NOVENA TO THE HOLY GHOST FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS

FOREWORD
The novena in honor of the Holy Ghost is the oldest of all
novenas since it was first made at the direction of Our Lord
Himself when He sent His apostles back to Jerusalem to await the
coming of the Holy Ghost on the first Pentecost. It is still the
only novena officially prescribed by the Church. Addressed to the
Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, it is a powerful plea for
the light and strength and love so sorely needed by every
Christian.


MANNER OF PRAYING THE NOVENA
Each day the meditation and prayer for the particular day is
said, followed by one (1) Our Father, one (1) Hail Mary and seven
(7) Glory be to the Fathers, the Act of Consecration and the
Prayer for the Seven Gifts.


ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY GHOST
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 I 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 GHOST
O Lord Jesus Christ Who, before ascending into heaven did promise
to send the Holy Ghost to finish Your work in the souls of Your
Apostles and Disciples deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me
that He may perfect in my soul / the work of Your grace and Your
love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the
perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things
that are eternal the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind
with the light of Your divine truth / the Spirit on Counsel that
I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining
heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude, that I may bear my cross with
You I and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that
oppose my salvation the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God
find know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints
the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and
amiable / the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving
reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him.
Mark me, dear Lord with the sign of Your true disciples / and
animate me in all things with Your Spirit. Amen.


FIRST DAY OF THE NOVENA
Holy Spirit! Lord of Light!
From Your clear celestial height,
Your pure beaming radiance give!


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 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."


Prayer
Almighty and eternal God, Who hast vouchsafed to regenerate us by
water and the Holy Ghost, 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. Glory be to the Father 7 TIMES.
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts]


SECOND DAY OF THE NOVENA
Come. Father of the poor.
Come treasures which endure
Come, Light of all that live!


The Gift of Holy Fear
The gift of Holy Fear fills us with a sovereign respect for God,
and makes us dread nothing so much as to offend Him by sin. It is
a fear that arises, not from the thought of Hell, but from
sentiments of reverence and filial submission to our heavenly
Father. It is the fear that is the beginning of wisdom, detaching
us from worldly pleasures that could in any way separate us from
God. "They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and in
His sight will sanctify their souls."


Prayer
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. Glory be to the Father 7 TIMES.
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts)


THIRD DAY OF THE NOVENA
Thou, of all consolers best,
Visiting the troubled breast,
Dost refreshing peace bestow.


The Gift of Piety
The gift of Piety begets in our hearts a filial affection for God
as our most loving Father. It inspires us to love and respect for
His sake persons and things consecrated to Him, as well as those
who are vested with His authority, His Blessed Mother and the
Saints, the Church and its visible Head, our parents and
superiors, our country and its rulers. He who is filled with the
gift of Piety finds the practice of his religion, not a
burdensome duty, but a delightful service. Where there is love,
there is no labor.


Prayer
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. Glory be to the Father 7 TIMES.
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts]


FOURTH DAY OF THE NOVENA
Thou in toil art comfort sweet,
Pleasant coolness in the heat,
solace in the midst of woe.


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 under take 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 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. Glory be to the Father SEVEN
TIMES. Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts]


FIFTH DAY OF THE NOVENA
Light immortal! Light Divine!
Visit Thou these hearts of Thine,
And our inmost being fill!


The Gift of Knowledge
The gift of Knowledge enables the soul to evaluate created things
at their true worth--in their 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
possesseth 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 Thy glory and my own salvation, looking ever beyond them to
Thee, and Thy eternal rewards. Amen.


[Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE. Glory be to the Father SEVEN
TIMES. Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts]


SIXTH DAY
If Thou take Thy grace away,
nothing pure in man will stay,
All his good is turn'd to ill.


The Gift of Understanding
Understanding, as a gift of the Holy Ghost, 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
"walk worthy of God in all things pleasing, and increasing in the
knowledge of God."


Prayer
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. Glory be to the Father SEVEN
TIMES. Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts]


SEVENTH DAY OF THE NOVENA
Heal our wounds--our strength renew;
On our dryness pour Thy dew,
Wash the stains of guilt away.


The Gift of Counsel
The gift of Counsel endows the soul with supernatural prudence,
enabling it to judge promptly and rightly what must 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 thy way in truth."


Prayer
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. Glory be to the Father SEVEN
TIMES. Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts]


EIGHTH DAY OF THE NOVENA
Bend the stubborn heart and will,
melt the frozen warm the chill.
Guide the steps that go astray!


The Gift of Wisdom
Embodying all the other gifts, as charity embraces all the 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, 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, whilst 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 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. Glory be to the Father SEVEN
TIMES. Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts]


NINTH DAY OF THE NOVENA
Thou, on those who evermore
Thee confess and Thee Adore,
in Thy sevenfold gift, Descend;
Give Them Comfort when they die;
Give them Life with Thee on high;
Give them joys which never end. Amen


The Fruits of the Holy Ghost
The gifts of the Holy Ghost 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 Ghost, 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 Fruits of the Holy Ghost. 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 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. Glory be to the Father SEVEN
TIMES. Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts]


© 1912 Holy Ghost Fathers