The Lesson is taken from a Sermon
by St. Gregory the Pope
It is written: By his Spirit the Lord hath garnished the heavens. Now the garniture of the heavens are the godly powers of preachers, and this garniture, what it is, Paul teacheth us thus: To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues; but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
So much power then as have preachers, so much garniture have the heavens. Wherefore again it is written: By the word of the Lord were the heavens made. For the Word of the Lord is the Son of the Father. But, to the end that all the Holy Trinity may be made manifest as the Maker of the heavens (that is, of the Apostles), it is straightway added touching God the Holy Ghost: and all the host of them by the Breath of his mouth. Therefore the might of the same heavens is the might of the Spirit, for they had not braved the powers of this world, unless the strength of the Holy Ghost had comforted them. For we know what manner of men the Teachers of the Holy Church were before the coming of this Spirit: and since he came we see in whose strength they are made strong.