Pentecost Novena: Day 9

Here we are, the last day of the Pentecost Novena.  I hope that you have found this helpful, not only preparing for the Feast of Pentecost, but also for becoming more familiar with those "tools" of our faith given by the Holy Spirit as gift for our perfection and the sanctification of the whole world.

(Saturday)  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 the 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 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 SEVEN TIMES.  Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts.

Act of Consecration

On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, my 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 have my being.  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 is listening.”  Amen.

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

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 of 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.

Pentecost Novena: Day 8

Since today's Divine Office included a reading from St. Paul's epistle to the Galatians (5:16-25) discussing the Fruits of the Spirit, I decided it was time for a repeat of this beautiful image showing how the Gifts of the Holy Spirit for which we have praying these last several days leads to the Fruits.

(Friday)  Bend the stubborn heart and will, melt the frozen warm the chill.  Guide the steps that go astray!   

The Gift of Wisdom, the most perfect of the gifts, embodies all the other gifts in the same way that charity embraces all the other virtues.  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 Savior: “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.

Act of Consecration

On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, my 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 have my being.  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 is listening.”  Amen.

 

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

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 of 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.

Pentecost Novena: Day 7

(Thursday)  Heal our wounds—our strength renew; On our dryness pour Thy dew, Wash the stains of guilt away. 

The Gift of Counsel endows the soul with supernatural prudence, enabling it to judge promptly and rightly what must be 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 SEVEN TIMES.  Act of consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts.

Act of Consecration

On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, my 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 have my being.  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 is listening.”  Amen.

 

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

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 of 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.

Pentecost Novena: Day 6

(Wednesday)  If Thou take Thy grace away, nothing pure in manwill stay.  All his good is turned to ill.   

The Gift of 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 SEVEN TIMES.  Act of consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts.

Act of Consecration

On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, my 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 have my being.  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 is listening.”  Amen.

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

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 of 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.

Pentecost Novena: Day 5

(Tuesday)  Light immortal!  Light Divine!  Visit Thou these hearts of Thine, and our inmost being fill!    

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 point 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 possesses 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 SEVEN TIMES.  Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts

Act of Consecration

On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, my 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 have my being.  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 is listening.”  Amen.

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

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 of 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.

Pentecost Novena: Day 4

Oy!  I was so busy tending to my garden today that I forgot to tend to some of my spiritual gardens!  Here is Day 4 of the novena.  I'll post Day 5 this afternoon.

(Monday)  Thou in toil art comfort sweet, Pleasant coolness in the heat, solace in the midst of woe.   

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 moves it to undertake 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  SEVEN TIMES.  Act of consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts.

Act of Consecration

On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, my 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 have my being.  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 is listening.”  Amen.

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

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 of 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.