SIXTH DAY (Wednesday, 7th Week of Easter)
If Thou take Thy
grace away, nothing pure in man will stay, All his good is turn'd to ill.
Holy Spirit soul of my soul, fill your
humble servants with your light, especially our bishops and priests, that they
may be faithful witnesses and humble servants, always drawing closer to your holy
Will.
The Gift of Understanding
Understanding, as a gift of the Holy Spirit, helps
us to grasp the meaning of the truths of our holy religion BY faith we know
them, but by Understanding we learn to appreciate and relish them. It enables
us to penetrate the inner meaning of revealed truths and through them to be
quickened to newness of life. Our faith ceases to be sterile and inactive, but
inspires a mode of life that bears eloquent testimony to the faith that is in
us; we begin to "walk worthy of God in all things pleasing, and increasing
in the knowledge of God."
Prayer
Come, O Spirit of Understanding, and enlighten our
minds, that we may know and believe all the mysteries of salvation; and may
merit at last to see the eternal light in Thy Light; and in the light of glory
to have a clear vision of Thee and the Father and the Son. Amen.
ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
To be recited daily during the NovenaOn my knees I before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses I offer myself, soul and body 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 and 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 gracious 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, and trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart, I implore You, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, 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 for Your servant heareth." Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT
To be recited daily during the Novena
O Lord Jesus Christ Who, before ascending into
heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in the souls of
Your Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He
may perfect in my soul, the work of Your grace and Your love. Grant me the
Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the perishable things of this world and
aspire only after the things that are eternal, the Spirit of Understanding to
enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth, the Spirit on Counsel
that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven, the
Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with You and that I may
overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit of
Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science
of the Saints, the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and
amiable, and the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving reverence
towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord with
the sign of Your true disciples, and animate me in all things with Your Spirit.
Amen.
