PENTECOST NOVENA (Ascension to Pentecost)

“Oh, if only…unanimous and fervent prayers could be raised to Heaven in every part of Christendom, as they were once in the Cenacle [upper room] of Jerusalem for a rekindling of the Divine Spirit” Blessed Elena Guerra. The Novena to the Holy Spirit was introduced into the Church by Pope Leo Xlll in 1900, in response to a series of letters that he had received from Blessed Elena Guerra, who was a sister of an Italian congregation 'the Oblates of the Holy Spirit'.

She felt that it was important for the Catholic Church to be renewed and return to the 'Upper Room' with the fervour of the first Christians at Pentecost. “Pentecost is not over. In fact, it is continually going on in every time and place because the Holy Spirit desires to give Himself to all people.”

When Pope Leo introduced the novena he asked the Church to set aside the nine days between the feasts of the Ascension and Pentecost every year to pray the novena with the particular intention of the restoration and unity of the body of Christ.

Each day of the Novena has its own theme for prayer, and the Catholic Bishops conference have also asked that we join with the ecumenical initiative Thy Kingdom Come, praying in particular during this time for people we know personally, to come to a deeper faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ.




Day 1 (Friday 22nd May) - We pray for the renewal of the Church

 

Prayer of Pope St. John XXIII

 

Renew your wonders in this our day, as by a new Pentecost.

Grant to your Church that,

being of one mind and steadfast in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus,

and following the lead of Blessed Peter,

it may advance the reign of our Divine Saviour,

the reign of truth and justice, the reign of love and peace. Amen

 

A reading from the book of Joel:

 

‘In the days to come – it is the Lord who speaks - I will pour out my Spirit upon all mankind.

Your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even on my slaves, men and women, in those days, I will pour out my spirit.

I will display portents in heaven above and signs on the earth below.

The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great day of the Lord dawns. All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ (Joel 3: 1-5)

 

We pray for the ‘spirituality of Pentecost’ to renew the Church throughout the world –

especially in our continent… nation… diocese… parish… and in our own lives:

 

Holy Spirit, come in your power and might to renew the face of the earth.

Come Holy Spirit, rekindle your fire and renew your Church.

 

Pentecost Sequence

 

Come, Holy Spirit, send forth the heavenly radiance of your light.

Come, father of the poor, come, giver of gifts; come, light of the heart.

 

Greatest comforter, sweet guest of the soul, sweet consolation;

In labour, rest; in heat, temperance; in tears, solace.

 

O most blessed light, fill the inmost heart of your faithful.

Without your grace, there is nothing in us, nothing that is not harmful.

 

Cleanse that which is unclean, water that which is dry, heal that which is wounded.

Bend that which is inflexible, fire that which is chilled, correct what goes astray.

 

Give to your faithful, those who trust in you, the sevenfold gifts;

Grant the reward of virtue; grant the deliverance of salvation; grant eternal joy. Amen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 2 (Saturday 23rd May) - We pray for Israel, the people of the Covenant

 

 

Prayer of Pope St. John XXIII

 

Renew your wonders in this our day, as by a new Pentecost.

Grant to your Church that,

being of one mind and steadfast in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus,

and following the lead of Blessed Peter,

it may advance the reign of our Divine Saviour,

the reign of truth and justice, the reign of love and peace. Amen

 

 

A reading from the book of Genesis

 

Now the LORD said to Abram,

‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ (Genesis 12: 1-3)

 

 

 

We pray for the whole Jewish people, and for the shalom peace of Jerusalem, that the chosen city of God may be for all peoples a place to encounter the Lord and to live with one another in peace.

 

 

Come, Holy Spirit upon the Jewish people, Israel - the first to hear the Word of God -

and prepare them for the full realization of the “hope of Israel”.

Bless our elder brother, the people of your Covenant.

 

 

 

Pentecost Sequence

 

Come, Holy Spirit, send forth the heavenly radiance of your light.

Come, father of the poor, come, giver of gifts; come, light of the heart.

 

Greatest comforter, sweet guest of the soul, sweet consolation;

In labour, rest; in heat, temperance; in tears, solace.

 

O most blessed light, fill the inmost heart of your faithful.

Without your grace, there is nothing in us, nothing that is not harmful.

 

Cleanse that which is unclean, water that which is dry, heal that which is wounded.

Bend that which is inflexible, fire that which is chilled, correct what goes astray.

 

Give to your faithful, those who trust in you, the sevenfold gifts;

Grant the reward of virtue; grant the deliverance of salvation; grant eternal joy. Amen

 

 

 

Day 3 (Sunday 24th May) - We pray for the renewal of society

 

Prayer of Pope St. John XXIII

 

Renew your wonders in this our day, as by a new Pentecost.

Grant to your Church that,

being of one mind and steadfast in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus,

and following the lead of Blessed Peter,

it may advance the reign of our Divine Saviour,

the reign of truth and justice, the reign of love and peace. Amen

 

 

A reading from the Gospel of Luke:

 

‘The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for he has anointed me.

He has sent me to bring good news to the poor,

to proclaim liberty to the captives and to the blind new sight,

to set the downtrodden free,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ (Luke 4: 18-19)

 

 

We pray for the coming of the Kingdom,

for the culture of Life born of the Spirit to penetrate the whole of society;

for governments and those in public office in our continent and nation.

 

 

Holy Spirit, come in your power and might to renew the face of the earth.

Come, Holy Spirit, and renew the face of the earth – transform society by your power.

 

 

 

Pentecost Sequence

 

Come, Holy Spirit, send forth the heavenly radiance of your light.

Come, father of the poor, come, giver of gifts; come, light of the heart.

 

Greatest comforter, sweet guest of the soul, sweet consolation;

In labour, rest; in heat, temperance; in tears, solace.

 

O most blessed light, fill the inmost heart of your faithful.

Without your grace, there is nothing in us, nothing that is not harmful.

 

Cleanse that which is unclean, water that which is dry, heal that which is wounded.

Bend that which is inflexible, fire that which is chilled, correct what goes astray.

 

Give to your faithful, those who trust in you, the sevenfold gifts;

Grant the reward of virtue; grant the deliverance of salvation; grant eternal joy. Amen

 

 

 

 

Day 4 (Monday 25th May) - We pray for the unity of Christians

 

 

 

Prayer of Pope St. John XXIII

 

Renew your wonders in this our day, as by a new Pentecost.

Grant to your Church that,

being of one mind and steadfast in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus,

and following the lead of Blessed Peter,

it may advance the reign of our Divine Saviour,

the reign of truth and justice, the reign of love and peace. Amen

 

 

 

A reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians:

 

‘I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you therefore to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were called into one and the same hope when you were called. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all.’ (Ephesians 4: 1-6)

 

 

We pray for reconciliation, for the healing of memories and the unification of the body of Christ –

in the world, in our nation and in our own lives.

 

 

Holy Spirit, come in your power and might to renew the face of the earth.

Come Holy Spirit, unite your church – ‘Father, make them one that the world may believe.’

 

 

 

Pentecost Sequence

 

Come, Holy Spirit, send forth the heavenly radiance of your light.

Come, father of the poor, come, giver of gifts; come, light of the heart.

 

Greatest comforter, sweet guest of the soul, sweet consolation;

In labour, rest; in heat, temperance; in tears, solace.

 

O most blessed light, fill the inmost heart of your faithful.

Without your grace, there is nothing in us, nothing that is not harmful.

 

Cleanse that which is unclean, water that which is dry, heal that which is wounded.

Bend that which is inflexible, fire that which is chilled, correct what goes astray.

 

Give to your faithful, those who trust in you, the sevenfold gifts;

Grant the reward of virtue; grant the deliverance of salvation; grant eternal joy. Amen

 

 

Day 5 (Tuesday 26th May) - We pray for reconciliation and healing

 

 

 

Prayer of Pope St. John XXIII

 

Renew your wonders in this our day, as by a new Pentecost.

Grant to your Church that,

being of one mind and steadfast in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus,

and following the lead of Blessed Peter,

it may advance the reign of our Divine Saviour,

the reign of truth and justice, the reign of love and peace. Amen

 

 

 

A reading from the Gospel of Mark:

 

‘And when you stand in prayer, forgive whatever you have against anybody, so that your Father in heaven may forgive your failings too.’ (Mark 11:25)

 

 

 

We pray for reconciliation in broken relationships, and the healing of life’s hurts.

May the peace of Christ, that has broken down every dividing wall, lead us into unity.

We pray for this for our diocese, our parish, our families and ourselves.

 

 

 

Holy Spirit, come in your power and might to renew the face of the earth.

Come Holy Spirit; help us live together in unity, humility and love.

 

 

 

Pentecost Sequence

 

Come, Holy Spirit, send forth the heavenly radiance of your light.

Come, father of the poor, come, giver of gifts; come, light of the heart.

 

Greatest comforter, sweet guest of the soul, sweet consolation;

In labour, rest; in heat, temperance; in tears, solace.

 

O most blessed light, fill the inmost heart of your faithful.

Without your grace, there is nothing in us, nothing that is not harmful.

 

Cleanse that which is unclean, water that which is dry, heal that which is wounded.

Bend that which is inflexible, fire that which is chilled, correct what goes astray.

 

Give to your faithful, those who trust in you, the sevenfold gifts;

Grant the reward of virtue; grant the deliverance of salvation; grant eternal joy. Amen

 

 

Day 6 (Wednesday 27th May) - We pray for empowerment for evangelization

 

 

 

Prayer of Pope St. John XXIII

 

Renew your wonders in this our day, as by a new Pentecost.

Grant to your Church that,

being of one mind and steadfast in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus,

and following the lead of Blessed Peter,

it may advance the reign of our Divine Saviour,

the reign of truth and justice, the reign of love and peace. Amen

 

 

 

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles:

 

‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you,

and then you will be my witnesses

not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judea and Samaria,

and to the ends of the earth.’ (Acts 1:8)

 

We pray for a new empowerment by the Holy Spirit, so that we can be effective witnesses,

and for a new boldness in bringing the Gospel to the whole of creation;

for the work of ‘the New Evangelisation’ in the Church.

 

 

Holy Spirit, come in your power and might to renew the face of the earth.

Come, Holy Spirit, empower us to fulfill your call to be witnesses to the ends of the earth

and to be bearers of the Good News.

 

 

 

Pentecost Sequence

 

Come, Holy Spirit, send forth the heavenly radiance of your light.

Come, father of the poor, come, giver of gifts; come, light of the heart.

 

Greatest comforter, sweet guest of the soul, sweet consolation;

In labour, rest; in heat, temperance; in tears, solace.

 

O most blessed light, fill the inmost heart of your faithful.

Without your grace, there is nothing in us, nothing that is not harmful.

 

Cleanse that which is unclean, water that which is dry, heal that which is wounded.

Bend that which is inflexible, fire that which is chilled, correct what goes astray.

 

Give to your faithful, those who trust in you, the sevenfold gifts;

Grant the reward of virtue; grant the deliverance of salvation; grant eternal joy. Amen

 

 

Day 7 (Thursday 28th May ) - We pray for the victory of the Holy Cross

 

 

 

Prayer of Pope St. John XXIII

 

Renew your wonders in this our day, as by a new Pentecost.

Grant to your Church that,

being of one mind and steadfast in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus,

and following the lead of Blessed Peter,

it may advance the reign of our Divine Saviour,

the reign of truth and justice, the reign of love and peace. Amen

 

 

A reading from St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians:

 

‘For Christ did not send me to baptise, but to preach the Good News,

and not to preach that in terms of philosophy,

in which the crucifixion of Christ cannot be expressed.

The language of the cross may be illogical

to those who are not on their way to salvation,

but those of us who are on the way

see it as God’s power to save.’ (1 Corinthians 1:17-18)

 

We pray that the victory of the Holy Cross and its saving power

May be manifested in our lives and proclaimed over all the earth.

‘We adore you O Christ and we bless you;

because by your cross you have redeemed the world.’

 

Holy Spirit, come in your power and might to renew the face of the earth.

Come, Holy Spirit, let your victory be proclaimed

and your glory be revealed upon the face of the earth.

 

 

Pentecost Sequence

 

Come, Holy Spirit, send forth the heavenly radiance of your light.

Come, father of the poor, come, giver of gifts; come, light of the heart.

 

Greatest comforter, sweet guest of the soul, sweet consolation;

In labour, rest; in heat, temperance; in tears, solace.

 

O most blessed light, fill the inmost heart of your faithful.

Without your grace, there is nothing in us, nothing that is not harmful.

 

Cleanse that which is unclean, water that which is dry, heal that which is wounded.

Bend that which is inflexible, fire that which is chilled, correct what goes astray.

 

Give to your faithful, those who trust in you, the sevenfold gifts;

Grant the reward of virtue; grant the deliverance of salvation; grant eternal joy. Amen

 

Day 8 (Friday 29th May) - We pray for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit                                                     and his gifts

 

 

 

Prayer of Pope St. John XXIII

 

Renew your wonders in this our day, as by a new Pentecost.

Grant to your Church that,

being of one mind and steadfast in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus,

and following the lead of Blessed Peter,

it may advance the reign of our Divine Saviour,

the reign of truth and justice, the reign of love and peace. Amen

 

 

 

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles:

 

‘When he had been at table with them, he had told them not to leave Jerusalem,

but to wait there for what the Father had promised.

‘It is’, he had said, ‘what you have heard me speak about:

John baptised with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’ (Acts 1: 4-5)

 

 

 

We pray for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

May the gifts of the Spirit be more fully manifest

for the building up of the body of Christ in love,

and to bring all things in heaven and on earth under his headship.

 

 

Holy Spirit, come in your power and might, to renew the face of the earth.

 

 

 

Pentecost Sequence

 

Come, Holy Spirit, send forth the heavenly radiance of your light.

Come, father of the poor, come, giver of gifts; come, light of the heart.

 

Greatest comforter, sweet guest of the soul, sweet consolation;

In labour, rest; in heat, temperance; in tears, solace.

 

O most blessed light, fill the inmost heart of your faithful.

Without your grace, there is nothing in us, nothing that is not harmful.

 

Cleanse that which is unclean, water that which is dry, heal that which is wounded.

Bend that which is inflexible, fire that which is chilled, correct what goes astray.

 

Give to your faithful, those who trust in you, the sevenfold gifts;

Grant the reward of virtue; grant the deliverance of salvation; grant eternal joy. Amen

 

 

Day 9 (Saturday 30th May) - We pray for conversion and holiness

 

 

Prayer of Pope St. John XXIII

 

Renew your wonders in this our day, as by a new Pentecost.

Grant to your Church that,

being of one mind and steadfast in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus,

and following the lead of Blessed Peter,

it may advance the reign of our Divine Saviour,

the reign of truth and justice, the reign of love and peace. Amen

 

 

A reading from the letter to the Romans:

 

‘We know that by turning everything to their good,

God co-operates with those who love him,

with all those he has called according to his purpose.

They are the ones he chose especially long ago,

and intended to become true images of his Son,

so that his Son might be the eldest of many brothers.

He called those he intended for this; those he called he justified;

and with those he justified he shared his glory.’ (Romans 8: 28-30)

 

 

We pray for the conversion of sinners,

for growth in holiness and the revelation of God’s glory –

in the Church, in the world, in our families and in our lives.

 

 

Holy Spirit, come in your power and might to renew the face of the earth.

Come Holy Spirit, let faith and hope arise in the hearts of people

and let your glory be manifested in your Church.

 

 

Pentecost Sequence

 

Come, Holy Spirit, send forth the heavenly radiance of your light.

Come, father of the poor, come, giver of gifts; come, light of the heart.

 

Greatest comforter, sweet guest of the soul, sweet consolation;

In labour, rest; in heat, temperance; in tears, solace.

 

O most blessed light, fill the inmost heart of your faithful.

Without your grace, there is nothing in us, nothing that is not harmful.

 

Cleanse that which is unclean, water that which is dry, heal that which is wounded.

Bend that which is inflexible, fire that which is chilled, correct what goes astray.

 

Give to your faithful, those who trust in you, the sevenfold gifts;

Grant the reward of virtue; grant the deliverance of salvation; grant eternal joy. Amen