Day 9 - Novena to the Holy Spirit for a New Pentecost for the Church

Day 9 Novena Reflection

Referring to the words of Jesus and the Apostle Paul in the Bible, and to the ancient Christian creeds, paragraphs 687 and 688 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church teach us:

"No one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God." (1 Cor. 2:11) Now God's Spirit, who reveals God, makes known to us Jesus Christ, his Word, his living Utterance, but the Spirit does not speak of himself.

"The Spirit who "has spoken through the prophets" makes us hear the Father's Word, but we do not hear the Spirit himself. We know him only in the movement by which he reveals the Word to us and disposes us to welcome him in faith.

"The Spirit of truth who "unveils" Christ to us "will not speak on his own."(John 16:13) Such properly divine self-effacement explains why "the world cannot receive [him], because it neither sees him nor knows him," while those who believe in Christ know the Spirit because he dwells with them. (John 14:7)

The Catechism then continues,

"The Church, a communion living in the faith of the apostles which she transmits, is the place where we know the Holy Spirit: - in the Scriptures he inspired;

in the Tradition, to which the Church Fathers are always timely witnesses;
in the Church's Magisterium, which he assists;
in the sacramental liturgy, through its words and symbols, in which the Holy Spirit puts us into communion with Christ;
in prayer, wherein he intercedes for us;
in the charisms and ministries by which the Church is built up;
in the signs of apostolic and missionary life;
in the witness of saints through whom he manifests his holiness and continues the work of salvation.

Let us ask the Holy Spirit to guide, empower, teach and equip the Church of Jesus Christ so that she can continue the redemptive mission of Jesus Christ until He returns to establish the kingdom in its fullness.

We ask you, humbly, to help.

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And, let us ask the Holy Spirit guide, empower, teach and equip the domestic church of the Christian family.

Come Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of life, reveal Jesus Christ to the whole world;

In and through His Church.

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.

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.