The Holy Ghost
Hymn and Sequence of the Holy Ghost
Hymn
COME, Holy Ghost, Creator, come,
From Thy bright, heavenly throne;
Come, take possession of our souls.
And make them all Thine own.
Thou Who art called the Paraclete,
Best gift of God above;
The living spring, the living fire.
Sweet unction and true love.
Thou Who art sevenfold
in Thy grace,
Finger of God's right hand,
His promise, teaching
little ones
To speak and understand.
Oh ! guide our minds with
Thy blest light.
With love our hearts inflame;
And with Thy strength,
which ne'er decays,
Confirm our mortal frame.
Far from us drive our
hellish foe,
True peace unto us bring;
And through all perils
lead us safe
Beneath Thy sacred wing.
Through Thee may we the
Father know,
Through Thee, th' eternal Son,
And Thee, the Spirit of
them both —
Thrice-blessed Three in
one.
All glory to the Father be,
And to His risen Son,
The like to Thee, great
Paraclete.
While endless ages run.
Amen.
SEQUENCE
HOLY Spirit! Lord of light!
From Thy clear celestial height,
Thy pure, beaming radiance give:
Come, Thou Father of the poor!
Come, with treasures which endure!
Come, Thou light of all that live!
Thou, of all consolers best.
Visiting the troubled breast,
Dost refreshing peace bestow:
Thou in toil art comfort sweet;
Pleasant coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.
Light immortal! light divine!
Visit Thou these hearts of Thine,
And our inmost being fill.
If Thou take Thy grace away,
Nothing pure in man will stay;
All his good is turn'd to ill.
Heal our wounds — our
strength renew;
On our dryness pour Thy dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away:
Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go
astray.
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.
Indulgence of 100 days, each time for reciting either the hymn or the sequence. — Pius VI, May 26, 1796.
Versicle, Response and Prayer to the Holy Ghost
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 hast taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that, by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be always truly wise, and ever rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen. Novena to the Holy Ghost in Preparation for the Feast of Pentecost
(Commencing on Ascension Day)
THE novena of the Holy Spirit is the chief of all the novenas, because it was the first that was ever celebrated, and that by the holy apostles and the most holy Mary in the supper room, being distinguished by so many remarkable wonders and gifts, principally by the gift of the same Holy Spirit, a gift merited for us by the Passion of Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus Himself made this known to us when He said to His disciples that if He did not die, He could not send us the Holy Ghost: If I go not, the Paraclete will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you " (John xvi. 7). We know well by faith that the Holy Ghost is the love that the Father and the Eternal Word bear one to the other; and therefore the gift of love which the Lord infuses into I our souls, and which is the greatest of all gifts, is particularly attributed to the Holy Ghost. As St. Paul says, " The charity of God is poured forth in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, Who is given to us " (Rom. V. 5). In this novena, therefore, we must consider, above all, the great value of divine love, in order that we may desire to obtain it, and endeavor, by devout exercises, and especially by prayer, to be made partakers of it, since God has promised it to him who asks for it with humility: "Your Father from heaven I will give the good Spirit to them that ask Him" (Luke xi. 13).
Pope Leo XIII, May 9, 1897, decreed that a novena to the Holy Ghost should be made every year in preparation for the feast of Pentecost and granted an indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines for each day of the novena, and plenary indulgence any one day of the no vena on the usual conditions. The same indulgences may be gained any day of the week between Pentecost and Trinity Sunday.
During this novena no particular form of prayer is of obligation. Any prayer to the Holy Ghost will suffice.
Prayer During the Feast of Pentecost
O HOLY Spirit, O my God, I adore Thee, and acknowledge, here in Thy divine presence, that I am nothing and can do nothing without Thee. Come, great Paraclete, Thou father of the poor, Thou comforter the best, fulfil the promise of our blessed Saviour, Who would not leave us orphans, and come into the mind and the heart of Thy poor, unworthy creature, as Thou didst descend on the sacred day of Pentecost on the holy Mother of Jesus and on His first disciples. Grant that I may participate in those gifts which Thou didst communicate to them so wonderfully, and with so much mercy and generosity. Take from my heart whatever is not pleasing to Thee, and make of it a worthy dwelling-place for Thyself. Illumine my mind, that I may see and understand the things that are for my eternal good. Inflame my heart with pure love of Thee, that it may be cleansed from the dross of all inordinate attachments, and that my whole life may be hidden with Jesus in God. Strengthen my will, that it may be made comformable to Thy divine will, and be guided by Thy holy inspirations. Aid me by Thy grace to practise the divine lessons of humility, poverty, obedience, and contempt of the world, which Jesus taught us in His mortal life.
Oh, rend the heavens, and come down, consoling Spirit! that inspired and encouraged by Thee, I may faithfully comply with the duties of my state, carry my daily cross most patiently, and endeavor to accomplish the divine will with the utmost perfection. Spirit of love! Spirit of purity! Spirit of peace! Sanctify my soul more and more, and give me that heavenly peace which the world can not give. Bless our Holy Father, the Pope, bless the Church, bless our bishops, our priests, all Religious Orders, our relatives, friends, benefactors, and all the faithful, that they may be filled with the spirit of Christ, and labor earnestly for the spread of His kingdom.
O Holy Spirit, Thou Giver of every good and perfect gift, grant me, I beseech Thee, the intentions of this novena. May Thy will be done in me and through me. Mayst Thou be praised and glorified for evermore! Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit for the Church
O HOLY Spirit, Creator, be propitious to the Catholic Church; and by thy heavenly power make it strong and secure against the attacks of its enemies; and renew in charity and grace the spirit of thy servants, whom Thou hast anointed, that they may glorify Thee and the Father and his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Indulgence of 300 days, once a day. — Leo XIII, Aug. 26, 1889.
SHORT INDULGENCED PRAYER TO THE HOLY GHOST
Holy Spirit, Spirit of truth, come into our hearts; shed the brightness of Thy light on all nations, that they may be one in faith and pleasing to Thee.
Indulgence of 100 days, once a day. — Leo XIII, July 31, 1897.