“For greater things you were born.” (Ven. Mother Luisita)
SUNDAY, May 23rd Jn. 20:19-23 “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming.” (Jn. 16:12-13)
- Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to guide His Church to all truth! The Holy Spirit also guides individuals who are open and docile to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. Saint Pope John XXIII said, ‘Saints are the masterpieces of the Holy Spirit!”
- God the Father created us. God the Son saves us, if we keep His commandments. God the Holy Spirit sanctifies us, if we are humble and docile to His promptings.
- On this glorious Solemnity of Pentecost, let us beg for the grace to recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit and obey His promptings in our daily lives!
FIRE, FIRE, FIRE—COME HOLY SPIRIT, COME!!!
Pentecost arrived fifty days after Jesus rose from the dead by means of a powerful wind and fiery tongues that settled over the heads of the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary. This was the official Birthday of the Catholic Church—a day for immense rejoicing!
As a consequence, the Apostles who received this Fire, Fire, Fire of the Holy Spirit were transformed into martyrs—valiant soldiers and witnesses of the Risen Jesus by the shedding of their blood. A motley group of fearful, cowardly, confused, and doubtful men, they underwent a transformation and became valiant, courageous, eloquent, creative men who impressed the whole world. Despite their lack of formal education, there was no one who could withstand their eloquence, conviction, and love for Jesus who died and rose from the dead!
PERSONAL PENTECOST EXPERIENCE. As we age our health declines, as well as our physical energies, abilities and human capacities—this is part and parcel of our human condition inherited from our first parents, Adam and Eve, due to Original Sin. However, the Holy Spirit, who is truly God, the Third Person of the most Blessed Trinity, never ages nor declines in strength, nor does His Knowledge, Wisdom, Understanding and Strength decline. We can tap into the power, presence, and potency of the Holy Spirit at any time and place if we so desire. In a word, we can experience our own personal Pentecost at will, upon a time of our own choosing. Therefore, why not prepare for our own Pentecost and humbly beg through the intercession of Mary, who is the Mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit, for this experience right now? Indeed, the Holy Spirit is patiently waiting for each and every one of us to invite Him into our mind, memory, understanding, emotions, heart, will, and body—in a word, He wants to take possession of our whole being; it all depends on our free will to accept this free invitation of the Holy Spirit, who is The Sweet Guest of our soul!
NOVENA PAR EXCELLENCE! The first novena, about 2000 years ago, that culminated on Pentecost day with the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and Mary can be renewed right now. Actually, the word NOVENA means nine. Therefore, we would like to offer to you a simple Novena to the Holy Spirit. This consists of the following: every day for nine days, we invite you, as well as your family and friends, to do something to show your love, gratitude and appreciation for the Holy Spirit. Let us give Him this Gift! Ironic as it may seem, in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, among the many titles for the Holy Spirit is precisely that, the “Gift of Gifts”. However, now we desire to generously offer Him our humble gifts – nine plus one (a tenth) in living out our Novena. Off we go!
DAY 1. PRAYER. Every day we invite you to pray to the Holy Spirit. Prayers are numerous and many are exceedingly beautiful and poetic. But I will offer a very simple prayer to the Holy Spirit and one easy to memorize. It is the following: “Come Holy Spirit, come, through the Heart of Mary!” Saint Louis de Montfort asserts: “Those who love Mary, the Holy Spirit flings Himself into their souls.”
DAY 2. ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. This Book of the Bible, authored by Saint Luke, is known as the Gospel of the Holy Spirit. In this action book of the Bible, we encounter in almost every chapter the powerful Presence of the Holy Spirit. This will be more demanding, but one day in your novena read the Acts of the Apostles, the full 28 chapters!!! No doubt, by a prayerful reading of The Acts of the Apostles you get to see first-hand the various powerful, creative, and fascinating ways that the Holy Spirit is building up the Primitive Church by using docile instruments!
DAY 3. SING A SONG/HYMN TO THE HOLY SPIRIT! There are many! One of the classics is simply Come Holy Ghost…with the several strophes. Or if you prefer the Latin, Veni Sancte Spiritus. Or if you like: Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me…” With respect to song, Saint Augustine encourages us: “He who sings, prays twice!” Better yet, before or after your family Rosary, sing to the Holy Spirit with your whole family!
DAY 4. READ A BOOK/ CHAPTER ON THE HOLY SPIRIT. There are many books written on the Holy Spirit; choose the one that you like best. A book that I have found to be very helpful is “In the School of the Holy Spirit” by author Father Jacque Philippe. Short, easy to read and understand, this work can inspire you to love the Holy Spirit all the more!
DAY 5. THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Many Catholics are oblivious to the very important fact that upon receiving the Sacrament of Baptism, not only are we transformed into living Tabernacles of the Blessed Trinity, but we also receive many Gifts and among these are the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Pray that they become operative in your life.
DAY 6. MEMORIZE THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. These Gifts are very important in our spiritual life if we truly desire to become saints, as we are called to be, in the words of Jesus: “Be Holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” (Mt. 5:48) The Church Fathers compare our spiritual life to being in a SAILBOAT with seven-sails. To glide with speed and graceful ease to the shore, which is symbolic of heaven, we must open up the sails to the wind, for it is the wind in the sails that transports the boat to the shore with graceful ease. The boat is our soul; the seven sails are the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit, the wind is the Power of the Holy Spirit, and the shore is heaven. Therefore, let us memorize and ask the Holy Spirit to activate these SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: 1) Wisdom, 2) Knowledge, 3) Understanding, 4) Counsel, 5) Fortitude, 6) Piety, and 7) Fear of the Lord. May these Seven Gifts powered by the Holy Spirit compel us to grow in holiness and arrive at the eternal shores of salvation!
DAY 7. PRAYER AND SACRIFICE. Our soaring high in the spiritual life can be compared to a bird in flight with two wings. A wounded bird with one wing is land-bound. But with two healthy wings, the bird can soar into the heights and perch on the highest mountain. Likewise, in our spiritual life not only must we pray, but we must also practice penance and offer up sacrifices. Our Lady of Fatima said that many souls are lost because people do not offer up prayers and SACRIFICES. Therefore, make a sacrifice, give up something, renounce something you like, to spur the divine invasion of the Holy Spirit in your soul. Our example: Mary and the Apostles prayed and fasted for nine days and nights. (Acts 2:1-13)
DAY 8. FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Pray that you will experience the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. According to the teaching of Saint Thomas Aquinas, the Fruits of the Holy Spirit are nothing less than the inner sweetness that we experience in our souls when we correspond openly to the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. These fruits are the following: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Gal. 5:22-23)
DAY 9. GET TO KNOW THE HOLY SPIRIT: TITLES/NAMES FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT. Many are the titles/names for the Holy Spirit. The more we get to know exactly Who the Holy Spirit is through the multiplicity of His Names, we can get to know Him all the more! Here are a few for your growth in knowledge and love for the Holy Spirit: Counselor, Consoler, Interior Master, Paraclete, Advocate, Gift of God, Finger of God, Interior Architect, Sweet Guest of the Soul… (Refer to the Sequence in the Missal for the Solemnity of Pentecost.)
DAY 10. DOCILITY TO THE HOLY SPIRIT. Saint Pope John XXIII stated: “The saints are the Masterpieces of the Holy Spirit.” Father Jacques Philippe states unequivocally that our sanctification and growth in holiness depends on one factor: DOCILITY TO THE HOLY SPIRIT! We must make a constant and concerted effort to be more docile to the Heavenly inspirations of the Holy Spirit. For that reason, let us turn to the one who was always most docile to the Holy Spirit, Mary, the Mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit, and pray often: “Come Holy Spirit, come through the Heart of Mary.”
A final challenge for every day of the Nine Days plus One Novena: pray the following prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Among the many writings that I have done over the years, this prayer for the activation of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, I believe to be one of the most simple, but also most sublime. Below is my prayer to be open to the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit … By Father Edward Broom, OMV
Come Holy Spirit, come fill my heart with your heavenly love. Enlighten my mind so that I may know the Truth, live the Truth, and be willing to die for the Truth.
Come Holy Spirit, come in the dark and lonely moments of my life, come to console me and comfort me. You who are the Sweet Guest of the soul, make me aware of your constant and living presence, so that I recognize that I am never alone because you are with me as a Faithful Friend.
Come Holy Spirit, come, you who are the Interior Master, teach me how to pray. I do not know how to pray well. I implore you to intercede for me with ineffable groans so that I can cry out: “Abba, Father!”
Come Holy Spirit, come in moments of doubt and confusion, be my light and counselor. Help me to make decisions, not according to my will but according to your holy will.
Come Holy Spirit, come in moments of weakness and give me strength. You who are the courage and strength of the martyrs, obtain for me interior strength to fight against sin, my fallen human nature, and anything that is not pleasing to you.
Come Holy Spirit, come, grant me a filial love for you and a sincere love for my neighbor, especially for those I live with and meet every day. Set my heart on fire with love.
Come Holy Spirit, come sanctify me with your presence. You who are the sanctifier, attain for me an ardent yearning for holiness of life. “Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” May I attain holiness of life so as to attain the promise of eternal life.
Come Holy Spirit, come produce in me a reverential fear that motivates me to avoid all that is displeasing to you, and to avoid any persons, places, things, or circumstances that could damage my friendship with you.
Come Mary, Mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit, Temple of the Holy Spirit, you who had the most intimate and constant union with the Holy Spirit, pray for me so that my knowledge and love of the Holy Spirit will grow daily until I am with you forever in heaven, worshiping forever the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
