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 Piety
THE Soul which by prayer and mortification seeks to free itself of all self-love, will eventually also be filled with the Gift of Piety. It fosters in us a child-like disposition towards the heavenly Father, and fills the soul with reverence and respect due to God. This gift makes us love with true brotherly and sisterly love our neighbors as children of God. Thus it brings forth that Justice which gives to God that whic is God's yet also gives to our fellowmen that which we owe them. Thereby Christ's greatest and holiest commandment of love is fulfilled with the help of the Gift of Piety. The Holy Spirit also fills the soul with that cheerful meekness which readily wins all hearts.
This Gift is all-important for the social life. It fills our soul with a great joy at doing a good deed and thus we are able to do for our fellowmen whatever lies in our power. At such times we can readily forgive our greatest enemy. We can stretch forth our hand to Him who inflicted great wounds upon us and say: "Let us forget all, let us be good friends again." But there are also times in our life when no mellow chords resound in our heart. Then we are not capable of a cheery word towards those who are next to us, let alone uttering a good word towards those who have insulted us. Our wounded pride rears up at the thought of the injustice done to us, heart cries out for retaliation.
When this state is predominant in your soul, remember that it is not the Spirit of God which has awakened these thought in your mind. The Holy Spirit is the God of Love.
E X A M P L E
Pretending to sleep, he observed how the saint, who had his bed on the opposite side of the room, rose quietly and knelt down to pray. A radiant glow went out from the saint, and he prayed but one short sentence which could be plainly understood, but always the self-same prayer with merely a different intonation. Hour after hour passed while St. Francis prayed the self-same prayer much to the astonishment of his host. The prayer which Saint Francis prayed during the night was: "My God and my All!"
St. Francis could well say this prayer, for he had left for God's sake his father, mother, brothers and sisters, relatives, a considerable inheritance, a multitude of enthusiastic friends, a life of luxury and pleasure, homage and respect of his fellowmen, and thus God was to him not only considerable, but All. If he now for hours at a time repeated this simple sentence, it was not the repeating of a mere prayer formula, but a prayer which came from the depth of his crystal-pure soul.
You have probably often prayed the same prayer. The Church has enriched it with an indulgence of 300 days. But such a significant prayer should not be spoken thoughtlessly. He looks into our heart and demands that we become as little children with the aid of the Gift of Piety.
A P P L I C A T I O N
What a good fortune it is to associate with persons who have this Gift of Piety! They are so simple and child-like in their affection for God and their fellowmen. One feels happy in the company of such persons who uprightly portray their souls in their countenance and in their words. How pitiable in comparison are the so-called "diplomats" who so craftily choose their words, and with whom one must always reckon whether they do not mean just the opposite of what they say, and whether with their words they are not simply endeavoring to hide their true intentions.
But it is also imprudent to put forth our thoughts and opinions without considering time and place. We must possess enough tact so as not to offend others by importunity. Otherwise we are often aftrewards forced to apologize, which is very bitter. In people who do not contradict themselves every week, one has confidence.
PRACTICE: Pray often to the Holy Spirit for the Gift of Piety and devoutly read the Holy Scriptures every day for they are, as Pope Leo XIII called them, "letters from our heavenly Father" written by the Holy Spirit.
Prayer for the Third Day
O Holy Spirit, Comforter of the weak, Who, descending upon the Apostles in Jerusalem, didst banish from their hearts all fearr of men, to Thee I turn for help. take from me all human respect and fill my soul with purest love of Jesus. That, inspired by His example and strengthened by Thy grace, I may faithfully comply with the duties of my state and endeavor to accomplish the divine will with utmost perfection. 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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