From the Dux Spiritualis by the Ven. Louis de Ponte
Section 1 - In what this reverence and adoration consists.
Page 123 - The reverence and adoration which we owe to God our Lord is twofold: interior, that is, and exterior.
Since God is the Creator of both soul and body, we ought to honour him with the works of both, but chiefly with interior adoration and veneration, as do the Angels and the blessed souls who are pure spirits.
This Christ himself taught to the Samaritan woman, saying: The true adorers shall adore the Father in spirit and in truth; God is a spirit; and they that adore Him must adore Him in spirit and in truth; for the Father also seekest such to adore Him [St John iv, 23,25].
Page 124 - This adoration and reverence is nothing else but a profound subjection and humiliation of our mind, paid to God for His intrinsic excellence; on which account we submit our heart and all our faculties to His divine ordinance in testimony of his greatness and majesty [S. Bonaventure opusc. parvum bonum partic., 2].
This, says St Thomas [S. Th., II-II Q. lxxxi, art 2 and Q. lxxxiv, art 2] is an act of the virtue of religion; to which it belongs to pay worship and honour to God for His infinite excellence. It is also the act proper to the first gift of the Holy Ghost, which we call the gift of fear; and then, says the same Angelic Doctor, it is very perfect; for the gift of fear is more perfect than the virtue of religion, [page 125] and its operations proceed from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit who moves us to adore God in spirit and in truth; with a true knowledge, that is, and with all the affection of our heart.
Page 126 - Lastly, says St Augustine, we adore God by the 3 theological virtues of faith, hope and charity; both because they lead us to express our reverence and adoration with the highest perfection, and because by these virtues we greatly honour and revere the supreme truth and goodness of God.
Prayer
Divine Spirit, Spirit of the truth, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, and who art the principle of that adoration which is made in spirit and in truth; help me by Thy holy inspiration, that I may adore Thee, together with the Father and the Son, in that spirit and truth with which Thou desires to be adored.
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