A Novena to the Holy Spirit

“Thus, this Novena is appropriate for use, not only in the days preceding Pentecost, but at any time throughout the year.”

(And with that in mind, I’m embarking upon this simple yet effective prayer.)
the holy spirit

FIRST DAY

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

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.

To be recited daily during the Novena

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.

(To be recited daily during the Novena)

© 1912 Holy Spirit Fathers

~at EWT’s site.
~at the Spiritans site.

The King's Speech

I saw this movie recently, and very much enjoyed it. It hit home on a number of levels, with wonderful production values.

Stuttering

I’ve never struggled with stutters, but every now and again do get tongue tied. Years ago I worked with a local high school’s production, helping them along with the music, and agreed to help audition the young men and women for the parts.

One rose head and shoulders above the rest, and I was very adamant that he get the part – I didn’t understand why there was so much hesitation before he was cast. He did an amazing job and naturally blew everyone away.

What I did not know until after the show was well underway is that the young man had a stuttering dilemma, and many were worried that he would freeze during the play.

I was astounded… I said quite honestly that I had never heard him stutter, throughout hours of rehearsal and performance. I ran into him off and on for a few years after that, and again never noticed once that he had a stuttering issue.

Perhaps, similar to the movie The King’s Speech, music helped him with the issue and helped free him of it.

Stage Fright

While I’ve never suffered with a stammer, I have suffered with terrible stage fright on and off for years. I thought the film captured very well the feelings of the man as he approached the microphone… acutely aware of the silence; painfully aware of the mic looming ahead as all of the blood seemed to leave his body and everyone sat, or stood … staring.

Silently waiting.

I understand it for what it is, I try to evaluate it, and take all the physical precautions I can given allergies, asthma… etc. And there are times when it does not bother me in the least. But at least half the time I feel all the emotions which are demonstrated in this movie, and just work my way through it, keeping my mind on the importance of the tasks at hand.

Moving Forward

moses at the burning bush - chagall

At the end of the movie, I don’t think it’s giving anything away to say that King George VI made a great and outstanding speech at the dawn of WWII, which helped rouse and inspire a nation. He evidently always struggled, but he always tried. And that is what mattered the most.

It did not come naturally to him; he worked at it over and over and over again; and worked through it. It’s a beautifully told story, and exceptionally tender as he struggles through his speech so eloquently, moving so many people at a time of gravity.

It’s inspiring to me, to be sure. My public obligations are nowhere near as weighty; and I understand that a part of public speaking is the butterflies and the pressure.

But for those certain moments, when the blood is draining away, the butterflies grow a thousandfold, and I’m suddenly walking as if in a dream into an area with way too many spotlights, and everyone is sitting there staring … and waiting… I’m glad this man found his voice. I’m thankful his story’s been told.

It’s written in Scripture that Moses was slow and heavy of tongue, and feared public speaking. God saw him through, and even sent Aaron, as Moses was so terrified of speaking.

Rising to the will of God in our lives is what it most important.

When we genuinely try (and even if we complain, given the example of Moses,) He will help us through with an outpouring of graces, so that His will is done.

The Rev. Kenneth Allen