In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Acts of Virtue
V. I believe in Thee, O my God,
R. Because Thou art the Eternal Truth.
V. I hope in Thee, O my God,
R. Because Thou art infinitely merciful, faithful and almighty.
V. With my whole heart I love Thee, O my God, and am sorry for having offended Thee,
R. Because Thou art ineffably good and lovable.
V. Out of love for me Thou art present in the Blessed Sacrament.
R. Therefore I long for Thee, O my dearest Jesus.
V. Send me from the Father the Holy Spirit with His seven gifts
R. That I may glorify God in all things. Amen.
Preparatory Prayer
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created.
R. And Thou shall renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray
O God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit didst instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant us by the same Holy Spirit to love and relish what is right and just and always to enjoy His comforts. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
O Holy Spirit, thou Spirit of light and love, I consecrate to Thee my understanding, my heart and my will, my whole being for time and eternity. Enlighten my mind to understand the truths of religion and make my understanding to be always submissive to Thy heavenly inspirations and to the teaching of the Catholic Church whose infallible guide Thou art. Inflame my heart with love of God and of my neighbor. Grant that my will be ever conformed to the divine will and that my whole life be in accord with the teaching of our Lord and Savior to Whom with the Father and Thee be honor and glory forever. Amen.
M E D I T A T I O N
The Descent of the Holy Spirit
Our blessed Savior, before His Ascension, had commanded His Apostles not to leave Jerusalem till they should be filled with the Holy Spirit.
In obedience to that command, the disciples remained in the memorable Upper Chamber or Cenacle in Jerusalem awaiting the Comforter, Whom the departing Master had promised to send. Of a sudden, a quivering and shaking went through the house as in an earthquake; and a roaring noise filled the air. Over the head of each Apostle there appeared the form of a fiery tongue, and all of them were immediately filled with the Holy Spirit. From that moment they became endowed with the gift of tongues, and they spoke in different languages, as the Holy Spirit inspired them.
As soon as the noise was heard, a multitude of people gathered together and each one was amazed to hear his own language spoken by the Galileans.
In the roaring of the wind and in the fire of flaming tongues, the Spirit of the Lord had descended upon the Apostles. "And all were filled with the Holy Spirit." A wondrous miracle! The Apostles became living temples of God. The Holy Spirit enlightened their minds and their thoughts. That which had been obscure to them in Jesus' words and deeds, they now, in the light of the Holy Spirit, viewed from a new wonderful aspect. They now see their way clearly. Their whole being has been changed in a moment. Their interior is now seized by a supernatural power. The Spirit of God, like a glowing fireband, permeates their souls, consuming in them all that is weak and timid and enkindling in them a death-defying enthusiasm. Formerly they held their meetings behind locked doors for fear of the Jews, but now they courageously appear in public and preach the crucified Jesus.
St. Peter for the first time appears in public and begins to speak in the power of the Spirit of Fire. With far-reaching voice he informs his hearers. that what they saw and wondered at, was not the effect of wine, but of the Holy Spirit, Whom God had promised by His prophet Joel to pour out upon His people. The sermon of St. Peter was preached in a language so inspired and persuasive that no less than 3,000 upon conviction, embraced the true faith, and were baptized. Upon 3,000 the Holy Spirit descended with his baptismal grace on that First Pentecost. He made them disciples of Christ and members of His Church. Thus the Fisrt Pentecost is the foundation of the feast of the Catholic Church. Since this day, the Holy Spirit has never departed from the Church. In the course of the centuries He has often renewed the face of the Church and victoriously protected the bark of St. Peter when the waves of persecution threatened to engulf it. Cleansing and invigorating, in storm and fire, He passed through the members of the Church, and swept away that which was dried up, nd renewed that which had become lax. He led whole nations under the sweet yoke of Christ making them true Christian nations.
The Holy Spirit does not cease to work in His Church and in the world. As often as an eye opens itself to the light of faith, or a heart turns away from sin; as often as a soul is given sanctifying grace; as often as a Sacrament is administered, as often does the Holy Spirit give Himself.
E X A M P L E
St. Philip Neri suffered from a violent palpitation of the heart. In periods of deep emotions, the palpitation assumed an incredible force St. Philip had no doub that this was caused by the Holy Spirit. Towards the end of his life he gave Cardinal Frederick Borromeo his difinite confidences on the subjects: "He told me in all humility," said the Cardinal on the day that Philip died, "that the palpitation of his heart had begun in the following manner. At the beginning of his conversation he was praying to the Holy Spirit to give him fervor, and from that moment, he began to experience the palpitation which never left him."
On another occasion Philip experienced as it were a personal Pentecost. A globe of fire entered his mouth, and he afterwards feelt it wxpanding in his breast so much that some of his ribs were broken. The palpitation and the breaking of his ribs go back to 1544. In all this, his first fervors were so great that he had to throw himself down, crying: "Enough, enough, Lord, I can bear no more!"
Convinced that the Holy Spirit was acting in him almost incessantly, we cannot be surprised that St. Philip felt a special devotion to the Holy Spirit. Whener an opportunity is presented, he recommended the same devotion to others. We know, for example, how he advised Giovenale Ancina, his future disciple, to prepare himself for the Feast of the Pentecost; he prescribed prayers which were to be recited daily from Holy Saturday to the "Pasquarosa", or Pentecost.
St. Philip was further convinced that the Holy Spirit Whom he bore in his breast exercised His power and in some way operated outside himself. This explains why he had recourse to contact with his breast for the healing of physical diseases, or for the dissipation of interior anguish and temptations. He was accustomed to press his male penitents to his heart when he absolved them. His heart was full of sacred fire of the Holy Spirit.
A P P L I C A T I O N
The day of our Holy Baptism was the happy day on which the Holy Spirit came down into our soul, took possession of it and began to work in it, silently, as an artist working in his studio. Every Sacrament we received worthily, was an outpouring of the Divine Spirit over us. Day after day He gave His supporting grace.
Is the fire of the Holy Spirit still burning and glowing in you? The light and spiritual glow of the soul should never be extinguished by a mortal sin! Thank God for the Holy Spirit today for the grace of Holy Baptism and pray for the thousands of children who this day are born into the world, that they may receive the grace of Baptism and become temples of the Holy Spirit.
PRACTICE: Recall your baptsimal grace on Sunday when the priest sprinkles you with Holy Water before the Mass at the "Asperges"...
Prayer for the First Day
God Holy Spirit, I adore Thee as my true God. I acknowledge; here in Thy divine presence, that I am nothing and that I can do nothing without Thee. Come, then, great Paraclete and Comforter, fulfill the promise of our Blessed Savior and come into the heart of Thy unworthy creatures as Thou didst descend on the holy Mother of Jesus and on the Apostles on the sacred day of Pentecost. Make me understand that the wisdom of heavenly things surpasses all the wisdom, all riches and all the pleasures of the world. Amen.
Closing Prayer
O Holy Spirit, Creator, be propitious to the Catholic Church and by Thy heavenly power, make it strong and secure against the attacks of its enemies and renew in charity the spirit of Thy servants, whom Thou hast anointed, that they may glorify Thee and the Father and His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
O Holy Spirit, Spirit of truth, come into our hearts; shed the brightness of Thy light on all nations that they may be one in faith and pleasing to Thee. Amen.
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory be to the Father...
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Note: If this Novena is intended as a Paraclete Novena for an urgent intention, the following prayer may be said:
O Paraclete Divine, Thou art called the "Forgotten Paraclete" for so few there are who invoke Thy divine intercession. Forgive me, dear Paraclete, for I too have ugratefully neglected Thee.
O Holy Paraclete. Spirit of adoption of the Father, I believe that Thou hast made me a Child of God in the Sacrament of Baptism. Guide Thou my poor prayers for without Thee I know not how or what I should pray to obtain my desire.
O Paraclete Divine, Spirit of Fortitude, Thou hast strengthened me in Holy Confirmation. I hope in Thy aid, and entrust my petition to Thee. Do not forsake me, dear Paraclete Divine!
O Spirit of Love! Thou dwellest in my heart by sanctifying grace as the most precious gift that Jesus has given to me from the Father. may I love Thee in every beat of my heart and renew my petition together with Thee and in union with those who have joined in this prayer. In reparaton for my neglect, I shall do all in my power to spread devotion to Thee. O Mother Immaculate Spouse of the Holy Spirit and my Patron, keep me near to my Paraclete. Amen.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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