First Day 
|
Holy Spirit! Lord of light !
From Thy clear celestial height,
Thy pure beaming radiance give! |
The Holy Ghost
|
Prayer |
| Only one thing is important -- eternal salvation.
Only one thing, therefore, is to be feared -- sin. Sin is the result of
ignorance, weakness, and indifference. The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of
Light, of Strength, and of Love. With His sevenfold gifts, He enlightens
the mind, strengthens the will, and inflames the heart with love of God.
To ensure our salvation, we ought to invoke the Divine Spirit daily, for
"The Spirit helpeth our infirmity. We know not what we should pray for
as we ought. But the Spirit Himself asketh for us." |
Almighty and eternal God, Who hast vouchsafed
to regenerate us by water and the Holy Ghost, and hast given us forgiveness
of all our sins, vouchsafe to send forth from heaven upon us Thy sevenfold
Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and
Fortitude, the Spirit of Knowledge and Piety, and fill us with the Spirit
of Holy Fear. Amen.
Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE
Glory be to the Father SEVEN
TIMES
|
Second Day
|
Come, Thou Father of the poor!
Come, with treasures which endure!
Come, Thou Light of all that live! |
The Gift of Fear
|
Prayer |
| The gift of Fear fills us with a sovereign respect
for God, and makes us dread nothing so much as to offend Him by Sin. It
is a fear that arises, not from the thought of hell, but from sentiments
of reverence and filial submission to our heavenly Father. It is the fear
that is the beginning of wisdom, detaching us from worldly pleasures that
could in any way separate us from God. "They that fear the Lord will prepare
their hearts, and in His sight will sanctify their souls." |
Come, O blessed Spirit of Holy Fear, penetrate
my inmost heart, that I may set Thee, my Lord and God, before my face forever;
help me to shun all things that can offend Thee, and make me worthy to
appear before the pure eyes of Thy Divine Majesty in heaven, where Thou
livest and reignest in the unity of the ever Blessed Trinity, God world
without end. Amen.
Our Father, etc. (as on First
Day).
|
Third Day
|
Thou, of all consolers best,
Visiting the troubled breast
Dost refreshing peace bestow |
The Gift of Piety
|
Prayer |
| The gift of Piety begets in our hearts a filial
affection for God as our most loving Father. It inspires us to love and
respect for His sake persons and things consecrated to Him, as well as
those who are vested with His authority, His Blessed Mother and the Saints,
the Church and its visible Head, our parents and superiors, our country
and its rulers. He who is filled with the gift of Piety finds the practice
of his religion, not a burdensome duty, but a delightful service. Where
there is love, there is no labor. |
Come, O Blessed Spirit of Piety, possess my heart.
Enkindle therein such a love for God, that I may find satisfaction only
in His service, and for His sake lovingly submit to all legitimate authority.
Amen.
Our Father, etc. (as on First
Day).
|
Fourth Day
|
Thou in toil art comfort sweet
Pleasant coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe. |
The Gift of Fortitude
|
Prayer |
| By the gift of Fortitude, the soul is strengthened
against natural fear, and supported to the end in the performance of duty.
Fortitude imparts to the will an impulse and energy which move it to undertake
without hesitancy the most arduous tasks, to face dangers, to trample under
foot human respect, and to endure without complaint the slow martyrdom
of even lifelong tribulation. "He that shall persevere unto the end, he
shall be saved." |
Come, O Blessed Spirit of Fortitude, uphold my
soul in times of trouble and adversity, sustain my efforts after holiness,
strengthen my weakness, give me courage against all the assaults of my
enemies, that I may never be overcome and separated from Thee, my God and
greatest Good. Amen.
Our Father, etc. (as on First
Day).
|
Fifth Day
|
Light immortal! Light Divine!
Visit Thou these hearts of Thine,
And our inmost being fill. |
The Gift of Knowledge
|
Prayer |
| The gift of Knowledge enables the soul to evaluate
created things at their true worth -- in relation to God. Knowledge unmasks
the pretense of creatures, reveals their emptiness, and points out their
only true purpose as instruments in the service of God. It shows us the
loving care of God even in adversity, and directs us to glorify Him in
every circumstance of life. Guided by its light, we put first things first,
and prize the friendship of God beyond all else. "Knowledge is a fountain
of life to him that possesseth it." |
Come, O Blessed Spirit of Knowledge, and grant
that I may perceive the will of the Father; show me the nothingness of
earthly things, that I may realize their vanity and use them only for Thy
glory and my own salvation, looking ever beyond them to Thee, and Thy eternal
rewards. Amen.
Our Father, etc. (as on First
Day).
|
Sixth Day
|
If Thou take Thy grace away,
Nothing pure in man will stay,
All his good is turn'd to ill. |
The Gift of Understanding
|
Prayer |
| Understanding, as a gift of the Holy Ghost, 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." |
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.
Our Father, etc. (as on First
Day).
|
Seventh Day
|
Heal our wounds -- our strength renew;
On our dryness pour Thy dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away! |
The Gift of Counsel
|
Prayer |
| The gift of Counsel endows the soul with supernatural
prudence, enabling it to judge promptly and rightly what must be done,
especially in difficult circumstances. Counsel applies the principles furnished
by Knowledge and Understanding to the innumerable concrete cases that confront
us in the course of our daily duty as parents, teachers, public servants
and Christian citizens. Counsel is supernatural common sense, a priceless
treasure in the quest of salvation. "Above all these things, pray to the
Most High, that He may direct thy way in truth." |
Come, O Spirit of Counsel, help and guide me in
all my ways, that I may always do Thy holy will. Incline my heart to that
which is good; turn it away from all that is evil, and direct me by the
straight path of Thy commandments to that goal of eternal life for which
I long. Amen.
Our Father, etc. (as on First
Day).
|
Eighth Day
|
Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray! |
The Gift of Wisdom
|
Prayer |
| Embodying all the other gifts, as charity embraces
all other virtues, Wisdom is the most perfect of the gifts. Of wisdom it
is written "all good things came to me with her, and innumerable riches
through her hands." It is the gift of Wisdom that strengthens our faith,
fortifies hope, perfects charity, and promotes the practice of virtue in
the highest degree. Wisdom enlightens the mind to discern and relish things
divine, in the appreciation of which earthly joys lose their savor, whilst
the Cross of Christ yields a divine sweetness according to the words of
the Savior: "Take up thy cross and follow Me, for My yoke is sweet, and
My burden light." |
Come, O Spirit of Wisdom, and reveal to my soul
the mysteries of heavenly things, their exceeding greatness, power and
beauty. Teach me to love them above and beyond all passing joys and satisfactions
of the earth. Help me to attain them and possess them for ever. Amen.
Our Father, etc. (as on First
Day).
|
Ninth Day
|
Thou, on those who evermore
Thee confess and Thee adore,
In Thy sevenfold gifts, descend:
Give them comfort when they die;
Give them life with Thee on high;
Give them joy which never ends. Amen. |
The Fruits of the Holy Ghost
|
Prayer |
| The gifts of the Holy Ghost perfect the supernatural
virtues by enabling us to practice them with greater docility to divine
inspiration. As we grow in the knowledge and love of God under the direction
of the Holy Ghost, our service becomes more sincere and generous, the practice
of virtue more perfect. Such acts of virtue leave the heart filled with
joy and consolation and are known as Fruits of the Holy Ghost. These fruits
in turn render the practice of virtue more attractive and become a powerful
incentive for still greater efforts in the service of God, to serve Whom
is to reign. |
Come, O Divine Spirit, fill my heart with Thy
heavenly fruits, Thy charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness,
faith, mildness, and temperance, that I may never weary in the service
of God, but by continued faithful submission to Thy inspiration, may merit
to be united eternally with Thee in the love of the Father and the Son.
Amen.
Our Father, etc. (as on First
Day).
|
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