Novena To The Holy Spirit

The Novena to the Holy Spirit has a long and beautiful history.  A novena is a nine day prayer recalling the time that the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Apostles spent in prayer between Ascension Thursday and Pentecost Sunday. In the days before Christ ascended into Heaven, He told them He would send His Holy Spirit, and so they prayed for the coming of the Spirit. Their prayer, which began on Ascension Thursday, ended with the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday, ten days later.

Because of the connection between the original novena and the Pentecost, this particular novena is very special. It is an expression of the desire of the faithful to receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Most often prayed between Ascension and Pentecost, it can be prayed at any time of the year.

Each day of this novena features a meditation, the Come Holy Spirit Prayer and the prayerful recitation of an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be.

Come Holy Spirit prayer 

Come Holy Spirit, 
fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love. 
Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the Earth. 
Oh God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, 
grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise 
and ever to rejoice in His consolation. 
Through Christ our Lord. Amen

Day 1: Pray to prepare: Our Lord has promised to send the Holy Spirit as an advocate and comforter to teach and remind us. Today, we prepare ourselves to ask for each of the gifts of the Holy Spirit over the next seven days. Pray: Come Holy Spirit Prayer, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Day 2: Pray for wisdom. This is the perfection of the virtue of charity. It helps us to love what God loves and to desire the things of God so that we can direct our whole life and all of our actions to His honor and glory. Pray: Come Holy Spirit Prayer, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Day 3: Pray for understanding. This gives us deep insights that enable us to know more clearly the mysteries of faith. Understanding gives an intuitive penetration into truth. Pray: Come Holy Spirit Prayer, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Day 4: Pray for counsel. This is the perfection of the virtue of prudence. It warns us and enables us to warn others about the tricks of the devil and the dangers to eternal salvation. Pray: Come Holy Spirit Prayer, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Day 5:  Pray for knowledge. This gives us an intimate relationship with God. It helps us to know the mind of God and all things. Knowledge perfects the virtue of hope. Pray: Come Holy Spirit Prayer, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Day 6: Pray for fear. This is not a fear of God like we fear the bogeyman, but a fear of sin and a deep reverence of God. It helps us to flee from sin. It enables us to have a dread of sin and a fear of offending God. Fear of the Lord perfects temperance in controlling disordered appetites. Pray: Come Holy Spirit Prayer, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Day 7: Pray for piety. This is related to the virtue of justice. It gives us wonder and awe of God. We give to God what is do Him - namely to love God as Father and obey Him because we love Him. Pray: Come Holy Spirit Prayer, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Day 8: Pray for fortitude. Fortitude gives us strength to do what is right and to do the will of God in all things. Pray: Come Holy Spirit Prayer, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Day 9: Pray for the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. After the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit have taken deep root in our soul, we begin to bear fruit for the Kingdom and glorify God - fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, and self - control. Pray: Come Holy Spirit Prayer, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be