May 24, 2007

The friars and sisters are praying this novena prayer in preparation for Pentecost. We invite you to join us as we pray for a fresh outpouring and renewal from the “Lord and Giver of Life.”

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Novena Prayer to The Holy Spirit

O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, You are everywhere present and fill all things. Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Life, come and dwell with us, cleanse us of all stain, and save us, O gracious Lord.

O God the Holy Spirit, we adore You and acknowledge that we can do nothing without You. Come great Father of the poor, Paraclete, Comforter, fulfill the promise of our blessed Savior, who would not leave us orphans, and come into our minds and hearts as You once descended at Pentecost on the Mother of Jesus, and on the apostles, disciples and the holy women. Grant that we may participate in those gifts which You communicated to them with so much mercy. Take from our hearts whatever is not pleasing to You, and make of them a worthy dwelling place for Yourself. Illumine our minds, that we may see and understand the things that are for our eternal good. Inflame our hearts with pure love for You, that they may be cleansed from all inordinate attachments, and that our lives may be hidden with Christ Jesus in God. Strengthen our wills, that they may be made conformable to Your Divine will and be guided by Your holy inspirations. Help us by Your grace to practice humility, poverty, charity, obedience; and in imitation of our Lord Jesus and His earthly life and ministry, help us to flee from all selfish ways of behavior and avoid all vain, worldly thinking.

O rend the heavens and come down, consoling Spirit, that inspired and encouraged by You, we may faithfully fulfill the duties of our religious state, carry our daily cross patiently, and endeavor to accomplish Your will with utmost perfection. Spirit of love, of purity and of peace, sanctify our souls and give us that heavenly peace which the world cannot give. Bless our Church, our Pope and bishops, priests, deacons, all religious orders, and all the faithful, that they may be filled with the spirit of Christ Jesus, and labor earnestly for the spread of His kingdom.

O Holy Spirit, breathe in me, that my thoughts may be holy; act in me, that my work may be holy; draw my heart that I may love what is holy; strengthen me to defend all that is holy; guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.

O Holy Spirit, fire of love, come rest over each of us. Make our tongues ready to confess our sins, that in revealing everything and concealing nothing, we may attain heavenly life, to sing eternal praises with all the saints and angels.

O Holy Spirit, giver of every good and perfect gift, grant us, we pray, the intentions of this novena. May Your will be done in us and through us. May You be praised and glorified with the Father, and the Son, world without end. Amen.

Fr. Richard Roemer, CFR

Most Blessed Sacrament Friary, Newark, NJ

(Note: We will be unable to post another e-letter until Sunday evening.)

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