Friday, 6th Week of Easter

INTRODUCTION: The novena in honor of the Holy Spirit 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 Spirit 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.

NOVENA TO THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Friday, 6 ^th Week of Easter
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 Spirit is the Spirit of Light, strength and 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 Holy Spirit daily. We know not what we should pray for as we should. But the Spirit asks for us.

Prayer
Almighty and eternal God, who has promised to renew us by water and the Holy Spirit, and has given us forgiveness of our sins, promised to send us your Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and Fear of the Lord. Amen.
Our Father and Hail Mary (once)
Glory be to the Father (7 times)

Act of Consecration (to be recited daily)
On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself 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 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 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 I implore You to keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against You. Give me grace, O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and the Son to say to You always and everywhere, “Speak Lord, your servant is listening!” Amen.