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NOVENA to the HOLY GHOST- Start Friday, May 27, A.D. 2022(9 days before Pentecost)The novena to the Holy Ghost is the oldest of all novenas since it was first made atthe direction of Our Lord when He sent His apostles back to Jerusalem to await thecoming of the Holy Ghost on the First Pentecost. It is still the only novenaofficially prescribed by the Church. Addressed to the Third Person of the BlessedTrinity, it is a powerful plea for the light, strength and love so sorely needed byevery Christian. FIRST DAYHoly Spirit! Lord of Light!From Thy clear celestial height.Thy pure beaming radiance give!THE HOLY GHOSTOnly one thing is important -- eternal salvation. Only one thing, therefore, is to befeared -- sin. Sin is the result of ignorance, weakness, and indifference. The HolyGhost is the Spirit of Light, of Strength, and of Love. With His sevenfold gifts Heenlightens 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 Spirithelpeth our infirmity. We know not what we should pray for as we ought. But theSpirit Himself asketh for us."PrayerAlmighty and eternal God, Who has vouchsafed to regenerate us by water and the HolyGhost, and hast given us forgiveness of all sins, vouchsafe to send forth from heavenupon us Thy sevenfold Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit ofCounsel and Fortitude, the Spirit of Knowledge and Piety, and fill us with the Spiritof Holy Fear. Amen.Our FatherHail MaryGlory be to the Father (seven times)Act of ConsecrationPrayer for the Seven GiftsACT OF CONSECRATION to the HOLY GHOSTOn my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, souland body, to Thee, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Thy purity, theunerring keenness of Thy justice, and the might of Thy love. Thou art the Strengthand Light of my soul. In Thee I live and move and am. I desire never to grieve Theeby unfaithfulness to grace, and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallestsin against Thee. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watchfor Thy light, and listen to Thy voice, and follow Thy gracious inspirations. I clingto Thee and give myself to Thee and ask Thee, by Thy compassion, to watch over me inmy weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus, and looking at His five wounds, andtrusting in His Precious Blood, and adoring His opened side and stricken Heart, Iimplore Thee, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, so to keep me in Thy gracethat I may never sin against Thee. Give me grace, O Holy Ghost, Spirit of the Fatherand the Son, to say to Thee always and everywhere, "Speak Lord, for Thy servantheareth." Amen.PRAYER for the SEVEN GIFTS of the HOLY GHOSTO Lord Jesus Christ Who, before ascending into heaven, didst promise to send the HolyGhost to finish Thy work in the souls of Thy Apostles and Disciples, deign to grantthe same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul the work of Thy grace andThy love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the perishable things ofthis world and aspire only after the things that are eternal; the Spirit ofUnderstanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Thy divine truth; the Spirit ofCounsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven; theSpirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with Thee and that I may overcome withcourage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation; the Spirit of Knowledge that Imay know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints; theSpirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable; the Spirit ofFear that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in anyway to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of Thy true disciples andanimate me in all things with Thy Spirit. Amen.SECOND DAYCome, Thou Father of the poor!Come, with treasures which endure!Come, Thou Light of all that live!THE GIFT OF FEARThe gift of Fear fills us with a sovereign respect for God, and makes us dreadnothing so much as to offend Him by sin. It is a fear that arises, not from thethought of hell, but from sentiments of reverence and filial submission to ourheavenly Father. It is the fear that is the beginning of wisdom, detaching us fromthe worldly pleasures that could in any way separate us from God. "They that fear theLord will prepare their hearts, and in His sight will sanctify their souls."PrayerCome, O blessed Spirit of Holy Fear, penetrate my inmost heart, that I may set Thee,my Lord and God, before my face forever, help me to shun all things that can offendThee, and make me worthy to appear before the pure eyes of Thy Divine Majesty inheaven, where Thou livest and reignest in the unity of the ever Blessed Trinity, God,world without end. Amen.Our FatherHail MaryGlory be to the Father (seven times)Act of ConsecrationPrayer for the Seven GiftsTHIRD DAYThou, of all consolers best,Visiting the troubled breast,Dost refreshing peace bestow.THE GIFT OF PIETYThe gift of Piety begets in our hearts a filial affection for God as our most lovingFather. It inspires us to love and respect for His sake persons and thingsconsecrated to Him, as well as those who are vested with His authority, His BlessedMother 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 thepractice of his religion, not a burdensome duty, but a delightful service. Wherethere is love, there is no labor.PrayerCome, O Blessed Spirit of Piety, possess my heart. Enkindle therein such a love forGod, that I may find satisfaction only in His service, and for His sake lovinglysubmit to all legitimate authority. Amen.Our FatherHail MaryGlory be to the Father (seven times)Act of ConsecrationPrayer for the Seven GiftsFOURTH DAYThou in toil art comfort sweet;Pleasant coolness in the heat;Solace in the midst of woe.THE GIFT OF FORTITUDEBy the gift of Fortitude the soul is strengthened against natural fear, and supportedto the end in the performance of duty. Fortitude imparts to the will an impulse andenergy which move it to undertake without hesitancy the most arduous tasks, to facedangers, to trample under foot human respect, and to endure without complaint theslow martyrdom of even lifelong tribulation. "He that shall persevere unto the end,he shall be saved."PrayerCome, O Blessed Spirit of Fortitude uphold my soul in time of troubles and adversity,sustain my efforts after holiness, strengthen my weakness, give me courage againstall the assaults of my enemies, that I may never be overcome and separated from Thee,my God and greatest Good. Amen.Our FatherHail MaryGlory be to the Father (seven times)Act of ConsecrationPrayer for the Seven GiftsFIFTH DAYLight immortal! Light Divine!Visit Thou these hearts of Thine,And our inmost being fill!THE GIFT OF KNOWLEDGEThe gift of Knowledge enables the soul to evaluate created things at their true worthin their relation to God. Knowledge unmasks the pretense of creatures, reveals theiremptiness, and points out their only true purpose as instruments in the service ofGod. It shows us the loving care of God even in adversity, and directs us to glorifyHim in every circuмstance 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 tohim that possesseth it."PrayerCome, O Blessed Spirit of Knowledge, and grant that I may perceive the will of theFather; show me the nothingness of earthly things, that I may realize their vanityand use them only for Thy glory and my own salvation, looking ever beyond them toThee, and Thy eternal rewards. Amen.Our FatherHail MaryGlory be to the Father (seven times)Act of ConsecrationPrayer for the Seven GiftsSIXTH DAYIf Thou take Thy grace away,Nothing pure in man will stay;All his good is turned to ill.THE GIFT OF UNDERSTANDINGUnderstanding, as a gift of the Holy Ghost, helps us to grasp the meaning of thetruths of our holy religion. By faith we know them, but by Understanding we learn toappreciate and relish them. It enables us to penetrate the inner meaning of revealedtruths and through them to be quickened to newness of life. Our faith ceases to besterile and inactive, but inspires a mode of life that bears eloquent testimony tothe faith that is in us; we begin to "walk worthy of God in all things pleasing, andincreasing in the knowledge of God."PrayerCome, O Spirit of Understanding, and enlighten our minds, that we may know andbelieve all the mysteries of salvation; and may merit at last to see the eternallight of Thy Light; and in the light of glory to have a clear vision of Thee and theFather and the Son. Amen.Our FatherHail MaryGlory be to the Father (seven times)Act of ConsecrationPrayer for the Seven GiftsSEVENTH DAYHeal our wounds our strength renew;On our dryness pour Thy dew;Wash the stains of guilt away!THE GIFT OF COUNSELThe gift of Counsel endows the soul with supernatural prudence, enabling it to judgepromptly and rightly what must be done, especially in difficult circuмstances.Counsel applies the principles furnished by Knowledge and Understanding to theinnumerable concrete cases that confront us in the course of our daily duty asparents, teachers, public servants, and Christian citizens. Counsel is supernaturalcommon sense, a priceless treasure in the quest of salvation. "Above all things, prayto the Most High, that He may direct thy way in truth."PrayerCome, O Spirit of Counsel, help and guide me in all my ways, that I may always do Thyholy will. Incline my heart to that which is good; turn it away from all that isevil, and direct me by the straight path of Thy commandments to that goal of eternallife for which I long. Amen.Our FatherHail MaryGlory be to the Father (seven times)Act of ConsecrationPrayer for the Seven GiftsEIGHTH DAYBend the stubborn heart and will;Melt the frozen, warm the chill;Guide the steps that go astray!THE GIFT OF WISDOMEmbodying all the other gifts, as charity embraces all the other virtues, Wisdom isthe most perfect of the gifts. Of Wisdom it is written "all good things come to mewith her, and innumerable riches through her hands." It is the gift of Wisdom thatstrengthens our faith, fortifies hope, perfects charity, and promotes the practice ofvirtue in the highest degree. Wisdom enlightens the mind to discern and relish thingsdivine, in the appreciation of which earthly joys lose their savor, whilst the Crossof Christ yields a divine sweetness according to the words of the Savior: "Take upthy cross and follow me, for my yoke is sweet and my burden light."PrayerCome, 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 beyondall the passing joys and satisfactions of earth. Help me to attain them and possessthem for ever. Amen.Our FatherHail MaryGlory be to the Father (seven times)Act of ConsecrationPrayer for the Seven GiftsNINTH DAYThou, on those who evermoreThee confess and Thee adoreIn Thy sevenfold gifts, descend:Give them comfort when they die;Give the life with Thee on high;Give them joys which never end. Amen.THE FRUITS of the HOLY GHOSTThe gifts of the Holy Ghost perfect the supernatural virtues by enabling us topractice them with greater docility to divine inspiration. As we grow in theknowledge and love of God under the direction of the Holy Ghost, our service becomesmore sincere and generous, the practice of virtue becomes more perfect. Such acts ofvirtue leave the heart filled with joy and consolation and are known as Fruits of theHoly Ghost. These Fruits in turn render the practice of virtue more attractive andbecome a powerful incentive for still greater efforts in the service of God, to serveWhom is to reign.PrayerCome, O Divine Spirit, fill my heart with Thy heavenly fruits, Thy charity, joy,peace, patience, benignity, goodness, faith, mildness, and temperance, that I maynever weary on the service of God, but by continued faithful submission to Thyinspiration may merit to be united eternally with Thee in the love of the Father andthe Son. Amen.Our FatherHail MaryGlory be to the Father (seven times)Act of ConsecrationPrayer for the Seven Gifts*********************************************************PRAYER TO THE HOLY GHOSTCome, O Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire ofThy love.V. Send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created;R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.Let us pray -- Oh God, Who hast instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light ofthe Holy Ghost, grant that by the same Spirit we may be always truly wise, and everrejoice in His consolations. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen. (From the Roman Missal).