Novena to the Holy Spirit for the Seven Gifts
(Both Prayers to be recited daily during the Novena)
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.
Act of Consecration to the Holy Spirit
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
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.
FIRST DAY (Friday after Ascension or Friday of 6th Week of Easter)
“O Holy Spirit, descend plentifully into my heart. Enlighten the dark corners of this neglected dwelling and scatter there Thy cheerful beams.” --Saint Augustine
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."
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.
“O Holy Spirit, descend plentifully into my heart. Enlighten the dark corners of this neglected dwelling and scatter there Thy cheerful beams.” --Saint Augustine
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