The Original Novena

Today we begin our nine day prayer journey from the Ascension of Our Lord to the coming of the Holy Ghost on Pentecost. There are many novenas that have become traditional among the faithful, but this is the original. For a succinct explanation of novenas (and links to dozens of traditional favorites), visit the Fisheaters website:

Its name deriving from the Latin word "novem," meaning "nine," a novena is nine days' private or public devotion in the Catholic Church to obtain special graces. Though they are not part of our liturgy and remain a "popular devotion" (a very few are prayed paraliturgically), they've been prayed since the very beginning of the Church -- and before its official beginning: Mary and the Apostles prayed from His Ascension to the Pentecost, a period of nine days (Acts 1). Also, a nine-day period of supplication was a pagan Roman and Eastern practice, so novenas were easily accepted by the earliest converts in these lands.

We will be offering the Novena to the Holy Spirit for the Seven Gifts as found here because I really like the additional prayers that are offered on the front page. I love that Pentecost, while among the greatest liturgical celebrations of the year, remains a wholly spiritual event--that is, void of all commercialism. While some of us may don red to Mass next Sunday or even enjoy some celebratory foods, there is no peddling of must-have decorations or expectation of exquisitely wrapped gifts. The only gifts are spiritual and given to us by God through the Holy Spirit. Let us, then, prepare spiritually through the prayers of this beautiful and ancient novena.

FIRST DAY (Friday, 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