Novena to the Holy Spirit
Each day of prayer includes an introduction, a verse from the Pentecost Sequence (Veni Sancte Spiritus), a lesson on the Holy Spirit or the Gifts or Fruits of the Holy Spirit, a particular prayer for the day, and a set of recited prayers.
Act of Consecration to the Holy Spirit
On my knees 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
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.
1st Day
Friday of
6th Week of Easter
Introduction
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
And from your celestial home
Shed a ray of light divine!
Lesson: 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 helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us”.
Prayer
Almighty and eternal God, who has granted to regenerate us by water and the Holy Spirit and has given us forgiveness all sins, be pleased 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.
Conclusion
Our Father (x1) + Hail Mary (x1) + Glory Be (x7) + Act of Consecration + Prayer for the Seven Gifts
2nd Day
Saturday of
6th Week of Easter
Introduction
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Come, Father of the poor!
Come, source of all our store!
Come, within our bosoms shine.
Lesson: 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. “Those who fear the Lord prepare their hearts and humble themselves before him”.
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 Blessed Trinity, God, world without end. Amen.
Conclusion
Our Father (x1) + Hail Mary (x1) + Glory Be (x7) + Act of Consecration + Prayer for the Seven Gifts
3rd Day
7th Sunday of Easter
Introduction
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
You, of comforters the best;
You, the soul’s most welcome guest;
Sweet refreshment here below;
Lesson: 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 labour, or, if there be labour, the labour is love”.
Prayer
Come, O blessed Spirit of Piety, possess my heart. Enkindle in me 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.
Conclusion
Our Father (x1) + Hail Mary (x1) + Glory Be (x7) + Act of Consecration + Prayer for the Seven Gifts
4th Day
Monday of
the 7th Week of Easter
Introduction
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In our labour, rest most sweet;
Grateful coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.
Lesson: 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 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. “The one who perseveres to the end will 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 you, my God and greatest good. Amen.
Conclusion
Our Father (x1) + Hail Mary (x1) + Glory Be (x7) + Act of Consecration + Prayer for the Seven Gifts
5th Day
Tuesday of
the 7th Week of Easter
Introduction
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O most blessed Light divine,
Shine within these hearts of yours,
And our inmost being fill!
Lesson: 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 your glory and my own salvation, looking ever beyond them to you and your eternal rewards. Amen.
Conclusion
Our Father (x1) + Hail Mary (x1) + Glory Be (x7) + Act of Consecration + Prayer for the Seven Gifts
6th Day
Wednesday of
the 7th Week of Easter
Introduction
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Where you are not, we have naught,
Nothing good in deed or thought,
Nothing free from taint of ill.
Lesson: The Gift of Understanding
The Gift of Understanding helps us to grasp the meaning of the truths of our holy religion. By faith we know them, but by the Gift of 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 “live in a manner worthy of the Lord, so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God”.
Prayer
Come, O blessed 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 your light; and in the light of glory to have a clear vision of you and the Father and the Son. Amen.
Conclusion
Our Father (x1) + Hail Mary (x1) + Glory Be (x7) + Act of Consecration + Prayer for the Seven Gifts
7th Day
Thursday of
the 7th Week of Easter
Introduction
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
On our dryness pour your dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away;
Lesson: 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 the Gift of Knowledge and the Gift of Understanding to the innumerable concrete cases that confront us in the course of our daily duties. Counsel is supernatural common sense, a priceless treasure in the quest of salvation. “But above all these things pray to the Most High, that he may direct thy way in truth”.
Prayer
Come, O blessed Spirit of Counsel, help and guide me in all my ways, that I may always do your holy will. Incline my heart to that which is good; turn it away from all that is evil. Direct me by the straight path of your commandments to that goal of eternal life for which I long. Amen.
Conclusion
Our Father (x1) + Hail Mary (x1) + Glory Be (x7) + Act of Consecration + Prayer for the Seven Gifts
8th Day
Friday of
the 7th Week of Easter
Introduction
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray.
Lesson: The Gift of Wisdom
Embodying all the other gifts, as charity embraces all the other virtues, the Gift of Wisdom is the most perfect of the gifts. Of wisdom it is written “all good things together came to me with her, and countless riches at 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 savour, whilst the Cross of Christ yields a divine sweetness according to the words of the Savior: “For my yoke is easy, and my burden light”.
Prayer
Come, O blessed 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.
Conclusion
Our Father (x1) + Hail Mary (x1) + Glory Be (x7) + Act of Consecration + Prayer for the Seven Gifts
9th Day
Saturday of
the 7th Week of Easter
Introduction
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
On the faithful, who adore
And confess you, evermore
In your sevenfold gift descend;
Give them virtue’s sure reward;
Give them your salvation, Lord;
Give them joys that never end. Amen. Alleluia.
Lesson: 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, known as Fruits of the Holy Spirit, leave the heart filled with joy and consolation. These Fruits render the practice of virtue more attractive and become a powerful incentive for still greater efforts in the service of God.
Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit, fill my heart with your fruits of charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity – that I may never weary in the service of God, but by continued faithful submission to your inspiration may merit to be united eternally with you in the love of the Father and the Son. Amen.
Conclusion
Our Father (x1) + Hail Mary (x1) + Glory Be (x7) + Act of Consecration + Prayer for the Seven Gifts
