Pentecost Novena

The Pentecost Novena is the first of the Church’s novenas. After Jesus'
Ascension into heaven, His disciples came together in the upper room to
devote themselves to constant prayer (Acts 1:14). They prayed for nine days
before receiving the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. On May 4, 1897, Pope Leo XIII
proclaimed: "We decree and command that throughout the whole Church, this
year and in every subsequent year, a novena shall take place before Pentecost
in all parish churches." Pope John Paul II reiterated Pope Leo’s command for
a worldwide Pentecost novena, although the novena can be prayed at any time
— not only before Pentecost. Try to go to Mass daily throughout the novena
and pray for the outpouring of the Spirit. If you are unable to attend Mass,
read and reflect upon the daily readings. While the Church has not written any
official prayers for the novena, the following prayers are suggested.

Pray: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful, and enkindle in them
the fire of Your love. Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created, and You
shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray. O God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts
of Your faithful, grant that by that same Holy Spirit, we may be truly wise and
ever rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pray: Loving God renew in our hearts the seven-fold gifts of Your Spirit:
wisdom, knowledge and reverence, right judgment and courage reverence and
wonder and awe; that our lives might bear an abundant harvest of the fruits of
your spirit: love, joy, faithfulness and trust, patience, gentleness, and
kindness, modesty, chastity and self-control goodness and peace. We ask this
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOREWORD The novena in honor of the Holy Spirit 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 Spirit 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.

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY

SPIRIT
To be recited daily during the Novena:
On my knees I before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses I offer myself,
soul and body to You, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Your
purity, the unerring keenness of Your justice, and the might of Your love. You
are the Strength and Light of my soul. In You I live and move and am. I desire
never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace and I pray with all my heart to
be kept from the smallest sin against You. Mercifully guard my every thought
and grant that I may always watch for Your light, and listen to Your voice, and
follow Your gracious inspirations. I cling to You and give myself to You and
ask You, by Your 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
You, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, to keep me in Your grace that I
may never sin against You. Give me grace O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father
and the Son to say to You always and everywhere, "Speak Lord for Your
servant heareth." Amen.

PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE

HOLY SPIRIT
To be recited daily during the Novena O Lord Jesus Christ Who, before
ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work
in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit
to me that He may perfect in my soul, the work of Your grace and Your 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 Your 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 You 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 Your true disciples, and animate me
in all things with Your Spirit. Amen.

The Novena begins on the day after the Solemnity of the Ascension, Friday of
the 6th Week of Easter, even if the Solemnity of the Ascension is transferred to
the 7th Sunday.

FIRST DAY
(Friday after Ascension or Friday of 6th
Week of Easter)
Holy Spirit! Lord of Light! From Your clear celestial height, Your pure
beaming radiance give! The Holy Spirit 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 The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Light, of
Strength, and of Love. With His sevenfold gifts He enlightens the mind,
strengthens the will, and inflames the heart with love of God. To ensure our
salvation we ought to invoke the Divine Spirit daily, for "The Spirit helpeth our
infirmity. We know not what we should pray for as we ought. But the Spirit
Himself asketh for us." Prayer Almighty and eternal God, Who hast
vouchsafed to regenerate us by water and the Holy Spirit, and hast given us
forgiveness all sins, vouchsafe to send forth from heaven upon us your
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, Prayer for the Seven Gifts
 SECOND DAY (Saturday of 6th Week of
Easter)
Come. Father of the poor. Come, treasures which endure; Come, Light of all
that live! The Gift of Fear The gift of Fear fills us with a sovereign respect for
God, and makes us dread nothing so much as to offend Him by sin. It is a fear
that arises, not from the thought of hell, but from sentiments of reverence and
filial submission to our heavenly Father. It is the fear that is the beginning of
wisdom, detaching us from worldly pleasures that could in any way separate
us from God. "They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and in His
sight will sanctify their souls." Prayer Come, O blessed Spirit of Holy Fear,
penetrate my inmost heart, that I may set you, my Lord and God, before my
face forever, help me to shun all things that can offend You, and make me
worthy to appear before the pure eyes of Your Divine Majesty in heaven,
where You live and reign in the unity of the ever Blessed Trinity, God world
without end. Amen. Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE. Glory be to the Father
SEVEN TIMES. Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts

THIRD DAY (7th Sunday of Easter)

Thou, of all consolers best, Visiting the troubled breast, Dost refreshing peace
bestow. The Gift of Piety The gift of Piety begets in our hearts a filial affection
for God as our most loving Father. It inspires us to love and respect for His
sake persons and things consecrated to Him, as well as those who are vested
with His authority, His Blessed Mother and the Saints, the Church and its
visible Head, our parents and superiors, our country and its rulers. He who is
filled with the gift of Piety finds the practice of his religion, not a burdensome
duty, but a delightful service. Where there is love, there is no labor. Prayer
Come, O Blessed Spirit of Piety, possess my heart. Enkindle therein such a
love for God, that I may find satisfaction only in His service, and for His sake
lovingly submit to all legitimate authority. Amen. Our Father and Hail Mary
ONCE. Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES. Act of Consecration, Prayer for
the Seven Gifts

FOURTH DAY (Monday, 7th Week of

Easter)
Thou in toil art comfort sweet, Pleasant coolness in the heat, solace in the
midst of woe. The Gift of Fortitude By the gift of Fortitude the soul is
strengthened against natural fear, and supported to the end in the
performance of duty. Fortitude imparts to the will an impulse and energy
which move it to under take without hesitancy the most arduous tasks, to face
dangers, to trample under foot human respect, and to endure without
complaint the slow martyrdom of even lifelong tribulation. "He that shall
persevere unto the end, he shall be saved." Prayer Come, O Blessed Spirit of
Fortitude, uphold my soul in time of trouble and adversity, sustain my efforts
after holiness, strengthen my weakness, give me courage against all the
assaults of my enemies, that I may never be overcome and separated from
Thee, my God and greatest Good. Amen. Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE.
Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES. Act of Consecration, Prayer for the
Seven Gifts

FIFTH DAY (Tuesday, 7th Week of Easter)

Light immortal! Light Divine! Visit Thou these hearts of Thine, And our
inmost being fill! The Gift of Knowledge The gift of Knowledge enables the
soul to evaluate created things at their true worth--in their relation to God.
Knowledge unmasks the pretense of creatures, reveals their emptiness, and
points out their only true purpose as instruments in the service of God. It
shows us the loving care of God even in adversity, and directs us to glorify Him
in every circumstance of life. Guided by its light, we put first things first, and
prize the friendship of God beyond all else. "Knowledge is a fountain of life to
him that possesseth it." Prayer Come, O Blessed Spirit of Knowledge, and
grant that I may perceive the will of the Father; show me the nothingness of
earthly things, that I may realize their vanity and use them only for Thy glory
and my own salvation, looking ever beyond them to Thee, and Thy eternal
rewards. Amen. Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE. Glory be to the Father
SEVEN TIMES. Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts

SIXTH DAY (Wednesday, 7th Week of

Easter)
If Thou take Thy grace away, nothing pure in man will stay, All his good is
turn'd to ill. The Gift of Understanding Understanding, as a gift of the Holy
Spirit, helps us to grasp the meaning of the truths of our holy religion BY faith
we know them, but by Understanding we learn to appreciate and relish them.
It enables us to penetrate the inner meaning of revealed truths and through
them to be quickened to newness of life. Our faith ceases to be sterile and
inactive, but inspires a mode of life that bears eloquent testimony to the faith
that is in us; we begin to "walk worthy of God in all things pleasing, and
increasing in the knowledge of God." Prayer Come, O Spirit of Understanding,
and enlighten our minds, that we may know and believe all the mysteries of
salvation; and may merit at last to see the eternal light in Thy Light; and in the
light of glory to have a clear vision of Thee and the Father and the Son. Amen.
Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE. Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES. Act
of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts

SEVENTH DAY (Thursday, 7th Week of

Easter)
Heal our wounds--our strength renews; On our dryness pour Thy dew, Wash
the stains of guilt away. The Gift of Counsel The gift of Counsel endows the
soul with supernatural prudence, enabling it to judge promptly and rightly
what must done, especially in difficult circumstances. Counsel applies the
principles furnished by Knowledge and Understanding to the innumerable
concrete cases that confront us in the course of our daily duty as parents,
teachers, public servants, and Christian citizens. Counsel is supernatural
common sense, a priceless treasure in the quest of salvation. "Above all these
things, pray to the Most High, that He may direct thy way in truth." Prayer
Come, O Spirit of Counsel, help and guide me in all my ways, that I may
always do Thy holy will. Incline my heart to that which is good; turn it away
from all that is evil, and direct me by the straight path of Thy commandments
to that goal of eternal life for which I long. Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE.
Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES. Act of Consecration, Prayer for the
Seven Gifts

EIGHTH DAY (Friday, 7th Week of Easter)

Bend the stubborn heart and will, melt the frozen warm the chill. Guide the
steps that go astray! The Gift of Wisdom Embodying all the other gifts, as
charity embraces all the other virtues, Wisdom is the most perfect of the gifts.
Of wisdom it is written "all good things came to me with her, and innumerable
riches through her hands." It is the gift of Wisdom that strengthens our faith,
fortifies hope, perfects charity, and promotes the practice of virtue in the
highest degree. Wisdom enlightens the mind to discern and relish things
divine, in the appreciation of which earthly joys lose their savor, whilst the
Cross of Christ yields a divine sweetness according to the words of the Saviour:
"Take up thy cross and follow me, for my yoke is sweet and my burden light.
Prayer Come, O Spirit of Wisdom, and reveal to my soul the mysteries of
heavenly things, their exceeding greatness, power and beauty. Teach me to
love them above and beyond all the passing joys and satisfactions of earth.
Help me to attain them and possess them for ever. Amen. Our Father and Hail
Mary ONCE. Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES. Act of Consecration,
Prayer for the Seven Gifts
 NINTH DAY (Saturday, Vigil of Pentecost)
Thou, on those who evermore Thee confess and Thee Adore, in Thy sevenfold
gift, Descend; Give Them Comfort when they die; Give them Life with Thee on
high; Give them joys which never end. Amen The Fruits of the Holy Spirit The
gifts of the Holy Spirit perfect the supernatural virtues by enabling us to
practice them with greater docility to divine inspiration. As we grow in the
knowledge and love of God under the direction of the Holy Spirit, our service
becomes more sincere and generous, the practice of virtue more perfect. Such
acts of virtue leave the heart filled with joy and consolation and are known as
Fruits of the Holy Spirit. These Fruits in turn render the practice of virtue
more attractive and become a powerful incentive for still greater efforts in the
service of God, to serve Whom is to reign.

Prayer
Come, O Divine Spirit, fill my heart with Thy heavenly fruits, Thy charity, joy,
peace, patience, benignity, goodness, faith, mildness, and temperance, that I
may never weary in the service of God, but by continued faithful submission to
Thy inspiration may merit to be united eternally with Thee in the love of the
Father and the Son. Amen.

Our Father and Hail Mary Once. Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.