Беседа 16. Его же. Об «осенении».

1. Although we have previously spoken of this in another place, when a suitable opportunity has presented itself, it will not be tiresome for us to cover this topic further. 2. Overshadowing is a name indicating help and intercession, as well as the receipt of a heavenly gift; for example: The Holy Spirit will descend and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. 715 Another in Your Right Hand, O Lord, will overshadow me, 716 which is a request for help; just as I will overshadow this city and deliver it. 717 3. So, we understand that there are two types of action in the overshadowing that comes to people from God: one is mysterious and mental, the other is effective. The first is sanctification, received through divine grace; that is, when, through the action of the Holy Spirit, a person is sanctified body and soul, as was the case with Elizabeth, John and blessed Mary, blessed among women - although the latter is not comparable with others and is higher than the rank of created things. 4. But let us turn to the partial, which happens to other saints, as if to members of the body. 5. The mysterious type of overshadowing that happens to some saints is an effective type that overshadows the mind; and when a person is rewarded with this overshadowing, the mind is overwhelmed with amazement and expanded by some kind of divine revelation. While this action overshadows the mind, a person is raised above the movement of spiritual thoughts thanks to the communion of the Holy Spirit. This is what the Apostle speaks to the Ephesians in the form of a prayer; for he wanted to teach them this mystery when he said: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to the knowledge of Him, and may enlighten the eyes of your heart. 718 What is this for? So that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of His glorious inheritance are for the saints, and how immeasurable is the greatness of His power among us who believe. 719 6. This is one mysterious type of overshadowing. When this power overshadows a person, he is awarded the glory of the new age through revelation - and this is the lot that befalls the saints of light, about whom blessed Paul spoke; 720 it is awarded to those who have received the sanctification of the mind from the Spirit thanks to their holy and virtuous lifestyle. 7. Another type of overshadowing is that which is recognized through action: it is a mental force that protects a person and hovers over him 721 constantly and drives away from him everything harmful that can approach his body or soul. It is invisibly felt by the mind, which is illuminated and has knowledge 722 through the eye of faith. The saints know him through experience, as it is written: The angels of the Lord encamp around those who fear Him and deliver them, 723 and The righteous have many sorrows, and the Lord will deliver him from them all. 724 The verb used is the same as in Genesis 1:2 (“and the Spirit of God moved upon the waters”). You might be interested in: