Novena to God the Holy Spirit
Taken from the Work of God Apostolate
Act of Consecration to the Holy Spirit (recite daily)
Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit (recite daily)
FOREWORD
The novena in honor of the Holy Spirit is the oldest of all novenas since it was
first made at the direction of Our Lord Himself when He sent His apostles back
to Jerusalem to await the coming of the Holy Spirit on the first Pentecost. It
is still the only novena officially prescribed by the Church. Addressed to the
Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, it is a powerful plea for the light and
strength and love so sorely needed by every Christian.
To encourage devotion to the Holy Spirit, the Church has enriched this novena
with the following indulgences:
The faithful who devoutly assist at the public novena in honor of the Holy
Spirit immediately preceding the Feast of Pentecost may gain:
An indulgence of ten years on any day of the novena; a plenary indulgence, if
they take part in at least five of the exercises, and moreover go to confession,
receive Holy Communion and pray for the Holy Father's intentions.
Those who make a private novena in honor of the Holy Spirit, either before
Pentecost of at any other time in the year, may gain:
An indulgence of seven years once on each day of the Novena; a plenary
indulgence under the usual conditions at the close of the novena; but if a
public novena is held, this indulgence is available only to those who are
lawfully hindered from taking part in the same.
Those who want to make the Novena before the Feast of Pentecost, should start on
the Friday after Ascension or Friday of 6th Week of Easter.
ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT (recite daily)
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, so 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 is listening" Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (recite daily)
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
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 helps our infirmity. We know not what we should
pray for as we ought. But the Spirit Himself asks for us."
Prayer
Almighty and eternal God, Who has permitted to regenerate us by water and the
Holy Spirit, and has given us forgiveness of all sins, permit 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.
SECOND DAY
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.
THIRD DAY
You, of all consolers best,
Visiting the troubled breast,
Do 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.
.
FOURTH DAY
You in toil are 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 undertake without
hesitation 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 perseveres to the end, 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 You, my God and greatest Good. Amen.
Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE. Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.
FIFTH DAY
Light immortal! Light Divine!
Visit these hearts of Yours,
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 pretence 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 possesses 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.
Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE. Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.
SIXTH DAY
If You take Your grace away,
nothing pure in man will stay,
All his good is turned 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, pleasing Him in all things, and increasing in His knowledge."
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 Your Light; and in the light of glory to have a clear vision of You and
the Father and the Son. Amen.
Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE. Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.
SEVENTH DAY
Heal our wounds - renew our strength;
On our dryness pour Your 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 be 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
your way in truth."
Prayer
Come, O 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, and direct me by the straight path of Your commandments to that
goal of eternal life for which I long.
Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE. Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.
EIGHTH DAY
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 divine things, in the appreciation of which earthly
joys lose their savor, while the Cross of Christ yields a divine sweetness
according to the words of the Saviour: "Take up your 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.
NINTH DAY
On those who evermore confess you and Adore you,
in Your sevenfold gifts, Descend;
Give Them Comfort when they die;
Give them Life with You 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 Your heavenly fruits, Your charity,
joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, faith, mildness, and temperance, that
I may never grow 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.
Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE. Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.
We should pray and invoke the Holy Spirit for each one of us, for each one of us
greatly needs His protection and help. The more a man is deficient in wisdom,
weak in strength, borne down in trouble, prone to sin, the more he should fly to
Him Who is the never ceasing fount of Light, Strength, Consolation, and Holiness.
Pope Leo XIII
Prayers to the Holy Spirit