Episode 2958: Burning in the Light of God - Nighty Episode

“O my God, at the end of this day I thank You most heartily for all the graces I have received from You. I am sorry that I have not made better use of them. I am sorry for all the sins I have committed against You. Forgive me, O my God, and graciously protect me this night. Blessed Virgin Mary, my dear heavenly mother, take me under your protection. St. Joseph, my dear Guardian Angel, and all you saints of God, pray for me. Sweet Jesus, have pity on all poor sinners, and save them from hell. Have mercy on the suffering souls in purgatory. Amen.”
The Holy Spirit, the Fire of Our Souls
Introduction
Welcome to today’s episode, where we will reflect on the Holy Spirit as the life of our souls and the consuming fire that transforms us into instruments of God’s will. We will draw from the wisdom of St. Peter Damian and the mystical experience of St. Catherine of Siena to understand how the Holy Spirit illuminates, strengthens, and sets our hearts ablaze with divine love.
Too often, we rely on our own strength, forgetting that it is the Holy Spirit who breathes life into our souls. St. Peter Damian describes this reality beautifully:
“He pours light into our minds, arouses our desire and gives us strength… As the soul is the life of the body, so the Holy Spirit is the life of our souls.”
The Holy Spirit is not distant or abstract He is the very breath of God, the source of wisdom, and the force that moves us to act with courage and love. Without Him, we remain in darkness, powerless to grow in virtue. With Him, we are set aflame with divine charity.
We see this vividly in the life of St. Catherine of Siena, who experienced a profound transformation when she mystically exchanged hearts with Christ. From that moment, she no longer considered her heart her own but "the heart" a heart completely possessed by Christ. She became a living fire for God, interceding tirelessly for the Church, especially during the painful division of the Western Schism.
“The fire of desire was burning within her and she cried out to the Eternal Father, ‘What can I do, O ineffable Fire?’ He responded, ‘Offer your life anew, and give yourself no rest. I have appointed you for this work, and do so again; you and all those who follow you, or will follow you.’”
This is the essence of life in the Holy Spirit to be consumed with a love so intense that it leaves nothing of ourselves but transforms us into willing sacrifices for God’s glory.
The Holy Spirit as Light and Strength
St. Peter Damian tells us that the Holy Spirit “pours light into our minds”—He is the source of truth, the divine teacher who leads us beyond our natural reasoning into the mysteries of God.
How often do we seek guidance from worldly sources rather than from the Spirit of God?
We must train ourselves to listen to His voice in prayer, in silence, in the sacraments, and in the wisdom of the Church. The Holy Spirit also “arouses our desire”—He is the one who moves our hearts to long for holiness, to thirst for God, to strive for sanctity. Without His prompting, we remain lukewarm. But with Him, we burn with zeal as Catherine of Siena did.
Lastly, the Holy Spirit “gives us strength”—He is the one who sustains us in trials, who gives us perseverance in suffering, and who emboldens us to take action for the kingdom of God. St. Catherine, though frail and often sick, accomplished heroic feats for the Church because she allowed herself to be consumed by the fire of the Holy Spirit.
The Call to Offer Ourselves Without Rest
The Eternal Father told Catherine: “Offer your life anew, and give yourself no rest.”
This is the challenge for all of us: Are we willing to be consumed for God’s glory?
We often resist the work of the Holy Spirit because it demands everything from us. We are afraid of what it might cost—our comforts, our plans, our attachments. But true peace only comes when we surrender fully to God’s will.
St. Catherine did not hesitate. She offered her heart, her strength, and even her suffering for the sake of the Church. She allowed God to use her completely. And He calls us to do the same.
Let us not be afraid to pray as she did:
“What can I do, O ineffable Fire?”
The answer is clear—give everything. Give your will, your time, your love, your suffering. Offer yourself anew every day, trusting that the Holy Spirit will strengthen and sustain you.
Practical Steps to Live in the Holy Spirit
1. Invoke the Holy Spirit daily – Begin your day with a prayer to the Holy Spirit, asking Him to guide your thoughts, desires, and actions.
2. Surrender fully to God’s will – Stop clinging to your own plans. Offer your life, as St. Catherine did, as a gift for God to use.
3. Be courageous in defending the faith – Like St. Peter Damian and St. Catherine, do not be afraid to stand firm in truth.
4. Pray with fervor and love – The Holy Spirit speaks to the soul that listens. Make time for silence, Scripture, and contemplation.
5. Live as a light in the world – Be a visible witness to Christ, so that others may see the Holy Spirit alive in you.
Conclusion & Final Prayer
As we close this episode, let us ask the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts, just as He filled the saints who went before us.
Heavenly Father, You are the source of all light and strength. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, transform our hearts, arouse in us a burning love for You, and give us the courage to surrender completely to Your will. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Thank you for joining us today. Until next time, may you be filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit and live as a witness to God’s love. God bless you.