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.