By Father Al Lauer
Presentation Ministries
Abridged by EWTN Online Services
About a hundred years ago, Pope Leo XIII was inspired to call every
Catholic Church in the world to pray for nine days for the coming of
the Spirit. We pray this novena from the feast of Ascension to Pen-
tecost each year. Pope John Paul II has reiterated Pope Leo's call
to pray for the coming of the Spirit.
THIRSTING FOR THE SPIRIT
Father, I repent of stifling the Spirit (1 Thes 5:19) by giving in
to selfish desires. May I let the Spirit lust against the desires
of the flesh (Gal 5:17) so that I thirst much more strongly for the
Holy Spirit (Jn 7:37).
RENEWING OUR CONFIRMATION
Father, stir into flame the gift bestowed when hands were laid on
me (2 Tim 1:6).
LIFE-STYLE IN THE SPIRIT
Father, by the power of the Spirit, may I devote myself "to the
apostles" instruction and the communal life, to the breaking of
bread and the prayers (Acts 2:42).
WITNESSING FOR JESUS
Jesus, the Holy Spirit bears witness on Your behalf. May I bear
witness as well (Jn 15:26-27) right where I am and even to the
ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).
ONLY BY THE SPIRIT
Father, without the Spirit I cannot please You (Rom 8:8-9). Not
by my might or power but only by the Spirit can I live for You
(Zech 4:6). Come, Holy Spirit!
"RENEW THE FACE OF THE EARTH"
Lord, as the Spirit moved over the waters on the day of creation
(Gn 1:1), breathe on me to receive the Spirit (Jn 20:22), send
forth the Spirit and renew the face of the earth (Ps 104:30).
"CRUCIFIED TO THE WORLD"
Holy Spirit, take me in prayer to the foot of Jesus' cross. Reveal
to me how I shared in crucifying Jesus through my sins. Crucify me
to the ways of the world and the world to me (Gal 6:14). Crucify
my flesh with its passions and desires (Gal 5:24). (This prayer is
based on Pope John Paul II's encyclical on the Holy Spirit.)
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Holy Spirit, through Your gifts produce Your fruit in my life. Give
me "love, joy, peace, patient endurance, kindness, generosity, faith,
mildness, and chastity" (Gal5:22-23).
TRUE RELATIONSHIPS
Spirit of Truth, make me true and faithful in all my relationships
-- in family, church, and work (Jn 16:13). Be the Source of unity
in my life (Eph 4:3).
PRAYER TO BE A NEW PERSON
Father, may the Spirit of the Lord rush upon me and may I be changed
into another person (1 Sam 10:6).
THE HOLY SPIRIT AND MARY
Jesus, thank You for giving Mary to me as my mother (Jn 19:27).
Mary, Spouse of the Spirit (Lk 1:35), as you prayed in the upper
room for the first Pentecost, pray for me now (Acts 1:14). "Let
it be done to me" according to God's word (Lk 1:38).
GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
The Bible contains five major lists of gifts given by the Holy Spirit.
Isaiah 11 -- RENEWAL GIFTS
1. Wisdom
2. Understanding
3. Counsel
4. Strength
5. Knowledge
6. Fear of the Lord
1. WISDOM
Father, I ask to be freed from doubt (Jas 1:5-6). Then I ask You for
wisdom to apply Your revelation to my everyday life.
2. UNDERSTANDING
Father, spare us and have mercy on us by making us an "understanding
people" (Is 27:11).
3. COUNSEL
Father, give me counsel to evangelize my city and to stop abortion,
pornography, sexual perversion, racism, and starvation.
4. STRENGTH
Father, may I grow strong in my "holy faith through prayer in the
Holy Spirit" (Jude 20). May I not be timid but strong, loving, and
wise (2 Tim 1:7).
5. KNOWLEDGE
Father, may the earth "be filled with knowledge of the Lord, as water
covers the sea" (Is 11:9).
6. FEAR OF THE LORD (PIETY)
Father, let a reverent fear," overtake me (Acts 2:43) and may I "make
steady progress in the fear of the Lord" (Acts 9:31).
ROMANS 12
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8. FAITH
Father, give us "confident assurance concerning what we hope for, and
conviction about things we do not see" (Heb 11:1).
9. MINISTRY
Jesus, may I follow in Your footsteps by washing others' feet (see
Jn 13:14).
10. TEACHING
Father, raise up teachers who are zealous, orthodox, and evangelistic.
11. EXHORTATION (ENCOURAGEMENT)
"God, the source of all patience and encouragement," enable me "to
live in perfect harmony" and to derive hope from "the words of
encouragement in the Scriptures" (Rom 15:4-5).
12. GIVING
Father, You love me so much that You gave up Your Son to die on the
cross for me (Jn 3:16). I give all to You.
13. LEADERSHIP
Father, may I accept the gift of leadership, even if I don't want it.
14. MERCY
Father, may mercy triumph over judgment in my life (Jas 2:13).
1 CORINTHIANS 12:8ff
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17. DISCERNMENT OF SPIRITS
Father, raise up Christians to discern the spirit behind prophecies,
world events, trends, and TV programs (1 Cor 12:10).
1 CORINTHIANS 12:28ff
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20. APOSTLES
Father, raise up hundreds of lay apostles in all the countries of
the world.
21. ASSISTANTS
Jesus, give me Your heart for the leaders of the Church so I will
help them in any way I can.
22. ADMINISTRATORS
Father, raise up faithful administrators of Your mysteries
(1 Cor 4:1-2).
EPHESIANS 4:11
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23. EVANGELISTS (PREACHERS)
Jesus, may I want to share Your gospel more than I want to feel
pleasure and avoid pain.
24. PASTORS-TEACHERS (SHEPHERDS)
Father, appoint over us shepherds after Your own heart who will
shepherd us wisely and prudently (Jer 3:15).
PRAYERS FOR OTHER SPIRITUAL GIFTS
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25. DELIVERANCE
"St. Michael, the archangel, defend us in battle and be our protection
against the wickedness and snares of the devil. Rebuke him, O God...
(Prayer of St. Michael).
26. REDEMPTIVE SUFFERING (MARTYRDOM)
Jesus, teach me how to share in Your sufferings by being formed into
the pattern of Your death (Phil 3:10).
27. CELIBACY
Lord, Your love is greater than life, marriage, or sex (Ps 63:4).
28. GOSPEL POVERTY
Jesus, if You tell me to sell what I have and give to the poor, may
I not walk away sad, but obey (Mk 10:21-22).
29. INTERCESSION
Father, at this time in world history, I believe the gift of
intercession is of special importance. May I intercede as much
as possible.
30. HOSPITALITY
Jesus, may I extend to others the supreme hospitality You show me in
the Eucharist.
There are hundreds of other gifts in addition to these,
and each Christian has several gifts of the Spirit. So we pray:
Father, distribute the gifts of the Spirit (Heb 2:4) in a lavish
(Titus 3:6), unrationed way (Jn 3:34). Father, do more than we can
ever ask for or imagine (Eph 3:20).
PRAYER FOR LOVE
Father, we know that the gifts of the Spirit will be of no benefit
(1 Cor 13:1-2) unless we love each other by laying down our lives for
each other (1 Jn 3:16). Give me Your love.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Published by:
Presentation Ministries
3230 McHenry
Cincinnati, Ohio 45211
(513) 662-5378
Reproduced with permission.
Nihil Obstat: Rev. Robert J. Buschmiller June 19, 1992
Imprimatur: +James H. Garland. V.G. Archdiocese of Cincinnati,
June 23, 1992
