PENTACOST NOVENA

The Pentecost Novena is the first of all novenas, nine days of prayer. After Jesus' Ascension into heaven, He commanded His disciples to come together in the upper room to devote themselves to constant prayer (Acts 1:14). They prayed for nine days before receiving the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

On May 4, 1897, Pope Leo XIII proclaimed: "We decree and command that throughout the whole Catholic Church, this year and in every subsequent year, a novena shall take place before Whit-Sunday (Pentecost), in all parish churches." It has been reported that Pope Leo XIII was inspired to mandate the Pentecost novena because of a letter from a housewife in Italy. Pope John Paul II has reiterated Pope Leo XIII's command for a worldwide Pentecost novena, although the novena can be prayed at any time — not only before Pentecost.


 
 
Catholic Prayers: Novena to the Holy Spirit

 
 
ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT 
 
 

On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses I offer myself, soul and 
body, to You, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring 
keenness of Your justice and the might of Your love. You are the Strength and Light of 
my soul. In You I live and move and am. I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness 
to grace and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against You. 

Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light 
and listen to Your voice and follow Your gracious inspirations. I cling to You and give 
myself to You and ask You by Your compassion to watch over me in my weakness. 
Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and looking at His Five Wounds and trusting in His 
Precious Blood and adoring his opened Side and stricken Heart, I implore You, 
Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, so to keep me in Your grace that I may never 
sin against You. Give me grace, O Holy Ghost, Spirit of the Father and the Son to say 
to You always and everywhere, "Speak, Lord, for Your servant heareth."
Amen 

 
PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 

Christ Jesus, before ascending into heaven, You promised to send the Holy Spirit to 
Your apostles and disciples.
Grant that the same Spirit may perfect in our lives the work of Your grace and love.
Grant us the Spirit of Fear Of The Lord that we may be filled with a loving reverence 
toward You.
the Spirit of Piety that we may find peace and fulfillment in the service of God while 
serving others;
the Spirit of Fortitude that we may bear our cross with You and, with courage, 
overcome the obstacles that interfere with our salvation;
the Spirit of Knowledge that we may know You and know ourselves and grow in 
holiness;
the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten our minds with the light of Your truth;
the Spirit of Counsel that we may choose the surest way of doing Your will, seeking 
first the Kingdom;
Grant us the Spirit of Wisdom that we may aspire to the things that last forever;
Teach us to be Your faithful disciples and animate us in every way with Your Spirit.
Amen. 
 

FIRST DAY

Creation Awaits Fulfillment 
Holy Spirit, Lord of light!
From Your clear celestial height,
Your pure' beaming radiance give! 
Almighty and eternal God, send forth Your Spirit, who brought order from chaos at 
the beginning of the universe, and peace to the Lord's disciples.
Grant that I, as your creation, baptized in your Spirit, may be filled with the seven 
gifts so that I may forever do your will and renew the face of the earth.
Amen. 
Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary & Glory be
Pray: Act Of Consecration to the Holy Spirit & Prayer For The Seven Gifts of the Holy 
Spirit 

SECOND DAY

Christ's Promise To Send The Paraclete 
Come, Father of the poor!
Come, treasures which endure!
Come, Light of all that live! 
Come, O Blessed Spirit of Holy Fear, fill me with devotion to God alone.
In the Risen Christ, I welcome You, O Spirit of truth, whom the Father sends in Jesus' 
name.
Wash clean the sinful soul, and rain down your grace that we may be one with the 
Church in fidelity to our Lord Jesus, Christ.
Amen. 
Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary & Glory be
Pray: Act Of Consecration to the Holy Spirit & Prayer For The Seven Gifts of the Holy 
Spirit

THIRD DAY

The Soul Of Christ's Body, The Church 
Thou, of all consolers, best,
Visiting the troubled breast
Dost refreshing peace bestow. 
Come, O Blessed Spirit of Piety, possess my heart.
God, our Father, may I, through the grace of your Spirit, be forever filled with filial 
affection for you.
Grant that I may be inspired to love and respect all members of your family as 
brothers and sisters of Jesus, who, together with him, call you Abba, Father.
Amen. 
Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary & Glory be
Pray: Act Of Consecration to the Holy Spirit & Prayer For The Seven Gifts of the Holy 
Spirit 

FOURTH DAY

The Dignity Of The Christian 
Thou, in toil art comfort sweet;
Pleasant coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe. 
Come, O Blessed Spirit of Fortitude, uphold my soul in time of trouble and adversity.
O, Divine Trinity, grant that we may be strengthened to see in ourselves and each 
other the dignity that is ours as temples of Your Holy Spirit, to be loved by one 
another as each of us is loved by Jesus.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord.
Amen. 
Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary & Glory be
Pray: Act Of Consecration to the Holy Spirit & Prayer For The Seven Gifts of the Holy 
Spirit
FIFTH DAY
Gifted To Serve And Build Others Up 
Light immortal! Light Divine!
Visit Thou these hearts of Thine,
And our inmost being fill! 
Come, 0 Blessed Spirit of Knowledge, and grant that I may perceive the will of the 
Father.
Father, through Your Spirit, You invite us to participate in the fullness of Creation.
Help me to see that all gifts are from You and intended for your Glory.
For there are many different gifts, but always the same Spirit, many ways of serving, 
but 'always the same Lord.
Amen. 
Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary & Glory be
Pray: Act Of Consecration to the Holy Spirit & Prayer For The Seven Gifts of the Holy 
Spirit  

SIXTH DAY

Human Weakness And Sinfulness 
If Thou take Thy grace away,
Nothing pure in man will stay,
All his good is turn'd to ill. 
Come, 0 Blessed Spirit of Understanding, enlighten our minds iixat we may appreciate 
and see more fully what we know by faith.
Come to us in our weakness and give voice to our petitions, for "the prayers that the 
Spirit makes for God's holy people are always in accordance with the mind of God."
Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary & Glory be
Pray: Act Of Consecration to the Holy Spirit & Prayer For The Seven Gifts of the Holy 
Spirit
SEVENTH DAY
Growth In The Freedom That Love Gives 
Heal our wounds - our strength renew;
On our dryness, pour thy dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away! 
Come, 0 Blessed Spirit of Counsel. Make my thoughts holy, my love pure, and my 
works pleasing to God.
Father, guided by Your Spirit, may I strive to make loving choices and respect all life.
May we be aware of our dignity as Your sons and daughters, redeemed with the Blood 
of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord.
Amen. 
Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary & Glory be
Pray: Act Of Consecration to the Holy Spirit & Prayer For The Seven Gifts of the Holy 
Spirit 

EIGHTH DAY

Gifted Through The Spirit 
Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray! 
Come, 0 Blessed Spirit of Wisdom, strengthen my faith, increase my hope, perfect my 
charity.
Father, enlighten us each day, in the silence of our hearts, to discern the voice of 
Your Spirit, to do what He asks of us and to understand the gifts He freely gives us.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen. 
Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary & Glory be
Pray: Act Of Consecration to the Holy Spirit & Prayer For The Seven Gifts of the Holy 
Spirit

NINTH DAY

Sent With The Power To Reconcile 
Thou on those who evermore,
Thee confess and Thee adore,
In Thy sevenfold gifts, descend;
Give them comfort when they die;
Give them life with Thee on high;
Give them joys which never end.
Amen. 

Father, through Jesus, Your Son, You sent the Paraclete to be at our side, to reconcile 
all Creation to you.

Grant that I may be forever open to Jesus' invitation to "Receive The Holy Spirit!" 

Father, open our hearts to accept Your forgiveness for our sins and to offer that same 
forgiveness to those who we feel have offended us.

For merciful forgiveness is the essence of Your love revealed in Your Son.

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, by 
faithful submission to your Inspiration, merit to be united eternally with You in the 
love of the Father and the Son.
Amen. 

 
Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary & Glory be

Pray: Act Of Consecration to the Holy Spirit & Prayer For The Seven Gifts of the Holy 
Spirit 
 

A novena is a practice where a prayer or groups of prayers are recited for nine consecutive days for 
special intentions and petitions. The praying of a novena draws its origin from the practice of the 
disciples who prayed in the upper room for the nine days between the ascension of our Lord and the 
arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
 

St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Picayune, MS
http://www.scborromeo.org