Come, Holy Spirit! - Pentecost Novena

Karlskirche, Vienna

After Our Lord's Ascension, the disciples gathered around Mary in the Upper Room and “devoted themselves with one accord to prayer" waiting for the coming of the Paraclete. This time of waiting and preparation aids in opening the heart to receive the fire of God's incomprehensible and infinite Love. As this was true two-thousand years ago, it is also true today. It is with great joy that our Community joins this expectant prayer of the Church by praying our annual Pentecost novena (attributed to the Holy Ghost Fathers). 

We invite you to join in "one accord" with us as we begin this beautiful nine-day preparation. May Mary, Mother of the Church, be near us and guide our hearts to be receptive to the great gifts and graces our Loving God wishes to bestow upon us.

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MEDITATION FOR THE FIRST DAY: ON THE HOLY GHOST

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 Ghost 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 the 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."

Let us pray: Almighty and eternal God, Who has vouchsafed to regenerate us by water and the Holy Ghost, and hast given us forgiveness of all sins, vouchsafe to send forth from Heaven upon us Thy 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. ​

Please follow the links below for subsequent days of the Novena.

Day 2 - Fear of the Lord

Day 6 - Understanding

Day 3 - Piety

Day 7 - Counsel

Day 4 - Fortitude

Day 8 - Wisdom

Day 5 - Knowledge

Day 9 - The 12 Fruits