Novena to the Holy Spirit
(Especially for use from the Ascension of our Lord to the Vigil of Pentecost)
Begin with this prayer each day:
O Holy Spirit, my Lord and my God, I humbly acknowledge here in your sacred presence that I am nothing, and can do nothing, without your operation within me. Come, great Paraclete, Father of the poor, Comforter of the blest, fulfill the promise of our Savior, who would not leave us orphans, and enter my mind and heart as you did descend on the day of Pentecost upon the holy Mother of Jesus and upon his first disciples. Grant that I may have a part in those gifts which you did so prodigally bestow upon them.
Take from my heart all that is not pleasing to you and make of it a worthy dwelling-place for Jesus.
Illumine my mind, that I may see and understand the things that are for my eternal welfare.
Inflame my heart with pure love of the Father, that, cleansed from attachment to all unworthy objects, my whole life may be hidden with Jesus in God.
Strengthen my will, that it may be conformable to the will of my Creator and guided by your holy inspirations.
Aid me to practice the heavenly virtues of humility, poverty and obedience which are taught me in the earthly life of Jesus.
Descend upon me, O mighty Spirit, that, inspired and encouraged by you, I may faithfully fulfill the duties of my state in life, carry my daily cross with patience and courage, and accomplish the Father's will for me more perfectly. Make me, day by day, more holy and give to me that heavenly peace which the world cannot give.
O Holy Spirit, giver of every good and perfect gift, grant to me the intention of this novena of prayer. May the Father’s will be done in me and through me. And may you, O mighty Spirit of the living God, be praised and glorified for ever and ever. Amen.
Veni Creator Spiritus
Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,
And lighten with celestial fire,
Thou the anointing Spirit art,
Who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart.
Thy blessed unction from above,
Is comfort, life, and fire of love,
Enable with perpetual light
The dullness of our blinded sight.
Anoint and cheer our soiled face
With the abundance of thy grace.
Keep far our foes, give peace at home;
Where thou art Guide, no ill can come.
Teach us to know the Father, Son,
And thee, of both, to be but One;
That, through the ages all along,
This may be our endless song:
Praise to thy eternal merit,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
OUR FATHER.
HAIL, MARY.
Then the proper prayers below:
First Day
Come, O Holy Ghost, the Lord and Lifegiver; take up your dwelling within my soul and make of it your sacred temple. Make me live by grace as an adopted child of God. Pervade all the energies of my soul, and create in me a fountain of living water springing up into life everlasting.
Second Day
Come, O Spirit of Wisdom, and reveal to my soul the mysteries of heavenly things, their exceeding greatness, and power, and beauty. Teach me to love them above and beyond all the passing joys and satisfactions of earth. Show me the way by which I may be able to attain to them, and possess them, and hold them hereafter, my own forever.
Third Day
Come, O spirit of Understanding, and enlighten my mind, that I 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 the clear vision of you and the Father and the Son.
Fourth Day
Come, O 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 path of your commandments to the goal of eternal life.
Fifth Day
Come, O Spirit of Fortitude, and give courage to my soul. Make my heart strong in all trials and in all distress, pouring forth abundantly into it the gifts of strength, that I may be able to resist the attacks of the devil.
Sixth Day
Come, O Spirit of Knowledge, and make me understand and despise the emptiness and nothingness of the world. Give me grace to use the world only for your glory and the salvation of your creatures. May I always be very faithful in puttying your rewards before every earthly gift.
Seventh Day
Come, O Spirit of Piety, possess my heart; incline it to a true faith in you, to a holy love of you, my God, that with my whole soul I may seek you, and find you my best, my truest joy.
Eighth Day
Come, O Spirit of holy Fear, penetrate my inmost heart, that I may set you, my Lord and God, before my face forever; and shun all things that can offend you so that I may be made worthy to appear before the pure eyes of your divine Majesty in the heaven of heavens, where you live and reign in the unity of the Ever-blessed Trinity, world without end.
Ninth Day
Come, O Holy Comforter, and grant me a relish for heavenly things. Produce in my soul the fruits of virtue, so that, being filled with all sweetness and joy in the pursuit of good, I may attain unto eternal blessedness.
(Adapted from St. Augustine’s Prayer Book: A Book of Devotion for Members of the Episcopal Church, rev’d ed. (West Park, N.Y.: Holy Cross, 1967))
About Novenas
In the Western Church, a novena (from the Latin novem, “nine”) is a period of nine days’ private or public devotion, by which it is hoped to obtain some special grace. The general observance of novenas is actually quite modern, dating only from the seventeenth century, but it is modeled on the nine days’ preparation of the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary for the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 1.13ff). Some sources cite the Church Fathers for assigning special meaning to the number nine, seeing it as symbolic of imperfect man turning to God in prayer (due to its proximity with the number ten, symbolic of God’s perfection). Novenas may be performed in church, at home, or anywhere solemn prayers are appropriate.