Pentecost Novena

"He had shown himself alive to them after his Passion by many demonstrations: for forty days he had continued to appear to them and tell them about the kingdom of God. While at table with them, he had told them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for what the Father had promised. 'It is', he had said, 'what you have heard me speak about: John baptised with water but, not many days from now, you are going to be baptised with the Holy Spirit.'" (Acts 1:3-5 Jerusalem Bible)

This passage is seen, in part, as telling the origin of the 1st novena ever prayed by the Church, the Pentecost novena. A novena is normally a prayer said for 9 days for some specific purpose. It is not a magic formula that guarentees results. It is a time set aside to seek God's will or to ask God to act in a situation.

What happened is that Jesus told the Apostles & disciples to spend the 9 days after he ascended to Heaven praying for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. & as Scripture shows, that is exactly what they did. "With one heart all these joined constantly in prayer, together with some women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers." (Acts 1:14) We can read the results in Acts of the Apostles Chapter 2.

Since that time, the Church has recognized God's approval of this as a method of intercession. Many special novenas has sprung up & the Church has allowed many of them to be used by the faithful. But the annual Pentecost Novena is still the only official novena in the Church.

The prayer begins on Ascension Thursday (or the Thursday before Ascension if the feast is moved to the 7th Sunday of Easter). It then continues for the next 8 consecutive days ending on the Saturday before Pentecost. The Church calls for Her children to pray for a continued outpouring of the Holy Spirit in a special way at this time. This is not to say that the Church doesn't pray for this outpouring the rest of the year. This is just a special time of grace for doing so. (This yr the dates are 18 to 26 May 2007.)

There are no special forms of prayer set aside for this, however there are some prayers to the Holy Spirit that are especially appropriate for doing so. Here are 3 that could be used either individually or together. (An Our Father, Hail Mary & Glory Be can be added at the end of each day's prayer.)

Come, Holy Spirit

English
Come, Holy Spirit,

fill the hearts of Thy faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray.

O God, Who didst instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit,

grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise, and ever to rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Latin
Veni, Sancte Spiritus,

reple tuorum corda fidelium: et tui amoris in eis ignem accende.
V. Emitte Spiritum tuum, et creabuntur.

R. Et renovabis faciem terrae.
Oremus.

Deus, qui corda fidelium Sancti Spiritus illustratione docuisti:

da nobis in eodem Spiritu recta sapere; et de eius semper consolatione gaudere.

Per Christum Dominum nostrum.

Amen.

Act of Consecration to the Holy Spirit
On my knees 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,

so 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

Christ Jesus, before ascending into heaven, You promised to send the Holy Spirit to Your apostles and disciples.

Grant that the same Spirit may perfect in our lives the work of Your grace and love.

Grant us the Spirit of Fear Of The Lord that we may be filled with a loving reverence toward You.

the Spirit of Piety that we may find peace and fulfillment in the service of God while serving others;

the Spirit of Fortitude that we may bear our cross with You and, with courage, overcome the obstacles that interfere with our salvation;

the Spirit of Knowledge that we may know You and know ourselves and grow in holiness;

the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten our minds with the light of Your truth;

the Spirit of Counsel that we may choose the surest way of doing Your will, seeking first the Kingdom;

Grant us the Spirit of Wisdom that we may aspire to the things that last forever;

Teach us to be Your faithful disciples and animate us in every way with Your Spirit.

Amen.

There is also a longer version of the Novena to the Holy Spirit that includes special daily prayers available here.

Whichever version you pray, expect the Lord to answer your prayer. This is definitely a prayer that is in the perfect will of God. Ask God to cleanse you of sin & purify your heart to prepare you for this special feast.