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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 or transferred
Ascension)
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.
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts
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