Between Ascension Thursday and Pentecost Sunday, the Apostles and the
Blessed Virgin Mary spent nine days in prayer, waiting for the fulfillment
of Christ's promise to send His Spirit. This was the origin of the novena,
or nine-day prayer, that became one of the most popular forms of Christian
intercessory prayer (prayer asking God for something).
From the earliest days of the Church, the period between Ascension and
Pentecost has been celebrated by praying the Novena to the Holy Ghost,
asking God the Father to send His Spirit and to grant us the gifts and
fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Meditation
for the First Day—"The Holy Ghost":
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 Ghost 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."
Prayers for the First Day:
Almighty and eternal God, Who hast vouchsafed to regenerate us by water and
the Holy Ghost, and hast given us forgiveness of 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.
Meditation
for the Second Day—"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."
Prayers for the Second Day:
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.
Meditation
for the Third Day—"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.
Prayers for the Third Day:
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.
Meditation
for the Fourth Day—"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 undertake 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."
Prayers for the Fourth Day:
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.
Meditation
for the Fifth Day—"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."
Prayers for the Fifth Day:
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.
Meditation
for the Sixth Day—"The Gift of Understanding":
Understanding, as a gift of the Holy Ghost, 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."
Prayers for the Sixth Day:
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.
Meditation
for the Seventh Day—"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."
Prayers for the Seventh Day:
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.
Meditation
for the Eighth Day—"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 Savior: "Take up thy cross
and follow me, for my yoke is sweet and my burden light."
Prayers for the Eighth Day:
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.
Meditation
for the Ninth Day—"The Fruits of the Holy Ghost":
The gifts of the Holy Ghost 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 Ghost, 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 Ghost. 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 for the Ninth Day:
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.