Feast of Pentecost - How Are We to Honor the Holy Ghost in our Souls?

Picture source

If the Holy Ghost is...really in our souls, loving us with an unspeakably great love and craving for our love in return, we must above all realize and remember His Divine Presence. We must not, as many do, pass the whole day, pass many days and weeks in complete forgetfulness of Him.

True, we cannot be praying constantly to Him all day long, but we can honor and adore Him in many different ways:

First: by offering to Him our daily prayers, Masses, Communions and good works.

We increase the Gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost by prayer and the reception of the Sacraments.

Second: by offering in His honor all the actions of the day.

We can offer Him our daily work, our sleep, our eating, all we do, as St. Paul tells us: "Whatever you do in word or work, do all in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ." The Apostle continues: "Whether you eat or drink or whatever else you do, do all int he name of Our Lord Jesus Christ."

We thus honor the Holy Ghost day and night by offering for love of Him all we do. It is He who commands us to eat, to sleep, to work, to rest. Surely there is no difficulty in doing all this for the love of Him.

Third:  by saying special prayers to the Holy Ghost.

We daily say these prayers to the Holy Ghost, but we do not always give them sufficient attention.

Every time we make the Sign of the Cross, we say: "In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy ghost." In the future, when repeating these words, let us say with special emphasis the words, "Holy ghost," not that we wish to give more honor to the Holy Ghost than to the Father and the Son, but only that we may make reparation to Him for our past neglect.

The same applies to another prayer we repeat so often, viz: "Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost." We say this beautiful prayer very frequently, but many say it without due attention. Let us try for the future to emphasize a little the words "to the Holy Ghost." This prayer said once with devotion is worth more than the same prayer said a thousand times hastily and irreverently.

A third special prayer in honor of the Holy Ghost is the Third Glorious Mystery of the Rosary, viz, "The Descent of the Holy Ghost on Our Lady and the Apostles."

It should be clearly our intention when saying this mystery to ask God's sweet Mother and the Apostles to obtain for us all the Gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost, as they received them on the Feast of Pentecost.

Remark that these three prayers are not additional burden, for we are already accustomed to say them frequently. Only, for the future, let us say them more devoutly.

Fourth:  by ejaculatory prayers to the Holy Ghost.

"Holy Ghost, God of Love, I adore Thee really and truly in my soul. Oh, give me Thy holy love."

"Holy Ghost, God of Peace, really and truly in my soul, give me Thy blessed peace, which surpasses all understanding."

"Holy Ghost, God of light, really and truly in my soul, give me Thy blessed light that I may see all things clearly."

"Holy Ghost, God of Joy and Consolation, really and truly in my soul, fill me with Thy joy and consolations."

"Holy Ghost, God of Strength, really and truly in my soul, give me Thy divine strength, that I may do all things well."

"Holy Ghost, God of infinite Sweetness and Goodness, really and truly in my soul, give me Thy seven Gifts, Thy beatitudes and Fruits."

We can say these ejaculations, some or all of the, at night when we are awake or during the day when working or at any time. They will keep us ever in the blessed presence of the Holy Ghost and will bring us joy and consolation.

Fifth:  by the practice of virtues.

All virtues please the Holy Ghost, but two attract Him most especially, viz. humility and purity. We should therefore use diligent care in cultivating these virtues and avoiding faults of pride, vanity and impurity.

- The Holy Ghost Our Greatest Friend: He Who Loves us Best by Fr. Paul O' Sullivan, O.P.

A Prayer to the Holy Spirit

The following was shared by one of my readers, Terri. Mahalo Terri!

O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore You.
Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, console me.
Tell me what I should do; give me Your orders.
I promise to submit myself to all that You desire of me
and to accept all that You permit to happen to me.
Let me only know Your Will.

by Cardinal Mercier:

EWTN Family Prayer - For the Holy Spirit's Gifts of Healing

EWTN Family Prayer - For the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

A Secret of Sanctity and Happiness

Cardinal Mercier's Prayer To The Holy Spirit

I am going to reveal to you a secret of sanctity and happiness. For five minutes every day quiet your imagination, close your eyes to everything visible and your ears to all external sounds and withdraw into the sanctuary of your baptized soul which is the temple of the Holy Spirit. There, speak to the Holy Spirit and say:

"O Holy Spirit
soul of my soul
I adore you.
Enlighten
guide,
strengthen and console me.
Tell me what I ought to do
and command me to do it.
I promise to submit to everything
that you ask of me
and to accept all
that you allow to happen to me.
Just show me what is your will."

If you do this, your life will be happy and serene. Even in the midst of troubles you will experience great consolation, for grace will be given to strengthen and help you to cope with every difficulty.

Source

Shared by Sue Cifelli.

Spouse of the Holy Spirit

Novena to the Holy Spirit Begins Tomorrow May 14th

White (Fairy) Tern also known as the Holy Spirit bird

Photo by Esther G.

Just a reminder that the oldest known novena begins tomorrow Friday, May 14th. You can find the Novena to the Holy Spirit for the Seven Gifts at EWTN

Just in Time for Pentecost - Fr. John Randall's Ray of Light

Ed over at In God's Company 2 shares a new book by his friend Fr. Randall:

A new book written by Father John F. Randall offers theological and practical examination of the gift of the Holy Spirit in the Church, and aims to help people see the importance of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
Father Randall, pastor emeritus at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Providence, explained that the title of his book, “No Spirit, No Church,” comes from his early experience hearing the phrase "the poor and forgotten Holy Spirit..."

Be sure to read the rest of the article at Ed's blog.

The Secret of Sanctity

I found this on Sue's blog

I am gong to reveal to you a secret of sanctity and happiness. If every day during five minutes you will keep your imagination quiet, shut your eyes to all the things of sense, and close your ears to all the sounds of earth, so as to be able to withdraw into the sanctuary of your baptized souls, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit, speaking there to that Holy spirit saying:

O Holy Spirit, soul of my soul, I adore You. Enlighten, guide, strengthen and console me. Tell me what I ought to do and command me to do it. I promise to be submissive in everything that You permit to happen to me, only show me what is Your Will.

If you do this, your life will pass happily and serenely. Consolation will abound even in the midst of troubles. Grace will be given in proportion to the trial as well as strength to bear it, bringing you to the gates of Paradise full of merit.

This submission to the Holy Spirit is the Secret of Sanctity.


Cardinal Mercier

The Feast of Pentecost

Picture source Mary Your Mother

The following is from St. Michael's Center for the Blessed Virgin Mary Please visit their site for prayers, novenas, etc. to the Holy Spirit.

The Catholic community honors the Pentecost Sunday on May 27. This is one of the greatest feast of Christianity which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and the Disciples; the completion of the work of redemption; the fullness of grace for the Church and its children; and the gifts of faith for all nations. It is celebrated fifty days after the resurrection of Christ.

The descent upon the apostles was internal and invisible in nature although accompanied by certain visible phenomena. There came a mighty roar, like the onrush of a violent wind. It came suddenly, from heaven; but unlike storms that strike a structure from without, this one penetrated and filled the room where the disciples were gathered. Therefore it was not a natural wind, it was a miracle peculiar to the occasion. A second visible sign consisted in tongues of fire that descended upon each one present. These fiery tongues gave visible evidence that the Holy Spirit had descended upon them.

The celebration of Pentecost Sunday reminds us of the reality that we are all God-breathed with the unifying Spirit that was poured out upon the First Church. It is a reminder that we are co-heirs with Christ, to suffer with Him that we may also be glorified with Him; that the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good; that we are all baptized by one Spirit into one body and the Spirit which raised Jesus from the dead lives inside believers. This gift of the Holy Spirit that was promised and given to all on the first Pentecost is promised for you and your children and for all who are far off whom the Lord our God will call.

All The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Thanks Sue!

There is a general rule concerning all special graces granted to anyhuman being.
Whenever the divine favor chooses someone to receive a special grace,or to accept a lofty vocation,God adorns the person chosen with all the gifts of the Spirit needed
to fulfill the task at hand.

Saint Bernardine of Siena (from a sermon on Saint Joseph)

9th Day of the Novena for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Can be found at EWTN. Just make sure to scroll down a bit.

8th Day of the Novena for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Can be found at EWTN.com

The 7th Day of the Novena for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Can be found at EWTN. However, the link will take you to the 4th day and you will have to scroll down to the 7th day.

The 6th Day of the Novena for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Can be found at EWTN

5th Day of the Novena for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Can be found at EWTN

The Chaplet of the Holy Spirit

You can find the Chaplet of the Holy Spirit at the Miracle of the Rosary Mission

Thanks to Sue for sharing this one too!

The Fruits of the Holy Spirit Through Reflection and Prayer

The following is from my friend Sue via email:

Pentecost is next Sunday, May 27th. Marianne, who is leading the Patron Saint of the Year campaign, is also offering to help us discern the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit that are ours for reflection and prayer. Her email is at the end of this message if you'd like her to pick some from her "Fruits and Gifts" bowl for you.

To learn more about the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit, click here: THE VATICAN
Blessings,
Sue <*}}}>< <*}}}><

This is the introduction to the fruit and gift of the Holy Spirit - I'm thinking that this may help to explain better ... if not, let me know and I will try to help. The best thing that I can suggest is to "Google" fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit and get to know more what yours would be ... then pray and listen ... perhaps you are truly blessed in these areas and need to share them, maybe you need work in these areas, maybe who knows? Only you and the Holy Spirit can figure it out ... some people feel instant connections, such as you and St. Luke, others have to wait for a connection ...

I just received an email from someone whose Saint interceded for them just last week and her saint was picked before Christmas! Let me know what you think. God bless you abundantly!

Many people have enjoyed having a patron saint "pick" them for the year ... There have been many testimonies on all the connections and intercessions that have occurred. How wonderful it is to know that we are not walking alone!

In the same sense, we are doing the same thing with Pentecost and the Holy Spirit "picking" a fruit and gift just for us to reflect on and pray about for the year.

Curious?

As we approach Pentecost, let's reflect on what happened to the Apostles on that day and what happened to us when we were confirmed.

The Holy Spirit is first introduced to a Catholic the day that they are baptized, because the entire Holy Trinity — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — are invoked at the ceremony. During Confirmation, God the Holy Spirit comes upon the person, accompanied by God the Father and God the Son, just as he did at Pentecost. The Feast of Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit from heaven to earth upon the 12 apostles and the Virgin Mary, occurring 50 days after Easter and 10 days after Jesus' Ascension (Acts 2:1–4).

This sacrament is called Confirmation, because the faith given in Baptism is now confirmed and made strong. Sometimes, those who benefit from Confirmation are referred to as "soldiers of Christ". This isn't a military designation but a spiritual duty to fight the war between good and evil, light and darkness — a war between the human race and all the powers of hell.

Confirmation means accepting responsibility for your faith and destiny. Childhood is a time when you're told what to do, and you react positively to reward and negatively to punishment. Adulthood, even young adulthood, means that you must do what's right on your own, not for the recognition or reward but merely because it's the right thing to do. The focus is on the Holy Spirit, who confirmed the apostles on Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4) and gave them courage to practice their faith. We, as Catholics, believe that the same Holy Spirit confirms Catholics during the Sacrament of Confirmation and gives them the same gifts and fruits.

Traditionally, the twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit are charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, long-suffering, mildness, faith, modesty, continency, and chastity. These are human qualities that can be activated by the Holy Spirit. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. These gifts are supernatural graces given to the soul.

When was the last time you thought about these blessing bestowed upon you? Have some of your "fruits" rotted or dried up? Are your gifts sitting on a shelf, collecting dust?

To commemorate Pentecost, how about asking the Holy Spirit to look inside you, deep inside you and pick out one particular fruit and one particular gift that is unique to you that He wants you to pray about? He may want you to develop this gift and fruit. He may want you to share this gift and fruit. He may want you to be an example of your fruit and gift. Only you and the Holy Spirit will know. You may have an instant connection with the fruit and gift that the Spirit picks for you. Or you may wonder what in the world is He thinking? Everyone's will be different and everyone's will be unique, just for them.

I would suggest doing some research on your particular fruit and gift and then reflecting on how they play in your life. Do a lot of listening, the Holy Spirit will be doing a lot of talking! To have a fruit and gift for the year, please contact me. I have a container full of all the fruits and all of the gifts and will be happy to pick one and send it to you. Just let me know! God bless! P.S. It's still not too late to receive a patron saint for the year! All you have to do is request one! Marianne mare54n@bellsouth.net

NOTE FROM ESTHER: IF YOU HAVE ALREADY REQUESTED A PATRON SAINT FROM A Catholic Life IT IS ONE AND THE SAME.

Fourth Day of the Novena for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Can be found at EWTN

Third Day of the Novena for the Holy Spirit's Gifts

Can be found at EWTN