How does the Holy Spirit act in us?
The Holy Spirit acts in a thousand different ways in souls who do not place obstacles in his way. “We must cooperate with him in order to choose, in each case, the best word and the best method, being docile and not attempting to restrict the ever-original action of the Holy Spirit."
All this mysterious action of the Holy Spirit helps us to make a firm resolution to be docile. “For if we let ourselves be guided by this life-giving principle, who is the Holy Spirit in us, our spiritual vitality will grow. We will place ourselves in the hands of our Father God, with the same spontaneity and confidence with which a child abandons himself to his father's care. This not sentimentality or lack of human maturity. It is a supernatural maturity, which makes us realize more deeply the wonders of God's love, while leading us to acknowledge our own smallness and identify our will fully with God's will."
If all our activity throughout the day –the faithful carrying out of the practices of piety, our mortification, our work, our family duties, our fraternity, and our apostolate– has to be the work of God; if, as St Paul says, “we are not sufficient of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, since our sufficiency is from God," then we need greater docility to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit each day, and a more generous response to his promptings. This attitude, our personal contribution to the work of our sanctification, is shown in our docility to the things we are asked or advised to do. The Paraclete's work in our soul depends on our effort to put into practice the advice we receive. “The Holy Spirit, says St Basil, acts especially in all who are pure in intentions and affections."
“Spiritual direction. You must have that true supernatural sense and holy shamelessness to allow another to poke at your soul and determine how far you are able - and willing - to give glory to God." Ours has to be an active disposition, for God works in us without overriding our cooperation, and he wants us to use the abilities which he himself has given us. Thus St. Josemaría insists: “Let yourself be formed by the rough or gentle strokes of grace. Strive to be an instrument rather than an obstacle." And he invites us to turn to God with a prayer full of faith: “Lord, help me to be faithful and docile towards you, like clay in the potter's hands. In this way it will not be I that live, but you, my Love, who will live and work in me."
Let us ask our Lady for this active docility, so that we never obstruct the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. “If you are willing, your most Holy Mother will help you; and you will be a channel for the waters of God, rather than a boulder which diverts their flow."
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