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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 Roman Catholic 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.
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.
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.
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.
Pray the Act
of Consecration, and Prayer for the Seven Gifts Given at the top of this page.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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