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Day 2 - Novena to the Holy Spirit for a New Pentecost for the Church

Day 2 Novena Reflection

We read in the Acts of the Apostles that, after Jesus ascended they

"returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away; and when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying,

"Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren."

They BELIEVED in this promise of Jesus and prayed for the power of the Holy Spirit to fall upon them.

We have been encouraged by recent successors of Peter to ask the Holy Spirit for a New Pentecost, a Fresh Outpouring of the Holy Spirit, for the whole Church

- and, for a fresh outpouring on the smallest cell of the Church, the domestic church of the Christian family.

Come Holy Spirit and fill the whole Church with the very life of God. Make her radiant in a world which is steeped in darkness.

Novena Prayer to the Holy Spirit for a New Pentecost for the Church

Beloved Father, through the life, death and resurrection of your only begotten Son, Jesus the Christ, we have become your adopted sons and daughters.

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Through Baptism we are now members of His Body, the Church.

Our Savior Jesus taught us that "whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother."

We thank you that promise includes each one of us.

As members of the family of Jesus we now turn to you in prayer.

Before He ascended to you, Jesus told His early followers to wait in Jerusalem, seeking the outpouring of Holy Spirit. They did as he directed, gathering together with the Mother of the Lord.

On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fell upon them all, clothing them with power - and equipping them to continue the work and ministry of Jesus Christ.

This once frightened group of men and women then "turned the world upside down with their message." (Acts 17:6)

Led by the Holy Spirit, they left the upper room, and went into the whole world. They proclaimed the Gospel, and did what Jesus did, spreading and revealing His Kingdom.

We ask now for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church in this age, a New Pentecost.

Too often we have acted like the disciples who Paul met in Ephesus who "never even heard that there was a Holy Spirit". (Acts 1)

Come Holy Spirit, come into the Church of Jesus Christ and Awaken her! Fill her Bishops, priests, deacons, ministers - and all her leaders - afresh.

Baptize the whole Body of Christ. Heal the divisions within the Body of Christ.

Come Holy Spirit, Come. Send forth your Fire on the earth!

We also ask for a fresh outpouring on the domestic church of the Christian family.

In an age rejecting the truth of Gods loving plan for the family, Holy Spirit, transform Christian families into a sign of the Kingdom, through your power. Make them into the little platoons which will lead a great Awakening of Christianity and turn the world upside down.

Come Holy Spirit. You reveal the mind of the Lord. You search me, and know me and my needs.

I specifically bring to you now my own personal intention:

PAUSE FOR YOUR PRAYER INTENTION

GLORY BE TO THE FATHER, AND THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, AMEN

Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of your faithful. Come Holy Spirit and Awaken the Church!