Novena to the Holy Spirit (Day 9)

Novena to the Holy Spirit

Ninth Day

The fruits of the Holy Spirit

“Come Holy Ghost!” © GodAloneSufficeth.com, 2012

 “The gifts of the Holy Spirit perfect the supernatural virtues by enabling us to practice them with greater docility to divine inspiration. As we grow in the knowledge and love of God under the direction of the Holy Spirit, our service becomes more sincere and generous, the practice of virtue more perfect. Such acts of virtue leave the heart filled with joy and consolation and are known as the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. These fruits in turn render the practice of virtue more attractive and become a powerful incentive for still greater efforts in the service of God, to serve Whom is to reign.”

Prayer

 “Come, O Divine Spirit, fill my heart with Your heavenly fruits, Your charity, joy, peace, patience. benignity, goodness, faith, mildness, and temperance, that I may never weary in the service of God, but by continued faithful submission to Your inspiration, may merit to be united eternally with You in the love of the Father and the Son.”Amen.

Our Father ~ Hail Mary ~ Glory Be to the Father (seven times) ~ Act of Consecration (see Novena to the Holy Spirit (Day 1))

Prayer for the Seven Gifts

 “Almighty and Eternal God, Who has vouchsafed to regenerate us by the water and the Holy Spirit, and has given us forgiveness of 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.

- Novena taken from Novena and Prayers to the Holy Spirit, Original Text by Daniel A. Lord, S.J., P. 2 & 16

 

Novena to the Holy Spirit (Day 8)

Novena to the Holy Spirit

Eighth Day

The Gift of Wisdom

“Come Holy Ghost!” © GodAloneSufficeth.com, 2012

 “Embodying all the other gifts, as charity embraces all other virtues, Wisdom is the most perfect of the gifts. Of wisdom it is written “all good things came to me with her, and innumerable riches through her hands.” It is the gift of Wisdom that strengthens our faith, fortifies hope, and perfects charity, and promotes the practice of virtue in the highest degree. Wisdom enlightens the mind to discern and relish things divine, in the appreciation of which earthly joys lose their savor, while the Cross of Christ yields a divine sweetness according to the words of the Savior: ‘Take up thy cross and follow Me, for My yoke is sweet, and My burden light.’”

Prayer

 “Come, O Blessed Spirit of Wisdom, and reveal to my soul the mysteries of heavenly things, their exceeding greatness, power and beauty. Teach me to love them above and beyond all passing joys and satisfactions of the earth. Help me to attain them and posses them forever.” Amen

Our Father ~ Hail Mary ~ Glory Be to the Father (seven times) ~ Act of Consecration (see Novena to the Holy Spirit (Day 1))

Prayer for the Seven Gifts

 “Almighty and Eternal God, Who has vouchsafed to regenerate us by the water and the Holy Spirit, and has given us forgiveness of 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.

- Novena taken from Novena and Prayers to the Holy Spirit, Original Text by Daniel A. Lord, S.J., P. 2 & 15

Novena to the Holy Spirit (Day 7)

Novena to the Holy Spirit

Seventh Day

The Gift of Counsel

 

“Come Holy Ghost!” © GodAloneSufficeth.com, 2012

“The gift of Counsel endows the soul with supernatural prudence, enabling it to judge promptly and rightly what must be done, especially in difficult circumstances. Counsel applies the principles furnished by Knowledge and Understanding to the innumerable concrete cases that confront us in the course of our daily duty as parents, teachers, public servants and Christian citizens. Counsel is supernatural common sense, a priceless treasure in the quest of salvation. ‘Above all these things, pray to the Most High, that He may direct our way in truth.’”

Prayer

“Come, O Blessed Spirit of Counsel, help and guide me in all my ways, that I may always do your holy will. Incline my heart to that which is good; turn it away from all that is evil, and direct me by the straight path if Your commandments to that goal of Eternal Life for which I long.” Amen.

Our Father ~ Hail Mary ~ Glory Be to the Father (seven times) ~ Act of Consecration (see Novena to the Holy Spirit (Day 1))

Prayer for the Seven Gifts

“Almighty and Eternal God, Who has vouchsafed to regenerate us by the water and the Holy Spirit, and has given us forgiveness of 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.

- Novena taken from Novena and Prayers to the Holy Spirit, Original Text by Daniel A. Lord, S.J., P. 2 & 13

Happy Feast Day Mary Help of Christians!!!

Mary Help of Christians – Pray for Us! © GodAloneSufficeth.com, 2012

 Hello everyone! Today we celebrate the Feast of Mary Help of Christians. This is one of my top ten favorite days of the year. I have always had a strong devotion to Our Lady under the title of “Mary Help of Christians.” After all, I live in the “fallout zone of her grace,” which daily bombards Earth from where Heaven touches it – at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians at Holy Hill. She has always been there for me, and as a Catholic Christian I have always found the help through her.

 Our Lady has been invoked under the title of Mary Help of Christians by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church for centuries. This devotion has been traced back as far as 1030 A.D. At that time, Our Lady was beseeched as the Help of Christians to save Christian Europe and Africa from the invading Ottoman Turks. However, it was not until the year 1815 that, under the Pontificate of Pope Pius the VII, the Feast of Mary Help of Christians was instituted to be celebrated on May 24.

 The Pope had been exiled and  imprisoned by Napoleon Bonaparte for over three years. In his cell, Pope Pius VII prayed to Our Lady, under the title of Mary Help of Christians, for his release. He promised, should he be allowed to go back to Rome, that he would institute a Feast to Our Lady under that treasured title. After the Battle of Leipzig, in January of 1814, the imprisoned Pontiff was miraculously granted his freedom on March 17, 1814. It was the Vigil of the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy. He re-entered Rome triumphantly on May 24, 1814. On the 15 of September of the following year, Pope Pius VII declared that the Feast of Mary Help of Christians should forever more be celebrated on the anniversary of his triumphant re-entry into Rome – May 24^th.

 So here we are, 198 years later celebrating the Feast of Our Blessed Lady, Mary Help of Christians. She is our help, our truest and surest guide to Jesus Christ. She will help us get to Heaven, if only we invoke her.

Mary Help of Christians – Help us get to Heaven! © GodAloneSufficeth.com, 2012

 As I mentioned in my opening paragraph, I have a strong devotion to Mary Help of Christians. As often as I have invoked her, she has come though – often bringing the result I had requested in a way I had not fathomed possible.

  My devotion to Mary Help of Christians has been shaped form my youngest days by daily attendance at her National Shrine at the Basilica of Holy Hill. God has given me the immense privilege of living in the “spiritual fallout zone” of that holy place. I, in turn, try to spend as much time and serve as many Masses as possible Mary’s Holy Hill.

 The Carmelite Friars who run the Shrine daily share their deeply beautiful and profound spirituality in all of the Masses they celebrate and retreats over which they preside. Today’s Holy Mass, offered in celebration on the Shrine’s Patroness’ name day – Mary Help of Christians was no different. Indeed, it was such an honor to serve it. O God! Thank you for this priceless treasure. O Mary Help of Christians, help me get to Heaven.

Some Pictures of the today’s Holy Mass offered at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians at Holy Hill:

 

2012 Mass of Mary Help of Christians at the Basilica of Holy Hill – Pict 1 © GodAloneSufficeth.com, 2012 Photographer EAU

2012 Mass of Mary Help of Christians at the Basilica of Holy Hill – Pict 2 © GodAloneSufficeth.com, 2012 Photographer EAU

2012 Mass of Mary Help of Christians at the Basilica of Holy Hill – Pict 3 © GodAloneSufficeth.com, 2012 Photographer EAU

2012 Mass of Mary Help of Christians at the Basilica of Holy Hill – Pict 4 © GodAloneSufficeth.com, 2012 Photographer EAU

Novena to the Holy Spirit (Day 6)

“Come Holy Ghost!” © GodAloneSufficeth.com, 2012

 Imagine yourself in the Citadel with the Apostles just after Jesus has Ascended to His Father. Consider the anxiety and bewilderment present in the room. You Contemplate how the Master, after teaching and counseling for three years, after dying on the cross and rising again three days later, after spending forty glorious days with the chosen band in His risen body has just Ascended into Heaven. You and the other Apostles were speaking with Him and all of a sudden the tips of His toes are disappearing behind a cloud. You were all frightened that day so you fled to the only place that felt familiar – the Upper Room – and barricaded yourself in.

 Now, six days later, you all are still in Citadel with the other Apostles. The immediate shock has left but you are still in a daze. You think “how could He abandon us like that.” Then you remember the Master’s promise “not to leave you orphans, but to send another.” Who was it He promised to send? You think hard. Then you remember His words, “I will send the Advocate, the Holy Spirit.” On one hand this brings a wave of relief, on the other hand it brings a new wave of anxiety. The thought of being overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and Baptized in His fire is a little unnerving.

 You go and seek Mary, Jesus’ Mother, also in the room with you. She was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit a long time ago, when in the Mystery of the Incarnation, His word was made flesh in her womb. She reassures you that there is nothing to fear. “God is Love!”

 As you meditate on this, please join in praying the sixth day of the Novena to the Holy Spirit.

Novena to the Holy Spirit

Sixth Day

The Gift of Understanding

 “The Gift of Understanding, as a gift of the Holy Spirit, helps us to grasp the meaning of the truths of our holy religion. By faith we know them, but by Understanding we learn to appreciate and relish them. It enables us to penetrate the inner meaning of revealed truths and through them to be quickened to newness of life. Our faith ceases to be sterile and inactive, but inspires a mode of life that bears eloquent testimony to the faith that is in us; we begin to ‘talk worthy of God in all things pleasing, and increasing in the knowledge of God.’”

Prayer

 “Come, O Blessed Spirit of Understanding, and enlighten our minds, that we may know and believe all the mysteries of salvation; and may merit at last to see the eternal light in Your light; and in the light of glory to have a clear vision of You and the Father and the Son.” Amen

Our Father ~ Hail Mary ~ Glory Be to the Father (seven times) ~ Act of Consecration (see Novena to the Holy Spirit (Day 1))

Prayer for the Seven Gifts

 “Almighty and Eternal God, Who has vouchsafed to regenerate us by the water and the Holy Spirit, and has given us forgiveness of 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.

- Novena taken from Novena and Prayers to the Holy Spirit, Original Text by Daniel A. Lord, S.J., P. 2 & 11

Novena to the Holy Spirit (Day 5)

 

“Come Holy Ghost!” © GodAloneSufficeth.com, 2012

 Do you comprehend the difference between authentic knowledge and mere information? In this techy age, many people don’t even know that there is a difference between knowledge and information –so much has the fine line been blurred. It has been said that we are “drowning in information but starving for knowledge (Rutherford David Rogers- 1915),”and how accurate that statement is. We daily exchange sound bytes of information in a futile effort to gain meaningful knowledge. However, searching for valid knowledge in this manner can be compared to a dog chasing his tail; around and around we go as we always come back looking for veritable knowledge among the same sources of novel information that previously disappointed us. This cycle can only be broken by the Omniscient God. He sends upon us the Holy Spirit Who is the source of all true knowledge and Who gives freely to each and everyone who calls upon Him.

 Among the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit, one of the most needed and perhaps most overlooked is the gift if knowledge. In these last few days before the Solemnity of Pentecost, let us ask the Holy Spirit for that authentic knowledge and pray the Fifth Day of the Novena to the Holy Spirit.

Novena to the Holy Spirit

Fifth Day

The Gift of Knowledge

 “The gift of Knowledge enables the soul to evaluate created things at their true worth in relation to God. Knowledge unmasks the pretense of creatures, reveals their emptiness, and points out their only true purpose as instruments in the service of God. It shows us the loving care of God even in adversity, and directs us to glorify Him in every circumstance of life. Guided by its light, we put first things first, and prize the friendship of God beyond all else. ‘Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesses it.’”

Prayer

 “Come, O Blessed Spirit of Knowledge, and grant that I may perceive the will of the Father; show me the nothingness of earthly things, that I may realize their vanity and use them only for Your glory and my own salvation, looking ever beyond them to You and Your eternal rewards.” Amen.

Our Father ~ Hail Mary ~ Glory Be to the Father (seven times) ~ Act of Consecration (see Novena to the Holy Spirit (Day 1))

Prayer for the Seven Gifts

 “Almighty and Eternal God, Who has vouchsafed to regenerate us by the water and the Holy Spirit, and has given us forgiveness of 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.

- Novena taken from Novena and Prayers to the Holy Spirit, Original Text by Daniel A. Lord, S.J., P. 2 & 9

Novena to the Holy Spirit (Day 4)

 

“Come Holy Ghost!” © GodAloneSufficeth.com, 2012

 When the Holy Spirit – the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity – seals us in the Sacrament of Confirmation, He brings Seven Gifts. One of these gifts is the Gift of Fortitude, which strengthens us against temptation and empowers us to boldly proclaim the Gospel in word and example. We have seen the effects of the Gift of Fortitude in the example set by the martyrs – and in particular the example set by the Apostles. One day, they’re barricaded in the Upper Room huddled in fear, and then the Holy Spirit comes upon them on Pentecost and suddenly they have no fear of death or bodily harm. In fact not only do they have no fear of martyrdom, they embrace the fact that they have been found worthy to die like the Master.

 Now, I am not saying that we are all called to be martyrs in the sense that we physically die for Jesus Christ. No, but there is a white martyrdom which we all suffer daily. There are temptations hurled at us by the world, the flesh and the Devil; insults and reproaches heaped on us by those who hate or misunderstand our faith, even our own Federal Government is trying to mandate that our Catholic hospitals and schools provide free contraception, abortifacients and sterilizations – which we under no circumstances may provide. All of this we must face. It seems overwhelming unless we have fortitude. So with the Solemnity of Pentecost just six days away, let us today ask the Holy Spirit for His gift of Fortitude.    

Novena to the Holy Spirit

Fourth Day

The Gift of Fortitude

 “By the gift of Fortitude, the soul is strengthened against natural fear, and supported to the end in the performance of duty. Fortitude imparts to the will an impulse and energy which move it to undertake without hesitancy the most arduous tasks, to face dangers, to trample under foot human respect, and to endure without complaint the slow martyrdom of even lifelong tribulation. ‘He that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved.’”

Prayer

 “Come, O Blessed Spirit of Fortitude, uphold my soul in times of trouble and adversity, sustain my efforts after holiness, strengthen my weakness, give me courage against all the assaults of my enemies, that I may never be overcome and separated from You, my God and greatest Good.” Amen.

Our Father ~ Hail Mary ~ Glory Be to the Father (seven times) ~ Act of Consecration (see Novena to the Holy Spirit (Day 1))

Prayer for the Seven Gifts

 “Almighty and Eternal God, Who has vouchsafed to regenerate us by the water and the Holy Spirit, and has given us forgiveness of 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.

- Novena taken from Novena and Prayers to the Holy Spirit, Original Text by Daniel A. Lord, S.J., P. 2 & 7