Father, in the Word, in Yourself, as well as in every good spirit and in all creation. Creation needs you for the blood shed by the only-begotten Son of God, the Word of God, which became indispensable to His creation out of infinite love. You rest upon every creature, which is guided so that in purity, through participation in Your gifts, it achieves true similarity to You. You rest upon those who have been sprinkled with the blood of the Lamb, allowing the Word of God to act within them and preparing for You a worthy dwelling.
Come, Holy Spirit! Let there be unification with the Father and the love of the Son – the Word. You, Spirit of truth, are the reward of the saints, the refreshment of souls and the light of those in darkness, You are the wealth of all the poor, the treasure of the loving, the satisfaction of the hungry, the comfort of those who are away from home. It is You, in whom all treasures are contained.
Come, You who descended upon Mary and caused the Word to become flesh, and with Your grace make in us what You accomplished in Mary through grace and nature!
Come, Holy Spirit, and destroy in us everything that prevents us from completely being consumed in You.
(From the record of the testimonies of Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi)
