FIRST DAY
V. Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and enkindle 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 by the Light of the Holy Spirit, didst instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that in the same Spirit we may be truly wise, and ever rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Act of Contrition
"O God be merciful to me as sinner." I am sincerely sorry for all the sins, faults, and infidelities of my life because they offend thee, my chief Benefactor and sovereign Good. I firmly resolve by the grace of the Holy Spirit to sin no more. Amen.
Prayer of Humility
O God, Who resisteth the proud and bestoweth Thy grace on the humble, grant us the virtue of true humility of which Thine only begotten Son showed to the faithful an example in Himself; that we may never provoke Thee to anger by our pride, but rather receive through humility the gift of Thy grace. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Roman Missal)
Reflection
The Blessed Virgin Mary taught us how to respond to the inspiration of divine grace. When the Angel Gabriel announced to her: "The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee, and therefore, also, the Holy, which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God" (1 Luke 1:35) Mary answered: "Be it done unto me according to Thy word" (2 Luke 1:36)
ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
O Divine Redeemer, Who said: "I will ask the Father, and He will grant you another Advocate to be with you for all time, the Spirit of Truth" (1 John 14:16) I consecrate myself to the eternal Spirit of God.Aspiration of love, proceeding from the Father and the Son, alert me to be ever aware of Thy indwelling; stimulate the eyesight of my soul to discern the unfailing light of divine grace. Adorable Holy Spirit, have compassion on the dullness of my mind and the weakness of my will. Illuminate and strengthen me to trample on temptation.
Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom, the prevision to look to my last end by cooperating now with Thy holy inspirations - all for the greater honor and glory of God; the Spirit of Understanding to deepen my grasp of eternal truths; the Spirit of Counsel to prudently choose the best way of pleasing God; the Spirit of Fortitude to stand up fearlessly in opposition to evil; the Spirit of Knowledge - self-Inspection regarding my fidelity to God's laws and the duties of my state in life; the Spirit of Piety to enable me to prefer my Divine Lover and His Will to earthly creatures; the Spirit of Fear of the Lord to realize the folly and ingratitude of defying my Lord and my God.
Kneeling before Thee, O Divine Consoler, let me press to my heart the pierced feet of Jesus, look into His open side and trust in His Precious Blood channeled to my soul through the Sacraments.
O Holy Spirit enfold all mankind with Thy Sevenfold Gifts. Keep me faithful unto death that I may win the crown of life. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be, etc.
SECOND DAY
Prayer to the Holy Spirit; Act of Contrition; Prayer for Humility.
Reflection
"... Jesus being full of the Holy Spirit returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for the space of forty days; and was tempted by the devil." (1 Luke 4:1,2) The loving solicitude of our Father in heaven assures us: "My grace is sufficient for thee." We are never tempted beyond our strength; on the contrary, God permits us to grow stronger by resisting temptation. "... for power is made perfect in infirmity" (St. Paul, Cor. 12:9) When tempted say: "My Jesus mercy!" (300 Days Indulgence) "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." (300 days indulgence) "Mother of Mercy, pray for us." (300 days indulgence)
Act of Concecration
THIRD DAY
Prayer to the Holy Spirit; Act of Contrition; Prayer for Humility.
Reflection
To resist the first advances of temptation, recall to mind the warning of the Holy Spirit: "Know you not, that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? But if any man violate the temple of God, him shall God destroy. For the temple of God is holy, which you are." (1 Cor. 3:16) "In all thy works remember thy last end, and thou shalt never sin." Praise, adoration, thanksgiving to the Holy Spirit of God for His sublime act of love manifested in the Incarnation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Act of Consecration
FOURTH DAY
Prayer to the Holy Spirit; Act of Contrition; Prayer for Humility.
Reflection
"The Spirit of God made me and the breath of the Almighty gave me life." (Job 33:4) We owe every good thought and deed to His loving care. St. Paul teaches us that we are not capable of thinking, willing of doing anything profitable for salvation without a divine and supernatural influence. Often reflect that we are not "sufficient to think anything of ourselves, as ourselves; but our sufficiency if from God." (2 Cor. 3:5)
Act of Consecration.
FIFTH DAY
Prayer to the Holy Spirit; Act of Contrition; Prayer for Humility.
Reflection
Keep in mind that this same Holy Spirit knocks at the door of your heart. How will you respond? "Today if you hear His Voice harden not your hearts." Ponder well that the author of sanctifying grace, which renders you pleasing to God, is the Holy Spirit. In fact, He Himself is communicated to the soul in justification. "The Charity of God is poured forth in our souls by the Holy Spirit, Who is given to us." (Rom. 5:5) Praise, adoration and thanksgiving be to the Holy Spirit of God who sanctifies us to produce from His seven gifts the divine fruits of charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity, mildness, faith, modesty, continency, chastity.
Act of Consecration.
SIXTH DAY
Prayer to the Holy Spirit; Act of Contrition; Prayer for Humility.
Reflection
St. Paul teaches: "No man can say the Lord Jesus, but by the Holy Spirit." (1 Cor. 12:3) If you cannot even pronounce the Holy Name without the inspiration of the Spirit of love, how can we make any progress in the spiritual life without His constant aid? "He saved us by the laver of regeneration and renovation of the Holy Spirit." (Titus 3:5) What deep consolation our Saviour gave to his disciples shortly before ascending to heaven: "It is expedient to you that I go: for it I go not, the Paraclete will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you." (John 16:7) Praise, adoration and thanksgiving be to the Holy Spirit, who by descending upon the apostles and disciples created Pentecostal fires, vitalized the infallible Church, by whose teaching we learn eternal truths, by whose sacraments we receive grace to guide us to heaven.
Act of Consecration.
SEVENTH DAY
Prayer to the Holy Spirit; Act of Contrition; Prayer for Humility.
Reflection
Conviction comes from thinking; - beg the Holy Spirit to enlighten, fortify, and guide you. "Whosoever are led by the Spirit of God, they are the children of God." (Rom. 8:14) To reach our goal, we must clearly know our goal. This knowledge comes to us by humbly invoking the Holy Spirit to firmly believe what God has revealed and promised: "He that cometh to God, must believe that He is, and is a rewarder to them that seek Him." (Heb. 11:6) Praise, adoration and thanksgiving to the Holy Spirit for the priceless gift of faith bestowed on me in Baptism whereby He made me an adopted child of God, filled my soul with sanctifying grace and imparted to me the supernatural virtues of faith, hope and charity.
Act of Consecration.
EIGHTH DAY
Prayer to the Holy Spirit; Act of Contrition; Prayer for Humility.
Reflection
Even though blinded by pride; often depressed and confused by dark clouds of trial and suffering; or carried away by flashes of joy, be recollected and invoke the Holy Spirit of Divine Love to hear our prayer. "The Spirit breatheth where He will; and thou hearest His voice, but thou knowest not whence He cometh and wither He goeth." (John 3:8) "Be penitent, therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out." (Acts 3:19) "Create a clean heart in me, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy face; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and strengthen me with a perfect spirit." (Ps. 12, 13, 14)
Act of Consecration.
NINTH DAY
Prayer to the Holy Spirit; Act of Contrition; Prayer for Humility.
Reflection
In His boundless love for me, the Holy Spirit has created me a rational creature and by Baptism He made me a child of God and give me a title to heaven. "The Spirit Himself giveth testimony to our spirit, that we are the children of God." (Rom 8:16) May we never lose sight of our sublime destiny and its corresponding obligations.
No matter how heavy our cross, the yoke becomes sweet, the burden light, the outlook happy and consoling if we appreciate the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. "The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but justice, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Rom. 14:17) Sweet Mother of God, spouse of the Spirit of divine love, pray for me. Praise, adoration and thanksgiving to the Holy Spirit Who in the sacrament of confirmation imparted a character on my soul and made me a soldier of Jesus Christ.
Act of Consecration.
Nihil Obstat: Vincent Bartuska, J.C.D. - Imprimatur: Charles F. Buddy, Bishop of San Diego - March 25, 1965. - Apostolate of Christian Action, P.O. Box 24, Fresno, California 93707
