Next Sunday, we celebrate the feast of Pentecost. On the first Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples to transform them from timid fisherman into fearless evangelists. In the first reading at each mass during the Easter Sunday, we hear the exploits of the disciples as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. We hear of mighty deeds wrought through them and of their great excitement. Perhaps more importantly, we hear testimony of how the disciples manifested the “fruit of the Spirit,” that is , “love, joy, and peace” (Gal 5:22); and they did so irrespective of how they themselves were treated by others. Stephen, facing death, was so at peace that he had “the face of an angel” (Acts 6:15). As he was dying, he showed Christ’s love by praying for his enemies (7:60). The other disciples, after being whipped, “left rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the Name” (Acts 5:41). St. Luke recorded these events for us, not for curiosity’s sake, but to show us the exciting life to which God calls us through our baptism. Next Sunday is Pentecost. let us join with the church this week in praying the Novena to the Holy Spirit, asking God for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This requires a willingness to expand our focus beyond our own personal desires, in order to be drawn more fully into God’s plan for ourselves, our loved ones, and all those around us.

-Fr. Tom

After each day’s prayer, pray the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be…

First Day
Come, O Holy Spirit, the Lord and Life giver; take up Your dwelling within my soul, and make of it Your sacred temple. Make me live by grace as a child of God. Pervade all the energies of my soul, and create in me a fountain of living water springing up into life everlasting. etc.

Second Day
Come, O Spirit of Wisdom, and reveal to my soul the mysteries of heavenly things, their exceeding greatness, and power, and beauty. Teach me to love them above and beyond all the passing joys and satisfactions of earth. Show me the way by which I may be able to attain to them and possess them, and hold them hereafter, my own forever.

Third 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 Your light; and in the light of glory to have the clear vision of You and the Father and the Son.

Fourth Day
Come, O Spirit of Counsel, help and guide me in all my ways, that I may always do Your holy will. Incline my heart to that which is good, turn it away from all that is evil, and direct me by the path of Your Commandments to the goal of eternal life for which I long.

Fifth Day
Come, O Spirit of Fortitude, and give fortitude to our souls. Make our hearts strong in all trials and in all distress, pouring forth abundantly into them the gifts of strength, that we may be able to resist the attacks of the devil.

Sixth Day
Come, O Spirit of Knowledge, and make us understand and despise the emptiness and nothingness of the world. Give us grace to use the world only for Your glory and the salvation of Your creatures. May we always be very faithful in putting Your rewards before every earthly gift.

Seventh Day
Come, O Spirit of Piety, possess my heart; incline it to a true faith in You, to a holy love of You, my God, that with my whole soul I may seek You, and find You my best, my truest joy.

Eighth Day
Come, O Spirit of holy Fear, penetrate my inmost heart, that I may set You, my Lord and God, before my face forever; and shun off things that can offend You, so that I may be made worthy to appear before the pure eyes of Your divine Majesty in the heaven of heavens, where You live and reign in the unity of the Ever-blessed Trinity, God, world without end.

Ninth Day
Come, O Holy Comforter, and grant us a relish for heavenly things. Produce in our souls the flowers and fruits of virtue, so that, being filled with all sweetness and joy in the pursuit of good, we may attain unto eternal blessedness.