PENTECOST NOVENA PRAYER

First Day: The Gift of Fear of the Lord

Leader: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful,

 Response: And kindle in them the fire of your love.

 Leader: Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created,

 Response: And you shall renew the face of the earth. 

 All: “Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways.” Whenever Scripture speaks of the fear of the Lord, we notice that it never mentions it on its own, as if fear could, by itself, bring our faith to perfection. But of the true fear of the Lord we read: “Come, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord.” The fear of God, then, is something to be learned, because it is taught.  Its origins are found by way of teaching, and not in fright. We find it in obeying the commandments, in doing the good deeds of a blameless life, in coming to know the truth, and not in moments of human terror.  All our fear of God is inspired and perfected by love. By the gift of the Holy Spirit, may we be overwhelmed by the greatness and goodness of God, and avoid all sin and attachment to created things, so that each of us may be a living sign of the gospel for all people to see.  

Let us pray. 

Heavenly Father, from the beginning of time you have prepared the way of salvation for the human race wounded by sin and death.  Through your inspired word, you have taught that the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”  By the gift of the Holy Spirit may we walk always along the path you have revealed, following your counsels, conforming ourselves to your commands, and trusting your promises as heralds of a new Pentecost.  We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. 

Mary, Temple of the Holy Spirit,   

  Response: Pray for us. 

Second Day: The Gift of Piety 

 Leader: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, 

Response: And kindle in them the fire of your love.

All: Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, And you shall renew the face of the earth.  Piety is the honor and reverence given to someone who is in any way responsible for our existence and our well-being. The gift of piety moves our hearts, first of all, to filial honor and reverence for God because he is our creator and redeemer. The devotional life of the Church is an expression of our honor and reverence for God and for all that belongs to heaven. Piety also extends to our earthly parents, and to all others whom God has placed over us in some way, for our spiritual and material good. May the Holy Spirit renew the gift of piety within our hearts and homes, our parishes and communities, so that by our example of honor and reverence we may be a model to others of a life lived in and for God. 

Let us pray. 

Gracious Lord, you have fashioned everything out of nothing, giving life and breath to all that exists. You order everything according to your loving providence, and establish the relationships by which our lives are nurtured and ordered.  Confirm in us the gift of piety, so that by our honor and reverence for you and for those you have given to us, we may bear witness to the working of the Holy Spirit, and become instruments of a new Pentecost in our time.  We make our prayer through Christ our Lord.  

Mary, Model of Piety,     

Response: Pray for us. 

Third Day: The Gift of Fortitude

 Leader: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful,

 Response: And kindle in them the fire of your love. 

Leader: Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created,

 Response: And you shall renew the face of the earth.

 All: Fortitude is steadfastness in doing what is right and good in the face of obstacles and trials. The gift of fortitude overcomes unreasonable fears, on the one hand, and keeps us from being reckless, on the other. It is the special virtue of those who are pioneers in any endeavor.  Fortitude makes it possible for us to undertake difficult tasks, to face risks and dangers, and to endure whatever comes without undue anxiety, discouragement or complaint. Without fortitude we cannot hope to persevere in our Christian calling. Nor can we fulfill the mission that is ours by Baptism and Confirmation, to bear witness to the gospel for the salvation of the world. May the Holy Spirit renew in us the gift of fortitude amid all the challenges presented by today’s society and culture. 

Let us pray. Almighty Father, be gracious and bless us with the gift of the Holy Spirit, so that we may persevere with fortitude in doing what we know to be right and good. Strengthen us in our weakness, so that when we are weary, discouraged, or are put to the test, we may overcome every obstacle, and be refreshed on the path to holiness and virtue.  May no trial or difficulty keep us from bearing witness to the splendor of truth which radiates from the face of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, now and forever, Amen. 

Mary, Tower of Fortitude,     

Response: Pray for us. 

Fourth Day: The Gift of Knowledge       

 Leader: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, 

Response: And kindle in them the fire of your love. 

All: Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, And you shall renew the face of the earth.  According to the Scriptures, true knowledge can only be acquired by recognizing the loving call of God, and by responding with love to his divine plan.  St. John’s gospel tells us: “This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.” Knowledge is centered entirely on the supreme mystery of Christ, and his dying and rising, which unlock the meaning of every human life and of all history. As a gift of the Holy Spirit, knowledge gives us certainty that all things are ordered to God in Christ. This knowledge is revealed on every page of Scripture, is deepened by the Church’s living tradition, and is celebrated in the liturgy. By a new Pentecost in our time, may the Holy Spirit confirm in us a sure knowledge of the truths of faith. 

Let us pray. Father, we ask you to send the Holy Spirit upon our minds and hearts so that the gift of knowledge which is ours by Baptism and Confirmation may be purified and deepened.  May the darkness of our sins be overcome by the splendor of knowing you, the only true God, and the one whom you have sent, Jesus Christ.  Filled with the knowledge imparted by the Holy Spirit, may we radiate light for the salvation of the world.  We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Mary, blessed with Knowledge,    

 Response: Pray for us. 

Fifth Day: The Gift of Understanding 

Leader: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, 

Response: And kindle in them the fire of your love. 

Leader: Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, 

Response: And you shall renew the face of the earth.  

 All: Understanding, as a gift of the Holy Spirit, perfects our faith by enabling us to penetrate the inner meaning of revealed truths in a way that transcends human reason. Our natural way of knowing is elevated by a graced intuition and insight into the things of God. By faith we know them, but by the gift of understanding we learn to appreciate and relish them. This appreciation radiates outward to others, because our faith is no longer just a matter of information from a book, but a way of living rooted in intimacy with the mysteries of Christ. May the Holy Spirit attune our hearts and minds to a deeper spiritual understanding of these mysteries, so that as missionary disciples of a new Pentecost in our time, we may draw others to Christ and to his church. 

Let us pray. Father, send the Holy Spirit into our minds and hearts, giving us a deeper understanding of the mysteries of salvation. May he teach and instruct us, the people you have made your own, so that we may never waver in our faith, but by the gift of understanding may be ready to give an answer to all who ask the reason for the hope that is within us.  We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen 

Mary, Seat of Understanding,    

 Response: Pray for us. 

Sixth Day: The Gift of Counsel

Leader: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, 

Response: And kindle in them the fire of your love. 

Leader: Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, 

Response: And you shall renew the face of the earth. 

 All:  The gift of counsel applies our knowledge and understanding to the many concrete situations of everyday life. Counsel elevates the virtue of prudence, so that we will choose the wisest course of action in a given situation, especially when we are perplexed as to the right choice to be made. Counsel endows us with a desire to act always in a way that promotes our sanctification and salvation, in accordance with God’s holy will. We pray that the Holy Spirit will richly endow us with the ability to judge rightly the situations that challenge our faith, so that we may not waver along the path to holiness.

 Let us pray. Father, send the Spirit of Counsel upon us for the accomplishment of your holy will in our lives, in the Church, and in the world.  Incline our hearts to your will, our minds to right judgment, and our actions to what is good, so that living by the Holy Spirit, we may truly be “salt and light” for others.  We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 Mary, Mother of Good Counsel, 

Response: Pray for us. 

  Seventh Day: The Gift of Wisdom      

 Leader: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful,

 Response: And kindle in them the fire of your love.

 Leader: Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created,

 Response: And you shall renew the face of the earth.  

All: The gift of wisdom is nothing less than loving, contemplative union with God, which makes it possible for us to see all things from a divine perspective.  When it is understood in its full breadth, wisdom can rightly be called

“communion,” since it is a share in divine life, a union made perfect in the truth of love. Embodying all the other gifts, as charity embraces all the other virtues, wisdom is the most perfect of the gifts. It strengthens our faith, fortifies hope, perfects charity, and promotes the practice of virtue in the highest degree. May the Holy Spirit raise up our hearts and minds to rest in God alone, so that we, his people, may be living signs of a new Pentecost in our time. 

Let us pray. Father, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy his consolations.  May he permeate our thoughts, words and actions, so that bearing witness to the gift of salvation, your church may lead all people to Christ the Way, the Truth and the Life, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. 

Mary, Seat of Wisdom,  

Response: Pray for us. 

PENTECOST NOVENA PRAYER

Eighth Day: The Fruits of the Holy Spirit 

   

Intention: 

 This being the First Friday of the month, pray for the conversion of those who have hardened their hearts to the Divine Mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and who not only reject religion but oppose it. 

Leader: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, 

Response: And kindle in them the fire of your love. 

Leader: Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, 

Response: And you shall renew the face of the earth. 

 All: The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as a pledge of eternal glory. The tradition of the Church lists twelve of them: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control and chastity. These fruits mark the lives of those who live by the Spirit, as St. Paul tells the Galatians when he writes: “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s lead” (5:16-17).  The fruits of the Holy Spirit produce spiritual delight, and fill with joy the hearts of those who belong to Christ. 

 May the Holy Spirit fill us with “the joy of living the Gospel,” so that many others may be drawn to Christ and his Church, as the fruit of a new Pentecost in our time. Let us pray. Holy Spirit, eternal Love of the Father and the Son, kindly bestow on us the fruit of charity, that we may be united to you by divine love; the fruit of joy, that we may be filled with holy consolation; the fruit of peace, that we may enjoy tranquility of soul; and the fruit of goodness, that we may live the gospel without wavering. 

Divine Spirit, be pleased to infuse in us the fruit of generosity, that we may willingly meet our neighbors’ needs; the fruit of kindness, that we may be benevolent toward all; the fruit of patience, that we may not be discouraged by delay, but may persevere in prayer and charity; and the fruit of gentleness, that we may subdue every rising of ill temper, stifle every murmur, and overcome the sinful tendencies of our nature in all our dealings with our neighbor. 

Creator Spirit, graciously impart to us the fruit of faithfulness, that we may rely with assured confidence on the Word of God; the fruit of modesty, that we may order our demeanor properly; and the fruits of self-control and chastity, that we may keep our bodies in such holiness as befits your temple, so that having by your assistance preserved our hearts pure on earth, we may merit in Jesus Christ, according to the words of the Gospel, to see God eternally in the glory of his kingdom. Amen.

 Mary, Model of Life in the Spirit,    

Response: Pray for us. 

PENTECOST NOVENA PRAYER

Ninth Day: The Lord & Giver of Life, the Paraclete 

 Intention:  

On this Memorial of the African martyrs St. Charles Lwanga and Companions, pray for the fruitfulness of every effort at home and abroad to bring the Gospel to others by the “missionary discipleship” to which each of us is called. 

Leader: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful,

 Response: And kindle in them the fire of your love. 

Leader: Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, 

Response: And you shall renew the face of the earth. 

All:  In the Trinitarian plan of salvation, the Father draws us to the Son, whom the Holy Spirit reveals and disposes us to welcome.   As “the Lord and Giver of Life,” the Holy Spirit brings about our rebirth in Baptism as the Father’s adopted children in Christ, and as sharers in divine life. Jesus calls the indwelling Holy Spirit our “Paraclete,” which literally means “one who stands besides us” as a counselor, consoler, advocate and friend. The Holy Spirit leads the Church into “all the truth,” and is the source and dynamic force of the Church’s unity and mission. It is no wonder, then, that in every age the fruitfulness of the Church depends on the renewal of the mystery of Pentecost in the minds and hearts of believers. This is the renewal that we seek in our novena.  May the Holy Spirit rekindle the grace of Baptism and Confirmation in every Catholic, so that all may live the Christian life with fervor and zeal.

 Let us pray. 

Holy Spirit of the Father and of the Son, Spirit of Love: enlighten us, strengthen us, guide us, and comfort us. You who pray and act in us, make us know the Father by contemplating the face of the Son who reveals him, so that we may proclaim the divine love of the Most Holy Trinity. Make our life a sign of love.  Make the church a living word, an uplifting presence, a consecration of the world to the Trinitarian love that creates, redeems and sanctifies, now and forever. Amen. 

Mary, Star of Evangelization, 

Response: Pray for us. 

PENTECOST NOVENA PRAYER

Seventh Day: The Gift of Wisdom

REFLATION

The gift of wisdom is nothing less than loving, contemplative union with God, which makes it possible for us to see all things from a divine perspective.  When it is understood in its full breadth, wisdom can rightly be called “communion,” since it is a share in divine life, a union made perfect in the truth of love. Embodying all the other gifts, as charity embraces all the other virtues, wisdom is the most perfect of the gifts. It strengthens our faith, fortifies hope, perfects charity, and promotes the practice of virtue in the highest degree. May the Holy Spirit raise up our hearts and minds to rest in God alone, so that we, his people, may be living signs of a new Pentecost in our time.     

 Leader:  Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, 

Response:  And kindle in them the fire of your love.

Leader:     Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, 

Response: And you shall renew the face of the earth.  

 

Let us pray.

 Father, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy his consolations.  May he permeate our thoughts, words and actions, so that bearing witness to the gift of salvation, your church may lead all people to Christ the Way, the Truth and the Life, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. 

Mary, Seat of Wisdom, 

 Response: Pray for us. 

WEEK DAY READING OF THURSDAY, MAY 20TH, 2021

https://thewordexploit.blogspot.com

7th Week of Easter - Thursday; St. Bernardine of Siena

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FIRST READING
Acts 22:30; 23:6–11

Wishing to determine the truth about why Paul was being accused by the Jews, the commander freed him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to convene. Then he brought Paul down and made him stand before them. 

Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees, so he called out before the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees; I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead." When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the group became divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, while the Pharisees acknowledge all three. A great uproar occurred, and some scribes belonging to the Pharisee party stood up and sharply argued, "We find nothing wrong with this man. Suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?" The dispute was so serious that the commander, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, ordered his troops to go down and rescue Paul from their midst and take him into the compound. The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage. For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome."

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RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 16:1–2a and 5, 7–8, 9–10, 11

R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia. 

Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge; I say to the LORD, "My Lord are you." O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot. 

R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia. 

I bless the LORD who counsels me; even in the night my heart exhorts me. I set the LORD ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. 

R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia. 

Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence; Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption. 

R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia. 

You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever. 

R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.

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ALLELUIA
John 17:21

R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

May they all be one as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that the world may believe that you sent me, says the Lord. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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GOSPEL
John 17:20–26

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying:
"I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them."

PENTECOST NOVENA PRAYER

First Day: The Gift of Fear of the Lord

Leader: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful,

 Response: And kindle in them the fire of your love.

 Leader: Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created,

 Response: And you shall renew the face of the earth. 

 All: “Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways.” Whenever Scripture speaks of the fear of the Lord, we notice that it never mentions it on its own, as if fear could, by itself, bring our faith to perfection. But of the true fear of the Lord we read: “Come, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord.” The fear of God, then, is something to be learned, because it is taught.  Its origins are found by way of teaching, and not in fright. We find it in obeying the commandments, in doing the good deeds of a blameless life, in coming to know the truth, and not in moments of human terror.  All our fear of God is inspired and perfected by love. By the gift of the Holy Spirit, may we be overwhelmed by the greatness and goodness of God, and avoid all sin and attachment to created things, so that each of us may be a living sign of the gospel for all people to see.  

Let us pray. 

Heavenly Father, from the beginning of time you have prepared the way of salvation for the human race wounded by sin and death.  Through your inspired word, you have taught that the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”  By the gift of the Holy Spirit may we walk always along the path you have revealed, following your counsels, conforming ourselves to your commands, and trusting your promises as heralds of a new Pentecost.  We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. 

Mary, Temple of the Holy Spirit,   

  Response: Pray for us. 

Second Day: The Gift of Piety 

 Leader: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, 

Response: And kindle in them the fire of your love.

All: Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, And you shall renew the face of the earth.  Piety is the honor and reverence given to someone who is in any way responsible for our existence and our well-being. The gift of piety moves our hearts, first of all, to filial honor and reverence for God because he is our creator and redeemer. The devotional life of the Church is an expression of our honor and reverence for God and for all that belongs to heaven. Piety also extends to our earthly parents, and to all others whom God has placed over us in some way, for our spiritual and material good. May the Holy Spirit renew the gift of piety within our hearts and homes, our parishes and communities, so that by our example of honor and reverence we may be a model to others of a life lived in and for God. 

Let us pray. 

Gracious Lord, you have fashioned everything out of nothing, giving life and breath to all that exists. You order everything according to your loving providence, and establish the relationships by which our lives are nurtured and ordered.  Confirm in us the gift of piety, so that by our honor and reverence for you and for those you have given to us, we may bear witness to the working of the Holy Spirit, and become instruments of a new Pentecost in our time.  We make our prayer through Christ our Lord.  

Mary, Model of Piety,     

Response: Pray for us. 

Third Day: The Gift of Fortitude

 Leader: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful,

 Response: And kindle in them the fire of your love. 

Leader: Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created,

 Response: And you shall renew the face of the earth.

 All: Fortitude is steadfastness in doing what is right and good in the face of obstacles and trials. The gift of fortitude overcomes unreasonable fears, on the one hand, and keeps us from being reckless, on the other. It is the special virtue of those who are pioneers in any endeavor.  Fortitude makes it possible for us to undertake difficult tasks, to face risks and dangers, and to endure whatever comes without undue anxiety, discouragement or complaint. Without fortitude we cannot hope to persevere in our Christian calling. Nor can we fulfill the mission that is ours by Baptism and Confirmation, to bear witness to the gospel for the salvation of the world. May the Holy Spirit renew in us the gift of fortitude amid all the challenges presented by today’s society and culture. 

Let us pray. Almighty Father, be gracious and bless us with the gift of the Holy Spirit, so that we may persevere with fortitude in doing what we know to be right and good. Strengthen us in our weakness, so that when we are weary, discouraged, or are put to the test, we may overcome every obstacle, and be refreshed on the path to holiness and virtue.  May no trial or difficulty keep us from bearing witness to the splendor of truth which radiates from the face of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, now and forever, Amen. 

Mary, Tower of Fortitude,     

Response: Pray for us. 

Fourth Day: The Gift of Knowledge       

 Leader: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, 

Response: And kindle in them the fire of your love. 

All: Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, And you shall renew the face of the earth.  According to the Scriptures, true knowledge can only be acquired by recognizing the loving call of God, and by responding with love to his divine plan.  St. John’s gospel tells us: “This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.” Knowledge is centered entirely on the supreme mystery of Christ, and his dying and rising, which unlock the meaning of every human life and of all history. As a gift of the Holy Spirit, knowledge gives us certainty that all things are ordered to God in Christ. This knowledge is revealed on every page of Scripture, is deepened by the Church’s living tradition, and is celebrated in the liturgy. By a new Pentecost in our time, may the Holy Spirit confirm in us a sure knowledge of the truths of faith. 

Let us pray. Father, we ask you to send the Holy Spirit upon our minds and hearts so that the gift of knowledge which is ours by Baptism and Confirmation may be purified and deepened.  May the darkness of our sins be overcome by the splendor of knowing you, the only true God, and the one whom you have sent, Jesus Christ.  Filled with the knowledge imparted by the Holy Spirit, may we radiate light for the salvation of the world.  We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Mary, blessed with Knowledge,    

 Response: Pray for us. 

Fifth Day: The Gift of Understanding 

Leader: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, 

Response: And kindle in them the fire of your love. 

Leader: Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, 

Response: And you shall renew the face of the earth.  

 All: Understanding, as a gift of the Holy Spirit, perfects our faith by enabling us to penetrate the inner meaning of revealed truths in a way that transcends human reason. Our natural way of knowing is elevated by a graced intuition and insight into the things of God. By faith we know them, but by the gift of understanding we learn to appreciate and relish them. This appreciation radiates outward to others, because our faith is no longer just a matter of information from a book, but a way of living rooted in intimacy with the mysteries of Christ. May the Holy Spirit attune our hearts and minds to a deeper spiritual understanding of these mysteries, so that as missionary disciples of a new Pentecost in our time, we may draw others to Christ and to his church. 

Let us pray. Father, send the Holy Spirit into our minds and hearts, giving us a deeper understanding of the mysteries of salvation. May he teach and instruct us, the people you have made your own, so that we may never waver in our faith, but by the gift of understanding may be ready to give an answer to all who ask the reason for the hope that is within us.  We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen 

Mary, Seat of Understanding,    

 Response: Pray for us. 

Sixth Day: The Gift of Counsel

Leader: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, 

Response: And kindle in them the fire of your love. 

Leader: Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, 

Response: And you shall renew the face of the earth. 

 All:  The gift of counsel applies our knowledge and understanding to the many concrete situations of everyday life. Counsel elevates the virtue of prudence, so that we will choose the wisest course of action in a given situation, especially when we are perplexed as to the right choice to be made. Counsel endows us with a desire to act always in a way that promotes our sanctification and salvation, in accordance with God’s holy will. We pray that the Holy Spirit will richly endow us with the ability to judge rightly the situations that challenge our faith, so that we may not waver along the path to holiness.

 Let us pray. Father, send the Spirit of Counsel upon us for the accomplishment of your holy will in our lives, in the Church, and in the world.  Incline our hearts to your will, our minds to right judgment, and our actions to what is good, so that living by the Holy Spirit, we may truly be “salt and light” for others.  We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 Mary, Mother of Good Counsel, 

Response: Pray for us. 

  Seventh Day: The Gift of Wisdom      

 Leader: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful,

 Response: And kindle in them the fire of your love.

 Leader: Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created,

 Response: And you shall renew the face of the earth.  

All: The gift of wisdom is nothing less than loving, contemplative union with God, which makes it possible for us to see all things from a divine perspective.  When it is understood in its full breadth, wisdom can rightly be called

“communion,” since it is a share in divine life, a union made perfect in the truth of love. Embodying all the other gifts, as charity embraces all the other virtues, wisdom is the most perfect of the gifts. It strengthens our faith, fortifies hope, perfects charity, and promotes the practice of virtue in the highest degree. May the Holy Spirit raise up our hearts and minds to rest in God alone, so that we, his people, may be living signs of a new Pentecost in our time. 

Let us pray. Father, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy his consolations.  May he permeate our thoughts, words and actions, so that bearing witness to the gift of salvation, your church may lead all people to Christ the Way, the Truth and the Life, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. 

Mary, Seat of Wisdom,  

Response: Pray for us.