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.
CENACLE NOVENA PRAYER
O Holy Spirit Who art the Love of the Father and the Son, and Who through the love of us didst form the Heart of Jesus in the womb of Mary, Thy Immaculate spouse, bestow uponus Thy sevenfold gifts and twelve fruits in memory of Thy descent upon the Apostles and Mary in the Cenacle, and grant that all men may be united with Thee and amongst themselves in charity and peace.
Come, Holy Ghost fill the hearts of Thy faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
(300 days each time)
O Holy Spirit, Consoler and Paraclete, sent from the Father and the Son as the seal of their love for me, I humbly beseech Thee to enlighten and strengthen me to bear the burdens of this day, that I may repair by my devotion and resignation the slights and neglect by which I have grieved Thee from childhood. May my heart become Thy pleasing temple.
O Holy Spirit, sweet Guest of my soul, remain with me and make me ever remain with Thee.
(300 days each time)
O Holy Spirit, Lord of the Harvest, look with compassion upon the people still left without a shepherd to lead them to the Father. Before Thee the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace, may the darkness of sin and night of heathenism vanish and may the Heart of Jesus reign in the hearts of men.
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
(100days once a day)
M E D I T A T I O N
The Gift of Fortitude
CLEANSED from self-love and filled with humble reverence, filial love and sacred knowledge, the soul is furthermore equipped by the Holy Spirit with a supernatural fortitude. Holy Scripture is full of proofs of this "Spirit of Fortitude." This Spirit was which impelled the Apostles to courageously travel over the earth in order to preach the Gospel; they even boasted of their infirmities (2Cor. II), but at the same time proclaimed as did St. Paul, "I can do all things in Him Who strengthened me." (Phil 4, 13). This Spirit of Fortitude in all ages animated the martyrs, from the first martyr St. Stephen down to the recent blossoms of Christian heroism in Russian, Spain and Mexico. This Spirit of Fortitude enabled a poor aging servant to become th founders of the gigantic order of the "Little Sisters of the Poor" the same spirit enables missionaries to leave parents and homeland and fills with unconquerable courage of faith the faithful in those lands where evidence of a neo-paganism have began to show itself.
At the same time with the Gift of Fortitude is infused an ardent desire after sanctificationof the soul, the true zeal of soul. A mighty "thirsting and hungering after justice" (Matth. 5, 5) fills the soul, an apostolic urge to promote the glory of God in oneself and in others.
E X A M P L E
St. Agnes has always been looked upon in the Church as an example for the Gift of Fortitude. She was only 13 years old at the time of her glorious death. Her riches and beauty excited the young nobleman of the first families of Rome to contend as rivals for her hand. Agnes answered them all, that she had consectrated her virginity to heavenly Spouse, Who was not to be seen by mortal eyes. Her suitors, finding her resolution unshakeable, accused her to the governor as a Christian. The judge at first employed the mildest expressions and the most seductive promises to which Agnes paid no regard, repeating always, that she could have no other spouse but Jesus Christ. He then made use of threats, but found her endowed with a masculine courage, and even eager to suffer torment and death. At last, terrible fires were made, and iron hooks, racks and other instruments of torture displayed before the girl who surveyed them undismayed, and made good cheer in the presence of the fierce and cruel executioners who were ready to dispatch her at a word of command. She was so far from betraying the least symptom of terror that she even expressed her joy at the sight , and offered herself for the rack. She was then dragged before idols, and commanded to offer incense, but could by no means be compelled to move her hand except to make the sign of the cross.
The governor,seeing his measure ineffectual, said he would send her to a house of bad reputation. "You may", she said, "stain your sword with thy blood, but you will never be able to profane my body, consecrated to Christ!" She was led immediately to the place of shame, but the one who attempted to be rude to her, was that very instant struck blind by a flash of lightning from heaven and fell trembling to the gorund.
Later on, the judge condemned her to be beheaded. Agnes, transported with joy on hearing this sentence, "went to the place of execution, more cheerfully", says St. Ambrose, "than others go to their wedding". The spectators shed tears to see this beautiful child loaded with fetters, and offering herself fearlessly to the sword of the executioner.
The governor,seeing his measure ineffectual, said he would send her to a house of bad reputation. "You may", she said, "stain your sword with thy blood, but you will never be able to profane my body, consecrated to Christ!" She was led immediately to the place of shame, but the one who attempted to be rude to her, was that very instant struck blind by a flash of lightning from heaven and fell trembling to the gorund.
Later on, the judge condemned her to be beheaded. Agnes, transported with joy on hearing this sentence, "went to the place of execution, more cheerfully", says St. Ambrose, "than others go to their wedding". The spectators shed tears to see this beautiful child loaded with fetters, and offering herself fearlessly to the sword of the executioner.
A P P L I C A T I O N
In our interior life we often meet difficulties. In order to overcome them, we need very much the strength of the Holy Spirit. Without His help, we easily give way to sloth which brings no progress. In this deplorable state of soul we have only desires and mere wishes, but we show no courage. We easily consent when passion urges its satisfaction. We make many good resolutions, but only in minds. When we have to carry out the resolution, our enthusiasm fades away and we are discouraged. Oh, how we need the strength of the Holy Spirit to overcome our human weakness, a consequence of original sin.
Fickle characters are not fit for the great struggle which Satan is waging against our souls. Christ says: "Whosoever putting his hand to the plough, looks back, is not worthy of the kingdom of heaven." Let us pray to the Holy Spirit for the grace to be persevering till the end of our lives.
PRACTICE: Pray for the priests and missionaries that they may have the gift of fortitude in their arduous labors and that many young hearts may be brave to offer their lives to spread the divine Word in priestly and religious vocations.
Prayer for the Fifth Day
O Holy Spirit Who didst deign to strengthen my soul in the holy sacrament of Confirmation, help me to overcome the spirit of the world, the concupiscence of the flesh and of the eyes, and the pride of life which rule supreme in our times. Give me the spirit of mortification that on all occasions, I may mortify myself. strengthen my soul against all the attacks of this evil world, that strong in faith, hope and love, I may serve Thee all days of my life. 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...
- - -
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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