The 1ST Novena-PENTECOST-The Holy Ghost

The Holy Ghost Is The Third Person of The Most Holy Trinity — He Is The Love of The Father for The Son and of The Son for The Father; He Is The Author of all Good, The Spirit, Who fillest the universe, The Paraclete, The Advocate,… 

We say that The Holy Ghost lives in us when we are in a state of grace/ friendship with God.  This being said — wherever One Person of The Most Holy Trinity goes, all Three Persons go, as They Make up a God-Community:  Three Persons in One God.

This is the first “Novena” ever made.  “Novena” means “nine” in Latin, and, The Blessed Virgin and 120 Disciples persevered in prayer and probably in fasting for 9 days, asking that The “Paraclete” be sent to them. When He proclaims and promises the coming of The Holy Spirit, Jesus calls Him The “Paraclete,” literally, “He Who is called to one’s side,” Advocatus.18   “Paraclete” is commonly translated by “Consoler”.  (http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/P21.HTM)

The Paraclete, The Holy Ghost descended in a roar of wind, as of a freight train, in Tongues of Fire upon The Blessed Virgin Mary, and the 120 Disciples, as they were praying in the Upper Room on Pentecost. 

Per the Catechism of The Catholic Church: “1830   The moral life of Christians is sustained by the gifts of The Holy Spirit. These are permanent dispositions which make man docile in following the promptings of The Holy Spirit.  1831   The Seven Gifts of The Holy Spirit are Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety [Love of The Lord], and Fear of The Lord. They belong in their fullness to Christ, Son of David.109   They complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them. They make the faithful docile in readily obeying divine inspirations.  Let your good spirit lead me on a level path.110   For all who are led by The Spirit of God are sons of God … If children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.111″   The Disciples also received the Fruits of The Spirit, which are the result of practicing the Virtues (the four Cardinal Virtues are: Patience, Temperance, Fortitude, and Justice).  “1832   The Fruits of The Spirit are perfections that The Holy Spirit forms in us as the First Fruits of eternal glory. The tradition of The Church lists twelve of them:  ‘Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Generosity, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Modesty, Self-Control, Chastity.112″ Footnotes for the above passages:  109 Cf. ⇒ Isa 11:1–2.; 110 ⇒ PS 143:10; 111 ⇒ Rom 8:14  ⇒ 17; 112 Gal 5:22–23 (Vulg[ate Bible — original Latin translation of The Bible, by St. Jerome].).  (http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/P67.HTM)

Putting it very basically, I think that our Lord Jesus Christ taught us everything, that we need to know about The Faith and how to live it (morals), and The Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit gives us the power/grace through His Gifts, Fruits, and Inspirations, to live it out.

In the traditional calendar, the Sundays following Pentecost are numbered, until Christ The King, which is why the Season is called “Ordinary Time” — the Sundays are numbered with “ordinal” numbers: 1st, 2nd, 3rd,…  The color of red is used for the Feast of Pentecost, to memorialize the Tongues of Fire, but the color of green is used during “Ordinary Time”, because green means “Life Everlasting”.  In the Orthodox tradition, “The church building is decorated with flowers and the green leaves of the summer to show that God’s divine breath comes to renew all creation.”  (http://mb-soft.com/believe/txc/penteco4.htm)

The Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday following Pentecost are the Summer “Ember Days”, very important days, which we should dedicate to prayer, some abstinence, and fasting to consecrate the Season of Summer to God for good vocations to the Priesthood (and Religious Life) and for good crops. See:  https://theholyfamilyhouse.org/ember-days/.

Let’s prepare for and celebrate well the Feast of Pentecost, the official Birthday of The Church — Her Propagation, by making a “Novena”. Definitely offer up one or more of the following:  Holy Mass daily, The Most Holy Rosary daily, The Chaplet of Divine Mercy daily and one or more of these prayers, daily, in a novena in honor of our Lord God The Holy Ghost and to obtain your petitions.  When we are confirmed (if we are in a state of grace), we receive the 7 Gifts of The Holy Ghost and become Soldiers of Christ.   Be sure to ask for help in using wisely the 7 Gifts of The Holy Ghost and to ask for the 12 Fruits of The Holy Ghost.

NOVENA PRAYERS:

Pray the following prayers at any time for guidance and especially to gain the 7 Gifts and 12 Fruits of The Holy Ghost, and, definitely, during the Pentecostal Novena.  Pray one or more of them in any combination — they are all powerful.

V.  Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto,  R.  Sicut Erat in Principio, et Nunc, et Semper, et in Saecula Saeculorum.  Amen. /          V.  Glory be to The Father, and to the Son, and to The Holy Ghost/Spirit,  R.  As It Was in the beginning, Is now, and ever shall Be, world without end. Amen.

Spiritus Sancte, Spiritus Veritatis, veni in corda nostra; da populis claritatem lucis Tuae, ut in fidei unitate Tibi complaceant.” / “O Holy Spirit, Spirit of Truth, come into our hearts; shed the brightness of Thy Light upon the nations, that they may please Thee in unity of faith.” (#277, Raccolta)

“O Sancte Spiritus, Dulcis Hospes animae meae, mane mecum et fac ut ego maneam semper Tecum.” /          “O Holy Spirit, Sweet Guest of my soul, abide in me, and grant that I may ever abide in Thee.”  (#278, Raccolta)

Spiritus Sancte, Deus, miserere nobis.” /          O Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.” (#279, Raccolta)

Sequence for Pentecost:

Veni, Sancte Spiritus,      et emitte caelitus lucis Tuae radium.     Veni, Pater Pauperum, veni,      Dator munerum,      veni, Lumen cordium.     Consolator optime,      Dulcis Hospes Animae,      Dulcis Refrigerium.          In labore Requies, in aestu Temperies, in fletu Solatium.     O Lux Beatissima, reple cordis intima Tuorum fidelium.     Sine Tuo numine nihil est in homine, nihil est innoxium.     Lava quod est sordidum, riga quod est aridum, sana quod est saucium.     Flecte quod est rigidum, fove quod est frigidum, rege quod est devium.     Da Tuis Fidelibus in Te confidentibus Sacrum Septenarium.     Da virtutis meritum, da salutis exitum, da perenne gaudium.  Amen.”  (ex Missali Romano) / “Come, Thou Holy Paraclete,     And from Thy Celestial Seat     Send Thy Light and Brilliancy.     Father of the Poor, draw near,     Giver of all gifts, be here,     Come, the soul’s True Radiancy.     Come, of comforters the best,     Of the soul The Sweetest Guest,     Come in toil refreshingly.     Thou in labor Rest Most Sweet,     Thou art shadow from the heat,     Comfort in adversity.     O Thou Light, Most Pure and Blest,     Shine within the inmost breast,     Of Thy Faithful Company.     Where Thou Art not, man hath naught;     Ev’ry holy deed and thought     Comes from Thy Divinity.     What is soiled, make Thou pure;     What is wounded, work its cure;     What is parched, fructify.     What is rigid, gently bend;     What is frozen, warmly tend;     Strengthen what goes erringly.     Fill Thy Faithful, who confide     In Thy Power to guard and guide,     With Thy Sevenfold Mystery.     Here Thy Grace and Mercy send;     Grant salvation in the end,     And in Heaven Felicity.  Amen.” (Roman Missal, tr. J.M. Neale, (#282, Raccolta))

VENI, SANCTE SPIRITUS

Veni, Sancte Spiritus, reple Tuorum corda Fidelium et Tui Amoris in eis Ignem Accende.          V.  Emitte Spiritum Tuum et creabuntur;     R. Et renovabis faciem terrae.          Oremus.     Deus, qui corda Fidelium Sancti Spiritus illustratione docuisti:  da nobis in Eodem Spiritu recte sapere; et de Eius semper Consolatione Gaudere.  Per Christum Dominum nostrum.  Amen. (ex Missali Romano)          / COME HOLY GHOST:         “Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy Faithful and kindle in them The Fire of Thy Love.          V.  Send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created.     R.  And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.          Let us pray.     O God, Who didst teach the hearts of Thy Faithful People by sending them The Light of Thy Holy Spirit, grant us by The Same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His Holy Comfort.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.”     (Roman Missal, (#287, Raccolta))

The Biblical passages, which describe the First Christian Pentecost, which was then a Jewish Feast:

[1] And when the days of the Pentecost were accomplished, they were all together in one place: [2] And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. [3] And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them: [4] And they were all filled with The Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as The Holy Ghost gave them to speak. [5] Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, out of every nation under Heaven.

[6] And when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded in mind, because that every man heard them speak in his own tongue. [7] And they were all amazed, and wondered, saying: Behold, are not all these, that speak, Galileans? [8] And how have we heard, every man our own tongue wherein we were born? [9] Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, [10] Phrygia, and Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome,

[11] Jews also, and proselytes, Cretes, and Arabians: we have heard them speak in our own tongues the wonderful works of God. [12] And they were all astonished, and wondered, saying one to another: What meaneth this? [13] But others mocking, said: These men are full of new wine. [14] But Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke to them: Ye men of Judea, and all you that dwell in Jerusalem, be this known to you, and with your ears receive my words. [15] For these are not drunk, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day:

[16] But this is that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel: [17] And it shall come to pass, in the last days, (saith the Lord,) I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. [18] And upon my servants indeed, and upon my handmaids will I pour out in those days of My Spirit, and they shall prophesy. [19] And I will show wonders in the heaven above, and signs on the earth beneath: blood and fire, and vapor of smoke. [20] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and manifest day of The Lord come.

[21] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of The Lord, shall be saved. [22] Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man approved of God among you, by miracles, and wonders, and signs, which God did by Him, in the midst of you, as you also know: [23] This Same being delivered up, by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you by the hands of wicked men have crucified and slain. [24] Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the sorrows of hell, as it was impossible that He should be holden by it. [25] For David saith concerning him: I foresaw The Lord before my face: because He is at My Right Hand, that I may not be moved.

Footnotes:  [23] By the determinate: God delivered up His Son; and His Son delivered up Himself, for the love of us, and for the sake of our salvation; and so Christ’s being delivered up was holy, and was God’s Own Determination. But they who betrayed and crucified him, did wickedly, following therein their own malice and the instigation of the devil; not The Will and Determination of God, Who was by no means the author of their wickedness; though He permitted it; because He could, and did draw out of it so great a good, viz., the salvation of man.     [24] Having loosed the sorrows: Having overcome the grievous pains of death and all the power of hell.

[26] For this my heart hath been glad, and my tongue hath rejoiced: moreover my flesh also shall rest in hope. [27] Because Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, nor suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption. [28] Thou hast made known to Me the ways of life: Thou shalt make Me full of joy with Thy Countenance. [29] Ye men, brethren, let me freely speak to you of the patriarch David; that he died, and was buried; and his sepulchre is with us to this present day. [30] Whereas therefore he was a prophet, and knew that God hath sworn to him with an oath, that of the fruit of his loins One should sit upon his throne.

[31] Foreseeing this, he spoke of The Resurrection of Christ. For neither was He left in hell, neither did His Flesh see corruption. [32] This Jesus hath God raised again, whereof all we are witnesses. [33] Being exalted therefore by The Right Hand of God, and having received of The Father The Promise of The Holy Ghost, He hath poured forth this which you see and hear. [34] For David ascended not into heaven; but he himself said: The Lord said to my Lord, sit Thou on My Right Hand, [35] Until I make Thine enemies Thy Footstool.

[36] Therefore let all the house of Israel know most certainly, that God hath made both Lord and Christ, this same Jesus, whom you have crucified. [37] Now when they had heard these things, they had compunction in their heart, and said to Peter, and to the rest of the Apostles: What shall we do, men and brethren? [38] But Peter said to them:  Do penance, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins: and you shall receive the gift of The Holy Ghost. [39] For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are far off, whomsoever The Lord our God shall call. [40] And with very many other words did he testify and exhort them, saying:  Save yourselves from this perverse generation.

[41] They therefore that received his word, were baptized; and there were added in that day about three thousand souls. [42] And they were persevering in the doctrine of the Apostles, and in the communication of the breaking of bread, and in prayers. [43] And fear came upon every soul: many wonders also and signs were done by the Apostles in Jerusalem, and there was great fear in all. [44] And all they that believed, were together, and had all things common. [45] Their possessions and goods they sold, and divided them to all, according as every one had need.

[46] And continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they took their meat with gladness and simplicity of heart; [47] Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And The Lord increased daily together such as should be saved.” ( http://drbo.org/chapter/51002.htm)

But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.”  (St.Paul’s 1st Letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 16, verse 8, (http://drbo.org/chapter/53016.htm))

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