NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

This Novena is prayed for nine days prior to Pentecost. It contains liturgical prayers, selections from the gospel of the day, as well as reflections on each gift of the Holy Spirit. Because selections come from material used in the liturgy, this Novena is purely for devotional purposes, without any commercial interest. If it is useful, please share it freely with others.

Day 1

Fri the Sixth Week of Easter

Come Holy Spirit, Fill the hearts of your faithful

Enkindle in them the fire of Your love.

Send forth your Spirit and they will be created,

And you will renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, by the light of the Holy Spirit, you enlightened the hearts of the faithful; grant that, by the same Spirit, we may know what is right and always rejoice in the Spirit’s consolation.

We pray this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us spend time asking for the grace to be open to the Holy Spirit in our lives. (Quiet time follows).

Opening Prayer:

Lord, you have given us eternal life through Christ your Son who rose from the dead and now sits at your right hand. When he comes again in glory, may he clothe with immortality all who have been born again in baptism. We pray this through our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

Reading:

“[The Apostles] were able to fix their minds on Christ’s divinity as he sat at the right hand of his Father, since what was presented to their bodily eyes no longer hindered them from turning all their attention to the realization that he had not left his Father when he came down to earth, nor had he abandoned his disciples when he ascended into heaven.

The truth is that the Son of Man was revealed as Son of God in a more perfect and transcendent way once he had entered into his Father’s glory; he now began to be i escribably more present in his divinity to those from whom he was further removed in his humanity.” (Pope Leo the Great)

In what ways is Christ present to me?

What is the role of the Holy Spirit in making Christ present to our Church? To our world?

Gospel Verse:

“But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice

and no one will take your joy away from you. . . .

Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.” (John 16:22-23)

Reflection

The whole period after the Ascension should not be seen as a time of God’s absence from us, one of Jesus’ departure. Jesus did everything he could to assure his followers of both his continued presence and the gift of the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

Pentecost speaks to us of the fullness of God’s presence to us, a fullness that makes God present in us and us present in God. Do we choose to live in that presence? Do we choose to live as children of the Spirit? Do we make room for the presence of God in our lives? How? When?

[Spend time asking in Christ’s name what God would give us most of all, the awareness of the Holy Spirit.]

Petitions:

All praise and glory to Christ who promised that the power of the Holy Spirit would come down on the apostles. Let us cry out:

Send forth your light and your truth.

Jesus, word of truth, wisdom and splendor of the Father, send forth your light and truth, that our words and deeds may bear witness to you before our brothers and sisters.

May we always understand and savor the things of the Spirit, so as not to fall into sin but enter into life and peace.

May your Spirit help us in our weakness, that we may know how to pray as we ought.

Fill us with love and all knowledge, that we may instruct and correct one another.

For the prayers in our heart. . .

Our Father. . . .

Closing Prayer

Father, may we learn to ask what we truly need from you, the abundant gifts of your Holy Spirit. Let Christ ever intercede for us, opening the heavens to fill earth with the Spirit’s gifts. May Pentecost be ever present in our Christian lives. We pray this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Day 2

Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter

Come Holy Spirit, Fill the hearts of your faithful

Enkindle in them the fire of Your love.

Send forth your Spirit and they will be created,

And you will renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, by the light of the Holy Spirit, you enlightened the hearts of the faithful; grant that, by the same Spirit, we may know what is right and always rejoice in the Spirit’s consolation.

We pray this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us spend time asking for the gift of wisdom. (Quiet time follows.)

Let us pray:

Father, at the time of your Son’s ascension into heaven you promised to send the Holy Spirit on your apostles. You filled them with heavenly wisdom: fill us also with the gift of your Spirit. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

Reading:

“Perfect patience is to follow Christ faithfully, even to death, but for perfect knowledge we must await his coming. Here, in the land of the dying, the sufferings of the world must be endured; there, in the land of the living, shall be seen the good things of the Lord.” [St. Augustine]

Scripture Reading:

“Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.” (John 16:24)

Reflection:

Cleverness. Information. Wit. Interrogation. We have many ways of being bright. But how many ways do we have to be wise? If wisdom is the ability to know and see from God’s perspective, to have proportion and depth in all that we know, wisdom can only come from placing ourselves in the mind of Christ.

The wise may seem slow, or out of it, or not up to date; the wise may seem more profound and more deserving of attention. But wisdom is not measured by how it is received; rather, it is measured more by the one who gives it, by the Spirit of God abiding deeply in our hearts.

How do I pray for wisdom? How do I experience it?

Petitions

Let us praise the Lord Jesus, anointed by the Holy Spirit, and pray:

You are seated at the right hand of the Father; make intercession for us.

Christ our Lord, look with favor on all who are called by your name, and gather them in unity by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Give light to those who suffer for your sake, that they may know what to say when faced with their persecutors.

You are the true vine; may all acknowledge you, and become your branches, bearing fruit in the Spirit.

King of all the world, you ascended to heaven in triumph, rule over all peoples.

May those who in baptism were made one with you in rising again, pass with you from death to life.

For our own prayers. . .

Let us Pray:

Lord, Jesus, you are the Word of God, eternal with the Father and the Spirit. You sent the Spirit to us that we might partake of your Word, living in you, sharing in your eternal wisdom, the wisdom which helps us see everything in you. Increase your wisdom in our minds and lives. We pray this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Day 3

Seventh Sunday of Easter

Come Holy Spirit, Fill the hearts of your faithful

Enkindle in them the fire of Your love.

Send forth your Spirit and they will be created,

And you will renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, by the light of the Holy Spirit, you enlightened the hearts of the faithful; grant that, by the same Spirit, we may know what is right and always rejoice in the Spirit’s consolation.

We pray this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us spend some time asking for the gift of understanding. (Quiet time follows.)

Let us pray

Father, help us to keep in mind that Christ our Savior lives with you in glory and promised to remain with us until the end of time. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

Reading:

“That the Holy Spirit is called glory no one can deny if he thinks carefully about the Lord’s words: The glory you gave to me, I have given to them. In fact, he gave this glory to his disciples when he said to them: Receive the Holy Spirit. Although he had always possessed it, even before the world existed, he himself received this glory when he put on human nature. Then, when his human nature had been glorified by the Spirit, the glory of the Spirit was passed on to his kin, beginning with his disciples.” (St. Gregory of Nyssa)

Scripture Reading:

“Father, I have glorified you upon the earth; I have accomplished the work you gave me to do.” (John 17:4)

Reflection:

Most of the time we are satisfied with half truths and half insights. Just as long as we approximate things, we are happy. We don’t care if we really don’t understand economics, physics or the scriptures. And, for much of life, lack of full understanding is enough to get us by. But for the really key things in life—why we exist, what purpose we have, how God looks at us, how we should act in our relationships with others—understanding really helps.

Understanding means we are willing to penetrate to the truths of things, to see the essential kernel of the truth, and to relate these essential elements to each other. God wants to help us do this, to understand about ourselves and to grow because of that understanding.

How have I grown in understanding over these past recent years? What are the biggest understandings I have come to?

Petitions:

We do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself prays for us with inexpressible longing. Let us then say:

May the Holy Spirit pray on our behalf

Lord Jesus, shepherd in glory, give wisdom and counsel to our shepherds, to lead your flock more surely to salvation.

You are exalted in heaven and are rich in mercy, look with compassion on the poor and needy on earth.

You were conceived by the Virgin Mary by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit, sustain those vowed to virginity in the spirit of their self-offering.

You are our priest, offering praise to the Father in the Holy Spirit, unite all mankind in your sacrifice of praise.

May the dead enter into the glorious freedom of God’s children, and the fullness of redemption for their bodies.

Our own petitions. . .

Let us pray:

Lord, by the coming of your Spirit into our lives, erase the dullness of our minds, sharpen us to see the signs of your presence and power in our lives, awaken us to see those truths without which we cannot truly live. We pray this in the name of Christ our Lord. Amen.

Day 4

Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Come Holy Spirit, Fill the hearts of your faithful

Enkindle in them the fire of Your love.

Send forth your Spirit and they will be created,

And you will renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, by the light of the Holy Spirit, you enlightened the hearts of the faithful; grant that, by the same Spirit, we may know what is right and always rejoice in the Spirit’s consolation.

We pray this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us take a moment to reflect on the gift of knowledge. (Quiet time follows.)

Let us pray:

Lord, send the power of your Holy Spirit upon us that we may remain faithful and do your will in our daily lives. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Reading:

“The Spirit comes gently and makes himself known by his fragrance. He is not felt as a burden, for he is light, very light. Rays of light and knowledge stream before him as he approaches. The Spirit comes with the tenderness of a true friend and protector to save, to heal, to teach, to counsel, to strengthen, to console. The Spirit comes to enlighten the mind first of the one who receives him, and then, through him, the minds of others as well.” (St. Cyril of Jerusalem)

Scripture Reading:

“I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” (John 16:32-33)

Reflection:

If wisdom is having perspective on things from the point of view of God, and understanding is getting to grasp the key insights in life, knowledge is the gift whereby we begin to see the whole patterns of our lives and our faith. Knowledge is when we become so skilled in something that it happens as if by instinct—the way a mathematician comes to a conclusion, a typist puts words on a page or computer screen, a ball player knows where the ball is going.

We have knowledge in our lives when the patterns of God and our personal history become so clear that we can know we can act instinctually for the true good of ourselves and the true good of others. Having shaken off illusions, we now savor the full light of truth.

What are the patterns I see in my own life in terms of my relationship with God? What are the fundamental patterns I have come to see in the world? In my life?

Petitions:

Let us give thanks to Christ who filled the apostles and the whole Church with the consolation of the Holy Spirit. In union with all the faithful let us cry out:

Lord, send your consoling Spirit into your Church.

Lord Jesus, mediator between God and men, you chose priests to share your work, through them may all rise with you to the Father.

Grant that rich and poor may meet in friendship, for you are the God of both, do not let the rich make riches their god.

Make your Gospel known to all peoples, that all may come to obey you in faith.

Send forth your Spirit, gentlest of consolers, to wipe away the tears of all who mourn.

Purify the souls of the departed, and receive them into the company of your saints and chosen ones in heaven.

Other petitions we wish to make. . .

Let us pray:

Lord, our minds and hearts are weak. Scattered thoughts and half-impressions guide our steps most of the time, leading us to be lukewarm and insipid in the direction of our lives. Help us to see how our lives come together, and how they come together in you. We pray this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Day 5

Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Come Holy Spirit, Fill the hearts of your faithful

Enkindle in them the fire of Your love.

Send forth your Spirit and they will be created,

And you will renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, by the light of the Holy Spirit, you enlightened the hearts of the faithful; grant that, by the same Spirit, we may know what is right and always rejoice in the Spirit’s consolation.

We pray this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us take a moment to pray for the gift of piety. (Quiet time follows.)

Let us pray:

God of power and mercy, send your Holy Spirit to live in our hearts and make us temples of his glory. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

Reading:

“The Spirit is the source of holiness, a spiritual light, and he offers his own light to every mind to help it in its search for truth. By nature the Spirit is beyond the reach of our mind, but we can know him by his goodness. The power of the Spirit fills the whole universe, but he gives himself only to those who are worthy, acting in each according to the measure of his faith.” (St. Basil the Great)

Scripture reading:

“Now this is eternal life: that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.” (John 17:3)

Reflection:

We think of the words “piety” and “pious” as kind of sentimental sops for the religiously sensitive. Piety, however, talks about the loyalty and fierce attachment we have to something that we value above all things. It talk about heart and emotion; but it talks about constancy and fidelity.

In some ways, Catholic piety has tended to show itself in devotions to saints and interest in miracles. Can it also show itself in strong, personal, emotional and constant commitment to God and the things of God? This is what the Holy Spirit would bring us.

As I look at the attachments of my life, what are the strongest ones? Where does God, in a personal way, rank in those attachments?

Petitions:

All honor and glory to Christ, who has given the faithful a share in the Holy Spirit. Let us cry out to him, saying:

Christ, hear us

Send for the Holy Spirit from the Father to cleanse and strengthen the Church and spread it throughout the world.

Lord, by your Spirit, guide those who govern us, that they may be servants of the common good in your name.

Pour out your Spirit, the protector of the poor, to help and lift up all those in need.

We pray for all stewards of your mysteries, that they may always be found faithful.

By your suffering, resurrection and ascension you accomplished our redemption, bring it to completion in the souls and bodies of the dead.

We make our own personal petitions:

Let us pray:

Lord, God, our hearts grow lukewarm and our minds grow dull, seeking things we do not need and bypassing your Love and Grace which we need most of all. Awaken us to you, our need for you, and the passionate love which would lead us always to cling to you. We pray this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Day 6

Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Come Holy Spirit, Fill the hearts of your faithful

Enkindle in them the fire of Your love.

Send forth your Spirit and they will be created,

And you will renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, by the light of the Holy Spirit, you enlightened the hearts of the faithful; grant that, by the same Spirit, we may know what is right and always rejoice in the Spirit’s consolation.

We pray this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us spend some time praying for the gift of fortitude. (Quiet time follows.)

Let us pray:

God of mercy, unite your Church in the Holy Spirit that we may serve you with all our hearts and work together with unselfish love. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Reading:

“The Holy Spirit not only sanctifies and guides God’s people by the sacraments and the ministries, and enriches it with virtues, he also distributes special graces among the faithful of every state of life, assigning his gifts to each as he chooses. By means of these special gifts he equips them and makes them eager for various activities and responsibilities that benefit the Church in its renewal or its increase, in accordance with the text, To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for a good purpose. (Second Vatican Council)

Scripture reading:

“As you sent me into the world, so I send them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.” (John 17:19)

Reflection:

So often our lives verify the saying that Jesus used: the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. We have fine intentions, but fail to follow through on them. We have solid insights, but won’t live by them. We know clearly what is good, but we hesitate to do it. We set out on a path, but falter in following it.

The Spirit of God is strength, particularly for the weary, the weak, the fickle, the frightened. The Spirit of God knows that we melt inside, that we hedge and stammer, that we fear what others think, that we often tend toward what is not good. The Spirit of God comes as a gift from God for people precisely like us. If we would only accept that gift, by concentrating fundamentally on God, how different our lives, and our world, might be.

Where do I find my strength? What do I have to be strong about most of all?

Petitions

In company with the apostles and all who have the first fruits of the Holy Spirit, let us praise God and say,

Lord, hear our prayer

Almighty God, you raised Christ to glory in heaven, may all humankind recognize his presence in the Church.

All-holy Father, you said of Christ: This is my beloved son, hear him, grant that all may hear his voice and be saved.

Send your Spirit in the hearts of your faithful people, as cleansing water and refreshing rain.

Send your Spirit to guide the course of nature, and renew life over the face of the earth.

We commend to your care all who have died, and ask you to strengthen our hope in the resurrection to come.

Our own personal petitions. . .

Let us pray:

Spirit of God, strengthen us. Make us strong with a power that trusts in your presence above all things, and hopes in your guiding love through all creation. Take away our doubts and hesitations when we know your path. Take away our quibbling when we know the truth of your divine light. Guide us along the path in such as way that, in your strength, we may guide others as you wish. We pray this through the one who sent you to us, Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

Day 7

Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Come Holy Spirit, Fill the hearts of your faithful

Enkindle in them the fire of Your love.

Send forth Your Spirit and they will be created,

And you will renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, by the light of the Holy Spirit, you enlightened the hearts of the faithful; grant that, by the same Spirit, we may know what is right and always rejoice in the Spirit’s consolation.

We pray this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us spend time asking the Spirit for the gift of counsel and consolation. (Quiet time follows.)

Let us pray:

Father, let your Spirit come upon us with power to fill us with his gifts. May he make our hearts pleasing to you and ready to do your will. We ask through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Reading:

“As long as Christ was with them in the flesh, it must have seemed to believers that they possessed every blessing in him; but when the time came for him to ascend to his heavenly Father, it was necessary for him to be united through his Spirit to those who worshiped him, and to dwell in our hearts through faith. Only by his own presence within us in this way, could he give us the confidence to cry out, Abba, Father, make it easy for us to grow in holiness and, through our possession of the all-powerful Spirit, fortify us invincibly against the wiles of the devil and the assaults of others.” (St. Cyril of Alexandria)

Scripture reading:

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.” (John 17:20-21)

Reflection:

How often do we feel adrift, unable to know what way to go, whether one direction will be better for us and others than another? Such times bring doubt and, in some, profound anxiety. Threats from one side, fears from another, unease all around.

The Spirit is called the Paraclete, or the consoler, because the Spirit comes to strengthen us in times of anxiety and doubt. The Spirit fills us with the assurance of God’s presence and strength; this assurance allows us to stand solid even when the earth seems to be tumbling beneath our feet. Whatever we fear, whatever we cannot be sure of, we can be sure of the consoling presence of God.

What do I do in times of doubt and fear?

How do I open myself to the Spirit in times of testing?

Petitions:

Christ is God, blessed forever. Let us ask him to send the Holy Spirit on all redeemed by his blood, as we say:

Lord, look with favor on those you have redeemed.

Send into the Church the Spirit of unity, to remove all dissentions, hatred and division.

You freed those possessed by devils, free the world from the evils that afflict it.

You prayed, and were led by the Spirit to begin your ministry, may priests find in prayer the guidance of the Spirit to perform their duties.

May your Spirit guide all in authority, to see the common good.

You live in the glory of the Father, summon into your glory all the departed.

Our own personal petitions. . .

Let us pray:

In times of doubt and darkness, let us know, O Holy Spirit, your steady presence. When we are pulled in directions that seem to tear us apart, hold us together, O Spirit of God. When we feel at a loss for what path to take, lead us, guide us and show us the way. Help us to keep our hearts fixed on you, Counselor of God, and on your abiding warmth. We pray this in the name of the one who sent you, Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

Day 8

Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Come Holy Spirit

Come Holy Spirit, Fill the hearts of your faithful

Enkindle in them the fire of Your love.

Send forth Your Spirit and they will be created,

And you will renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, by the light of the Holy Spirit, you enlightened the hearts of the faithful; grant that, by the same Spirit, we may know what is right and always rejoice in the Spirit’s consolation.

We pray this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us spend some time reflecting on what the fear of the Lord means to us. (Quiet time follows.)

Let us pray:

O God, you opened up for us the way to eternity when you took your Son up in glory and enlightened us by the Holy Spirit. Grant that these great gifts may deepen our faith and increase our devotion to you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.

Reading:

This unique gift which is in Christ is offered in its fullness to everyone. It is everywhere available, but it is given to each man in proportion to his readiness to receive it. Its presence is the fuller, the greater a man’s desire to be worthy of it. This gift will remain with us until the end of the world, and will be our comfort in the time of waiting. By the favors it bestows, it is the pledge of our hope for the future, the light of our minds, and the splendor that irradiates our understanding. (St. Hilary)

Scripture reading:

“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”

Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” John21:16)

Reflection:

We prefer things to be informal, friendly and accessible. We like everything to be familiar, homey, on a par with ourselves. Such familiarity, however, often brings with it a feeling of “take it or leave it,” as if things are only there for our use, our comfort, and at our disposal. Nothing looks crucial or essential.

God, who is revealed as friend and lover by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, given to us intimately in our hearts, can seem to be disposable like everything else, one more thing at our convenience, one more tool to make us feel OK. But God is not one more thing in our life, nor one more help among other helps. God is life itself; God is the only true help for the deepest problems of our life. Fear of the Lord does not speak of being frightened of God. It speaks of respecting and revering God as who God alone is, the source, center and goal of all life.

How do I grow in reverence for God? How is reverence part of my personal prayer and my prayer in church?

Petitions:

Let us bless the Father, who has poured out the grace of the Spirit upon all nations, and let us pray that this grace may always abound:

- Lord, spread the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Lord, you sent your Chosen One as a light to enlighten the nations:

open the eyes of the blind and lead out of their prison those who sit in darkness.

You anointed Christ with the power of the Holy Spirit and sent him out on his ministry of salvation:

grant that he may once more pass through the world, bringing good and healing to all.

Send your Spirit, who is the light that shines in the heart,

to strengthen the faith of those who doubt.

Send your Spirit, who is rest after labor,

to life up the exhausted and broken-hearted.

Fulfill the hope of the dead,

and give them resurrection at the coming of Christ.

Our personal prayers. . .

Let us pray:

Be close to me, Spirit of God, but never let me take you for granted. Be my strength, Spirit of Jesus, but never let me use you as only a crutch. Be present to me, Holy Spirit, but as what is most special to me, most crucial for my life, most certain among all that I know. Be my center, Spirit of God. Be the core of my life. I pray this through the one who sent you to us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Day 9

Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Come Holy Spirit, Fill the hearts of your faithful

Enkindle in them the fire of Your love.

Send forth Your Spirit and they will be created,

And you will renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, by the light of the Holy Spirit, you enlightened the hearts of the faithful; grant that, by the same Spirit, we may know what is right and always rejoice in the Spirit’s consolation.

We pray this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us reflect on the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the early Church. (Quiet time follows.)

Let us pray

Almighty and ever-living God, by your will the celebration of Easter is summed up in the mystery of Pentecost. Grant that the peoples you have scattered across the earth, speaking many tongues, may unite in proclaiming your greatness and be gathered back together by the gift of your holy name. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.

Reading:

It was love that was to bring the Church of God together all over the world. And as individual men who received the Holy Spirit, speaks in the language of every people. Therefore if somebody should say to one of us, “You have received the Holy Spirit, why do you not speak in tongues?” his reply should be, “I do indeed speak in the tongues of all men, because I belong to the body of Christ, that is, the Church, and she speaks all languages. What else did the presence of the Holy Spirit indicate at Pentecost, except that God’s Church was to speak in the language of every people?” (St. Gregory of Agrigentum)

Scripture:

There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written. (John 21:25)

Reflection:

The Apostles, with Mary and other relatives of Jesus, clung together in a room, knowing that Jesus was risen but not knowing what came next. We hear their prayer, we overhear their whispers to each other, we sense their fear and their anticipation.

What came next was the power of Jesus himself, borne on wind and fire, shaking and warming his followers with a new assurance of his presence and power in their lives. Filled with visions and stirred to a prophetic witness of Jesus, they were led to be his Body in the world, his Church, his divine presence, continuing the work of the Kingdom which he began. Whatever we feel, the Spirit will not let us stay in that room, waiting for power. The Spirit, already come, calls us more deeply into the experience of Jesus, today, in our world, and tomorrow, in the Kingdom.

How does the Spirit of God come to me today? What manifestations of the Spirit come in my life?

Petitions:

We sing the praises of the Lord. When the Fifty Days were completed he filled the Apostles with the Holy Spirit from heaven. And so with joy and devotion let us pray:

- Send forth your Spirit and renew the world.

In the beginning you created heaven and earth, and in the fullness of time you restored all things in Christ: through your Holy Spirit, forever renew the face of the earth and lead it to salvation.

You breathed the breath of life into Adam: send your Spirit into the Church and make her alive, young, and ready to give life to the world.

Enlighten all people with the light of your Spirit and dispel the murk of the present time: turn hatred into love, grief into rejoicing, war into longed-for peace.

Refresh the human race with the water of your Spirit, which flows from Christ’s side: may it free our earth from the cruel thorns of evil.

Through the Holy Spirit you bring men and women to life and glory: through the same Spirit, may the dead enter their home in heaven and rejoice in your love forever.

Our own personal petitions. . .

Let us pray: