We ought to pray and invoke the Holy Ghost , for each one of us greatly needs His protection and His help. The more we are lacking in wisdom, weak in strength, burdened with trouble, prone to sin, the more we should turn to Him Who is the never ceasing fount of light, strength, consolation and holiness.
( Pope Leo XIII )
Forward
The novena in honor of the Holy Ghost 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 Ghost 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 Ghost, 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 Solemn Feast of Pentecost may gain a partial indulgence for themselves or as an offering for the intentions of the faithful departed.
Those who make a private novena in honor of the Holy Spirit, either before the Solemn Feast of Pentecost or at any other time in the year, may also gain a partial indulgence for themselves or as an offering for the intentions of the faithful departed."
FIRST DAY
Holy Ghost ! Lord of Light!
From Thy clear celestial height,
Thy pure beaming radiance give!
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 to the Holy Ghost Who is the Spirit of Light, of Strength, and of Love. With His sevenfold gifts He enlightens the mind, strengthens the will, and inflames our hearts with Love of God.
To ensure our salvation we ought to invoke the Divine Holy Ghost daily, for "The Spirit helpeth our infirmity. We know not what we should pray for as we ought. But the Holy Ghost Himself asketh for us."
Prayer
Almighty and Eternal God, Who hast vouchsafed to regenerate us by water and the Holy Ghost, and hast given us forgiveness all sins, vouchsafe to send forth from Heaven upon us Thy 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 to the Holy Ghost
On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses I offer myself, soul and body to Thee, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Thy purity the unerring keenness of Thy justice and the might of Thy love. Thou are the Strength and Light of my soul. In Thee I live and move and am. I desire never to grieve Thee by unfaithfulness to grace and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against Thee. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Thy light I and listen to Thy voice and follow Thy gracious inspirations. I cling to Thee and give myself to Thee and ask Thou by Thy 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 Thee, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, so to keep me in Thy grace that I may never sin against Thee. Give me grace O Holy Ghost, Spirit of the Father and the Son to say to Thee always and everywhere "Speak Lord for Thy servant heareth." Amen.
Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost
O Lord Jesus Christ Who, before ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Ghost to finish Thy work in the souls of Thy Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Ghost to me that He may perfect in my soul, the work of Thy grace and Thy 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 Thy 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 Thee 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 Thy true disciples, and animate me in all things with Thy Spirit. Amen.
