The First time Christians prayed and fasted for 9 days was on the Word of Jesus, who on his Ascension into Heaven from the Mount of Olives spoke to His Apostles and disciples and "charged them not to depart from Jerusalem"(Acts1:4) and arriving back in Jerusalem "they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers."(Acts1:13-14)
The 9 day prayer or Novena from the Latin word for nine was said on the Friday after the ascension up to the Saturday before Pentecost Sunday, when the Holy Spirit came down on them. We should pray it for ours and everyone's conversion.
Day1 - Friday May 2
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.
Day2 - Saturday May 3
Come, O blessed Spirit of Holy Fear, penetrate my inmost heart, that I may set you, my Lord and God, before my face forever, help me to shun all things that can offend You, and make me worthy to appear before the pure eyes of Your Divine Majesty in heaven, where You live and reign in the unity of the ever Blessed Trinity, God world without end. Amen.
Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE.
Day3 - Sunday May 4
Come, O Blessed Spirit of Piety, possess my heart. Enkindle therein such a love for God, that I may find satisfaction only in His service, and for His sake lovingly submit to all legitimate authority. Amen.
Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE.
Day4 - Monday May 5
Come, O Blessed Spirit of Fortitude, uphold my soul in time 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 Thee, my God and greatest Good. Amen.
Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE.
Day5 - Tuesday May 6
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 Thy glory and my own salvation, looking ever beyond them to Thee, and Thy eternal rewards. Amen.
Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE.
Day6 - Wednesday May 7
Come, O 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 Thy Light; and in the light of glory to have a clear vision of Thee and the Father and the Son. Amen.
Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE.
Day7 -Thursday May 8
Come, O Spirit of Counsel, help and guide me in all my ways, that I may always do Thy 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 of Thy commandments to that goal of eternal life for which I long.
Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE.
Day8 - Friday May 9
Come, O 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 the passing joys and satisfactions of earth. Help me to attain them and possess them for ever. Amen.
Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE.
Day9 - Saturday May 10
Come, O Divine Spirit, fill my heart with Thy heavenly fruits, Thy 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 Thy inspiration may merit to be united eternally with Thee in the love of the Father and the Son. Amen.
Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE.
2 comments :
It was Cardinal Mercier, of happy memory, who said:
"I am going to reveal to you the secret of sanctity and happiness. Everyday for five minutes control your imagination and close your ears to all the noises of the world, in order to speak to that Divine Spirit...submission to the Holy Spirit is the secret of sanctity."
And so, before I prayerfully read and meditate upon Sacred Scripture (a practice referred to as Lectio Divina), I make that my prayer. And as I do so, I make the following Scripture my life's motto:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
On your own intelligence rely not.
In all your ways be mindful of Him,
And He will make straight your paths."
The Holy Spirit will not deny His grace and His seven Gifts to ANYONE who sincerely asks for them.
Let us pray continuously for His seven Gifts, and especially for that Gift which we call Fortitude, which is also a Cardinal Virtue. In a very real sense, all of the other virtues depend upon this one.
"Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the moral life. The virtue of fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even fear of death, and to face trials and persecutions. It disposes one even to renounce and sacrifice his life in defense of a just cause. 'The Lord is my strength and my song.' [Ps. 118:14] 'In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.'" [Jn. 16:33] (C.C.C. # 1808)
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