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Treasures of the Church-
Devotions |
NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Novena
begins on the day after the Solemnity of the Ascension,
Friday of the 6th Week of Easter, even if the Solemnity of the
Ascension is transferred to the 7th Sunday.
The novena in honor of the
Holy Spirit is the oldest of all novenas since it was first made at
the direction of Our Lord Himself when He sent His apostles back to
Jerusalem to await the coming of the Holy Spirit on the first
Pentecost. It is still the only novena officially prescribed by the
Church. Addressed to the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, it is
a powerful plea for the light and strength and love so sorely needed
by every Christian.
INTRODUCTION
ACT OF CONSECRATION TO
THE HOLY SPIRIT
To be recited daily during the Novena
On my knees I before the great
multitude of heavenly witnesses I offer myself, soul and body to
You, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Your purity,
the unerring keenness of Your justice, and the might of Your love.
You are the Strength and Light of my soul. In You I live and move
and am. I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace and
I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against
You. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always
watch for Your light, and listen to Your voice, and follow Your
gracious inspirations. I cling to You and give myself to You and ask
You, by Your compassion to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the
pierced Feet of Jesus and looking at His Five Wounds, and trusting
in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken
Heart, I implore You, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, to
keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against You. Give me
grace O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and the Son to say to You
always and everywhere, "Speak Lord for Your servant heareth." Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
To be recited daily during the Novena
O Lord Jesus Christ Who,
before ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to
finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, deign
to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul,
the work of Your grace and Your love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom
that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire
only after the things that are eternal, the Spirit of Understanding
to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth, the Spirit
on Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and
gaining heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross
with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles
that oppose my salvation, the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know
God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints,
the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and
amiable, and the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving
reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him.
Mark me, dear Lord with the sign of Your true disciples, and animate
me in all things with Your Spirit. Amen.
FIRST DAY (Friday after
Ascension or Friday of 6th Week of Easter)
Holy Spirit! Lord of Light!
From Your clear celestial height, Your pure beaming radiance give!
The Holy Spirit
Only one thing is important --
eternal salvation. Only one thing, therefore, is to be feared--sin·
Sin is the result of ignorance, weakness, and indifference The Holy
Spirit is the Spirit of Light, of Strength, and of Love. With His
sevenfold gifts He enlightens the mind, strengthens the will, and
inflames the heart with love of God. To ensure our salvation we
ought to invoke the Divine Spirit daily, for "The Spirit helpeth our
infirmity. We know not what we should pray for as we ought. But the
Spirit Himself asketh for us."
Prayer
Almighty and eternal God, Who
hast vouchsafed to regenerate us by water and the Holy Spirit, and
hast given us forgiveness all sins, vouchsafe to send forth from
heaven upon us your sevenfold Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom and
Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and fortitude, the Spirit of
Knowledge and Piety, and fill us with the Spirit of Holy Fear. Amen.
Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE.
Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts
SECOND DAY (Saturday
of 6th Week of Easter)
Come. Father of the poor.
Come, treasures which endure; Come, Light of all that live!
The Gift of Fear
The gift of Fear fills us with
a sovereign respect for God, and makes us dread nothing so much as
to offend Him by sin. It is a fear that arises, not from the thought
of hell, but from sentiments of reverence and filial submission to
our heavenly Father. It is the fear that is the beginning of wisdom,
detaching us from worldly pleasures that could in any way separate
us from God. "They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and
in His sight will sanctify their souls."
Prayer
Come, O blessed Spirit of Holy
Fear, penetrate my inmost heart, that I may set you, my Lord and
God, before my face forever, help me to shun all things that can
offend You, and make me worthy to appear before the pure eyes of
Your Divine Majesty in heaven, where You live and reign in the unity
of the ever Blessed Trinity, God world without end. Amen.
Our Father and Hail Mary
ONCE. Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the
Seven Gifts
THIRD DAY (7th Sunday
of Easter or transferred Ascension)
Thou, of all consolers
best, Visiting the troubled breast, Dost refreshing peace bestow.
The Gift of Piety
The gift of Piety begets in
our hearts a filial affection for God as our most loving Father. It
inspires us to love and respect for His sake persons and things
consecrated to Him, as well as those who are vested with His
authority, His Blessed Mother and the Saints, the Church and its
visible Head, our parents and superiors, our country and its rulers.
He who is filled with the gift of Piety finds the practice of his
religion, not a burdensome duty, but a delightful service. Where
there is love, there is no labor.
Prayer
Come, O Blessed Spirit of
Piety, possess my heart. Enkindle therein such a love for God, that
I may find satisfaction only in His service, and for His sake
lovingly submit to all legitimate authority. Amen.
Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE.
Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts
FOURTH DAY (Monday, 7th
Week of Easter)
Thou in toil art comfort
sweet, Pleasant coolness in the heat, solace in the midst of woe.
The Gift of Fortitude By the
gift of Fortitude the soul is strengthened against natural fear, and
supported to the end in the performance of duty. Fortitude imparts
to the will an impulse and energy which move it to under take
without hesitancy the most arduous tasks, to face dangers, to
trample under foot human respect, and to endure without complaint
the slow martyrdom of even lifelong tribulation. "He that shall
persevere unto the end, he shall be saved."
Prayer
Come, O Blessed Spirit of
Fortitude, uphold my soul in time of trouble and adversity, sustain
my efforts after holiness, strengthen my weakness, give me courage
against all the assaults of my enemies, that I may never be overcome
and separated from Thee, my God and greatest Good. Amen.
Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE.
Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts
FIFTH DAY (Tuesday, 7th
Week of Easter)
Light immortal! Light
Divine! Visit Thou these hearts of Thine, And our inmost being fill!
The Gift of Knowledge
The gift of Knowledge enables
the soul to evaluate created things at their true worth--in their
relation to God. Knowledge unmasks the pretense of creatures,
reveals their emptiness, and points out their only true purpose as
instruments in the service of God. It shows us the loving care of
God even in adversity, and directs us to glorify Him in every
circumstance of life. Guided by its light, we put first things
first, and prize the friendship of God beyond all else. "Knowledge
is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it."
Prayer
Come, O Blessed Spirit of
Knowledge, and grant that I may perceive the will of the Father;
show me the nothingness of earthly things, that I may realize their
vanity and use them only for Thy glory and my own salvation, looking
ever beyond them to Thee, and Thy eternal rewards. Amen.
Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE.
Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts
SIXTH DAY
(Wednesday, 7th Week of Easter)
If Thou take Thy grace
away, nothing pure in man will stay, All his good is turn'd to ill.
The Gift of
Understanding
Understanding, as a gift of
the Holy Spirit, helps us to grasp the meaning of the truths of our
holy religion BY faith we know them, but by Understanding we learn
to appreciate and relish them. It enables us to penetrate the inner
meaning of revealed truths and through them to be quickened to
newness of life. Our faith ceases to be sterile and inactive, but
inspires a mode of life that bears eloquent testimony to the faith
that is in us; we begin to "walk worthy of God in all things
pleasing, and increasing in the knowledge of God."
Prayer
Come, O Spirit of
Understanding, and enlighten our minds, that we may know and believe
all the mysteries of salvation; and may merit at last to see the
eternal light in Thy Light; and in the light of glory to have a
clear vision of Thee and the Father and the Son. Amen.
Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE.
Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts
SEVENTH DAY (Thursday,
7th Week of Easter)
Heal our wounds--our
strength renews; On our dryness pour Thy dew, Wash the stains of
guilt away.
The Gift of Counsel
The gift of Counsel endows the
soul with supernatural prudence, enabling it to judge promptly and
rightly what must done, especially in difficult circumstances.
Counsel applies the principles furnished by Knowledge and
Understanding to the innumerable concrete cases that confront us in
the course of our daily duty as parents, teachers, public servants,
and Christian citizens. Counsel is supernatural common sense, a
priceless treasure in the quest of salvation. "Above all these
things, pray to the Most High, that He may direct thy way in truth."
Prayer
Come, O Spirit of Counsel,
help and guide me in all my ways, that I may always do Thy holy
will. Incline my heart to that which is good; turn it away from all
that is evil, and direct me by the straight path of Thy commandments
to that goal of eternal life for which I long.
Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE.
Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts
EIGHTH DAY (Friday, 7th Week of Easter)
Bend the stubborn heart and
will, melt the frozen warm the chill. Guide the steps that go
astray!
The Gift of Wisdom
Embodying all the other gifts,
as charity embraces all the other virtues, Wisdom is the most
perfect of the gifts. Of wisdom it is written "all good things came
to me with her, and innumerable riches through her hands." It is the
gift of Wisdom that strengthens our faith, fortifies hope, perfects
charity, and promotes the practice of virtue in the highest degree.
Wisdom enlightens the mind to discern and relish things divine, in
the appreciation of which earthly joys lose their savor, whilst the
Cross of Christ yields a divine sweetness according to the words of
the Saviour: "Take up thy cross and follow me, for my yoke is sweet
and my burden light.
Prayer
Come, O Spirit of Wisdom, and
reveal to my soul the mysteries of heavenly things, their exceeding
greatness, power and beauty. Teach me to love them above and beyond
all the passing joys and satisfactions of earth. Help me to attain
them and possess them for ever. Amen.
Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE.
Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts
NINTH DAY (Saturday,
Vigil of Pentecost)
Thou, on those who evermore
Thee confess and Thee Adore, in Thy sevenfold gift, Descend; Give
Them Comfort when they die; Give them Life with Thee on high; Give
them joys which never end. Amen
The Fruits of the Holy
Spirit
The gifts of the Holy Spirit
perfect the supernatural virtues by enabling us to practice them
with greater docility to divine inspiration. As we grow in the
knowledge and love of God under the direction of the Holy Spirit,
our service becomes more sincere and generous, the practice of
virtue more perfect. Such acts of virtue leave the heart filled with
joy and consolation and are known as Fruits of the Holy Spirit.
These Fruits in turn render the practice of virtue more attractive
and become a powerful incentive for still greater efforts in the
service of God, to serve Whom is to reign.
Prayer
Come, O Divine Spirit, fill my
heart with Thy heavenly fruits, Thy charity, joy, peace, patience,
benignity, goodness, faith, mildness, and temperance, that I may
never weary in the service of God, but by continued faithful
submission to Thy inspiration may merit to be united eternally with
Thee in the love of the Father and the Son. Amen.
Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE.
Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts
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