Novena for the Feast of Pentecost

 A novena is a nine day prayer recalling the nine days that Mary and the Apostles remained in the upper room praying for the promised Spirit. Because of the link between the first novena and Pentecost, the “Novena to the Holy Spirit” is considered the chief of all novenas. Thus it is a great practice to imitate the Apostles and spend these days before Pentecost, using this novena or other prayers, to beg for the gifts of the Holy Spirit, that by obtaining them, we may use them to love and serve God more perfectly.

The novena begins on the Friday after Ascension Thursday (this year May 30) and ends nine days later on the Saturday (this year June 7) before Pentecost Sunday.

Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Novena to the Holy Spirit

First Day: Come, O Holy Spirit, the Lord and Lifegiver; take up Thy dwelling within my soul, and make of it Thy sacred temple. Make me live by grace as an adopted son of God. Pervade all the energies of my soul, and create in me a fountain of living water springing up into life everlasting.
*Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

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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.
*Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

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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 Thy light; and in the light of glory to have the clear vision of Thee and the Father and the Son.
*Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

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Fourth 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 path of Thy Commandments to the goal of eternal life for which I long.
*Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

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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.
*Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

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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 Thy glory and the salvation of Thy creatures. May we always be very faithful in putting Thy rewards before every earthly gift.
*Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

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Seventh Day: Come, O Spirit of Piety, possess my heart; incline it to a true faith in Thee, to a holy love of Thee, my God, that with my whole soul I may seek Thee, and find Thee my best, my truest joy.
*Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

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Eighth Day: Come, O Spirit of holy Fear, penetrate my inmost heart, that I may set Thee, my Lord and God, before my face forever; and shun off things that can offend Thee, so that I may be made worthy to appear before the pure eyes of Thy divine Majesty in the heaven of heavens, where Thou livest and reignest in the unity of the Ever-blessed Trinity, God, world without end.
*Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

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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.
*Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.