FOREWORD
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.
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.
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.
