Chaplet of the Holy Spirit

                                     I pray you have a blessed Feast of the Ascension!!!

With Ascension Thursday fast approaching, our thoughts should soon turn toward Pentecost Sunday.  Like the Apostles who remained in the Upper Room, praying and awaiting the promised Holy Spirit, we  also should spend the days after Ascension Thursday, praying to the Holy Spirit, imploring Him to shower us with His abundant graces.

One fitting prayer to recite especially during this time of year is the Chaplet of the Holy Spirit.  The Chaplet of the Holy Spirit was composed in 1892 by a Franciscan Capuchin missionary in order to provide the faithful an easy way to honor the Holy Ghost. The chaplet was approved by Pope Leo XIII in 1902.  This prayer is intended to be in regard to the Holy Ghost what the Rosary is in regard to the Blessed Virgin.

+               +               +

*The Chaplet of the Holy Spirit begins with three beads; on these three beads, make the Sign of the Cross, recite an Act of Contrition, and recite or sing the hymn "Come Holy Ghost." (see below for the hymn).

*Following these first three prayers, the chaplet consists of five groups of seven beads each. Before and after each group there are two large beads.

*There is a mystery for each of the five groups with meditations and applications following each mystery. Begin each group with recitation of the mystery, the meditation, and the application.  Then recite an Our Father on one of the large beads and a Hail Mary on the other large bead.  On the seven small beads recite the Glory Be.

*On the remaining two large beads after the last set of seven beads, recite an Apostles Creed on one of the beads.  On the final bead recite an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be for the intention of the Holy Father.

Chaplet of the Holy Spirit

***Sign of the Cross.
***Act of Contrition.

***Veni, Creator Spiritus VENI, Creator Spiritus,           mentes tuorum visita,           imple superna gratia quae tu creasti pectora. Qui diceris Paraclitus, altissimi donum Dei, fons vivus, ignis, caritas, et spiritalis unctio. Tu, septiformis munere, digitus paternae dexterae, Tu rite promissum Patris, sermone ditans guttura. Accende lumen sensibus: infunde amorem cordibus: infirma nostri corporis virtute firmans perpeti. Hostem repellas longius, pacemque dones protinus: ductore sic te praevio vitemus omne noxium. Per te sciamus da Patrem, noscamus atque Filium; Teque utriusque Spiritum credamus omni tempore. Deo Patri sit gloria, et Filio, qui a mortuis surrexit, ac Paraclito, in saeculorum saecula.  Amen.

Come Holy Ghost COME, Holy Ghost Creator blest, And in our souls take up Thy rest, Come with Thy grace and heavenly aid, And fill the hearts which Thou hast made. To Thee, the Comforter, we cry, To Thee, the gift of God most high, The fount of life, the fire of love, The soul's anointing from above. The sevenfold gifts of grace are Thine, O Finger of the hand Divine; True promise of the Father Thou, Who dost the tongue with speech endow. Thy light to every thought impart, And shed Thy love in every heart; Our body's poor infirmity With strength perpetual fortify. Our mortal foe afar repel, Grant us henceforth in peace to dwell; If Thou be our preventing guide, No evil can our steps betide. Make Thou to us the Father known; Teach us the Eternal Son to own, And Thee, Whose name we ever bless, Of Both the Spirit to confess. All glory while the ages run Be to the Father and the Son, Who rose from death; the same to Thee, O Holy Ghost, eternally. Amen.

***The First Mystery:  By the Holy Ghost is Jesus conceived of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Meditation: "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the Power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: and therefore also the holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35).

Application: Pray earnestly for the assistance of the Spirit of God and the intercession of Mary to imitate the virtues of Jesus Christ who is the pattern of every virtue, in order that you may be conformed to the image of the Son of God.

***Our Father once, Hail Mary once, and Glory Be 7 times

***The Second Mystery:  The Spirit of the Lord rested upon Jesus

The Meditation: "Now Jesus being baptized went up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened unto Him; and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon Him.  (Matthew 3:16).

Application:  Hold in the highest esteem the precious gift of sanctifying grace which was infused into your soul by  the Holy Ghost in Baptism. Keep the promises to whose observance you then bound yourself. By continual exercise increase your Faith, your Hope, your Charity.  Ever live as becometh a child of God and a member of the true Church of God, so that after this life you may receive heaven as your inheritance.

***Our Father once, Hail Mary once, and Glory Be 7 times

***The Third Mystery:  By the Spirit is Jesus led into the desert

The Meditation: "And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from the Jordan:  and was led by the Spirit into the desert for the space of forty days, and was tempted by the devil (Luke 4:1, 2).

Application: Be ever thankful for the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit given to you in Confirmation, for the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, of counsel and fortitude, of knowledge and piety, and of the fear of the Lord.  Faithfully obey your divine Guide, so that you may act manfully in all the perils of this life and in all temptations, as becomes a perfect Christian and a strong athlete of Jesus Christ.

***Our Father once, Hail Mary once, and Glory Be 7 times

***The Fourth Mystery:  The Holy Ghost in the Church

The Meditation: "And suddenly there came from Heaven a sound as of a mighty wind coming, where they were sitting; and they were filled with the Holy Ghost, speaking the wonderful works of God" (Acts 2:2, 4, 11).

Application: Give thanks to God that He has made you a child of His Church which is always quickened and governed by His divine Spirit, who was sent into the world on the day of Pentecost.  Hear and follow the sovereign Pontiff who teaches infallibly through the Holy Spirit, and the Church which is the pillar and ground of truth.  Hold fast her doctrines, maintain her cause, defend her rights.

***Our Father once, Hail Mary once, and Glory Be 7 times

***The Fifth Mystery:  The Holy Ghost in the soul of the just man

The Meditation: "Know ye not that your members are the temple of the Holy Ghost, Who is in you?" (I Cor. 6:19). "Extinguish not the Spirit:" (1 Thess. 5:19). "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God in Whom ye are sealed unto the day of redemption:" (Eph. 4:30).

Application: Be ever mindful of the Holy Ghost Who is within you, and make every effort to be pure in mind and body.  Faithfully obey His divine inspirations, that you may bring forth the fruits of the Spirit:  which are charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, long-suffering, meekness, faith, moderation, continence, and chastity.

***Our Father once, Hail Mary once, and Glory Be 7 times

***Conclude with the Apostles' Creed.

***Recite one Our Father and one Hail Mary and Glory be to the Father for the intentions of the Pope.

God bless!

+JMJ+