Daily Devotions

I remember coming across a book in the 1970s by Michael Harper called “None Can Tell”, in which he tells of his deep experience of the Holy Spirit which changed his ministry and his life. He took the title from the 14th century poet Bianco da Siena’s poem, a 14th centurlater translated into the much loved hymn “Come down O love divine”. As we move towards Pentecost, we will explore the promise of the Holy Spirit expressed in this hymn through the lens of scripture. We start with:-

Come down, O Love divine!
seek out this soul of mine
and visit it with your own ardour glowing;

In Romans 5:5 we read “God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us”. Hear Paul speaks of the Holy Spirit as the Divine Love, and we need the Spirit in our heart to fulfil the command of love Jesus gives us. The fact is that otherwise, divinely loving in our own strength humanly impossible.

The term "Ardor glowing" means a strong, intense, and passionate expression, often associated with enthusiasm or love, that is radiating or shining brightly. 

Peter A. Fraille, a Jesuit priest and founder of the “Divine and Human Institute,” tells of a letter he once received from a sixteen-year-old girl. In the letter, she said she was having a problem with another girl who was trying to steal her friend. She wrote about the jealousy and anger, and frustration she was feeling and how she was trying to deal with it. She went on to say that even though she now disliked her, the friend is still as lovable and valuable as she is herself. Then she ended the letter with these beautiful words:

“As I was finishing this letter, something hit me like a ton of bricks. I have seen my father’s library, and he has many books that I want to read. I have lots of time ahead of me to read and to learn, but I just realised one thing. No matter how much I learn, no matter how much I experience, no matter how much I write, if I don’t love, I don’t know anything!”

In our journey towards Pentecost may we truly pray, “Come down, O Love divine! seek out this soul of mine, and visit it with your own ardour glowing.” Amen