The Holy
Ghost
Our Greatest Friend
Fr. Paul O'Sullivan, O.P. [E.D.M.]
Eccles. Appr. 1952
AND
Devotion to
the Holy Spirit
with Imprimatur and
Nihil
Obstat, 1950
O HOLY GHOST, Thou art the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity! Thou art the Spirit of truth, love and holiness, proceeding from the Father and the Son, and equal to Them in all things! I adore Thee and love Thee with all my heart. Teach me to know and to seek God, by whom and for whom I was created. Fill my heart with a holy fear and a great love of Him. Give me compunction and patience, and do not let me fall into sin.
Increase in me faith, hope and charity, and bring forth in me all the virtues proper to my state of life. Help me to grow in the four cardinal virtues, Thy seven Gifts and Thy twelve Fruits.
Make me a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, an obedient child of the Church, and a help to my neighbor. Give me the grace to keep the Commandments and to receive the Sacraments worthily. Raise me to holiness in the state of life to which Thou hast called me, and lead me through a happy death to everlasting life. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Grant me also, O Holy Ghost, Giver of all good gifts, the special favor for which I ask (name it), if it be for Thy honor and glory and for my well-being.
Glory be to the Father and, to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Prayer for the Propagation
of the Faith
O HOLY SPIRIT, Spirit of truth, come into our hearts; shed the brightness of Thy light upon the nations, that they may please Thee in unity of faith. (From the Raccolta)
COME, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of
Thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Thy love.
V. Send forth Thy Spirit, and they
shall be created;
R. And Thou shalt renew the
face of the earth.
Let Us Pray
O God, Who
hast instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy
Ghost,
grant that by the same Spirit we may be always truly wise, and ever
rejoice
in His consolation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. (From
the Roman Missal)
Thanksgiving
for Baptismal Graces
I BELIEVE in Thee, O God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth.
Thou hast accepted me as Thy child, and in the laver of regeneration, Thou hast constituted me as an heir of Thy Kingdom.
I believe in Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, only-begotten Son, Who hast suffered and died for me, and through Thy Precious Blood hast ransomed me from the slavery of Satan.
I believe in Thee, O Holy Spirit, Who hast made me and consecrated me as Thy temple and chosen me as a vessel of grace.
I renounce the devil with all his works and all his pomps. I renounce all the evil desires of the flesh and the world with all its vanities. and deceits, and I firmly resolve to lead a truly Christian life. May the Most Holy Trinity strengthen my purpose, by whom I seal this renewal of my Baptismal vows, in the Name of the Father, + and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O HOLY SPIRIT, Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, Spirit of Truth, of Love and of Holiness, proceeding from the Father and the Son and equal to Them in all things, I adore Thee and love Thee with all my heart. Teach me to know and seek my last end; grant me the holy fear of God; grant me compunction and patience, and suffer me not to fall into sin. Grant me an increase of Faith, Hope and Charity, and bring forth in my soul all the virtues proper to my state of life. Make me a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ, and an obedient child of Holy Church. Grant me an efficacious grace to keep the Commandments and to receive the Sacraments worthily. Grant me the Four Cardinal Virtues, Thy Seven Gifts, Thy Twelve Fruits. Raise me to perfection in the state of life to which Thou hast called me; and lead me, through a happy death, to life everlasting through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Prayer in Honor of the Holy
Spirit
By Henry Cardinal Manning
O GOD the Holy Spirit, Whom I have ignored, grieved and resisted from my childhood until the present day, reveal to me Thy personality, Thy presence, Thy power. Let me recognize Thy Sevenfold Gifts-----the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, of Counsel and Fortitude, of Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. O Thou Who art the Spirit of the Father and the Son, O Thou Who dost baptize with fire and infuse Thy love into our hearts-----one thing, O Lord, have I asked of Thee, one thing will I seek: not riches, rank, power, earthly home and happiness, but one ray of that holy light, one spark of that holy fire which will inflame me and plunge me into the fire of Divine Love! Let this sacred fire flame up in me and destroy in me every remnant of sin which defiles my body or soul. Cleanse me in a sevenfold manner with Thy Gifts. Transform me into a holocaust, holy and entirely pleasing to Thee. Inflame me with zeal so that I may live the life and die the death of a repentant sinner, deeply penetrated by Thy Divine Love. Amen.
O COME, Creator Spirit, come;
The souls which are Thine own invade;
And with supernal grace inflame
The hearts which Thou Thyself hast made.
O Thou Who art the Comforter,
The Gift of God most high,
The living fount of fire and love,
Celestial unction from above.
O Thou Who art of sevenfold power,
The finger of the Father's hand,
The fullness of His promised Word,
Who hast all speech at Thy command.
Enkindle light within our minds,
With love our wayward hearts inflame;
And with Thine own undying life,
Give vigor to our mortal frame.
Drive far from us the angry foe,
And Thy true peace impart within,
That, Thou our Leader and our Guide,
We may escape the snares of sin.
Through Thee may we the Father know,
Through Thee approach the Eternal Son,
And Thee, the Spirit of Them both,
Confess while endless ages run.
To God the Father glory be,
And to the Son from death arisen,
And to the blessed Paraclete,
Be praise and ceaseless honor given. Amen.
V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be
created.
R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let Us Pray
O God, Who hast taught the
hearts
of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the gift
of the same Spirit we may be always truly wise and ever rejoice in His
consolation. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Act of Consecration to the
Holy Spirit
O HOLY GHOST; Divine Spirit of light and
love,
I consecrate to Thee my understanding, my
heart and my will, my whole being, for time
and eternity. May my understanding be always submissive to Thy heavenly
inspirations and the teachings of the Catholic Church, of which Thou
art
the Infallible Guide. May my heart be ever inflamed with love of God
and
of my neighbor. May my will be ever conformed to the Divine will, and
may
my whole life be a faithful imitation of the life and virtues of our
Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ, to Whom, with the Father and Thee, be honor
and
glory forever. Amen.
Daily Consecration to the
Holy
Ghost
MOST HOLY GHOST, receive the consecration that I make of my entire being. From this moment on, come into every area of my life and into each of my actions. Thou art my Light, my Guide, my Strength, and the sole desire of my heart. I abandon myself without reserve to Thy Divine action, and I desire to be ever docile to Thine inspirations. O Holy Ghost, transform me, with and through Mary, into another Christ Jesus, for the glory of the Father and the salvation of the world. Amen. (By the Servant of God, Fr. Felix de Jesus Rougier; M.Sp.S.).
Prayer for the Seven Gifts
of the Holy Ghost 1
O LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who before ascending into Heaven didst promise to send the Holy Ghost to finish Thy work in the souls of Thine Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me, that He may perfect in my soul the work of Thy grace and Thy love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom, that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal; the Spirit of Understanding, to enlighten my mind with the light of Thy Divine truth; the Spirit of Counsel, that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining Heaven; the Spirit of Fortitude, that I may bear my cross with Thee and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation; the Spirit of Knowledge, that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints; the Spirit of Piety, that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable; the Spirit of Fear, that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, Dear Lord, with the sign of Thy true disciples, and animate me in all things with Thy Spirit. Amen.
Prayer for the Gifts of the
Holy Spirit 2
O HOLY SPIRIT, grant me the Gift of Wisdom, the supernatural light in which I may know God more clearly as the Supreme Being, His omnipotence, His eternity, His goodness and His glory, and that I may taste and enjoy with an enraptured soul the ineffable sweetness of His love.
O Holy Spirit, impart to me the Gift of Understanding, the clear light revealing to my mind the mysteries of faith, the things that are above; not "darkly as in a mirror," but in a clear and convincing manner in order to captivate my heart.
O Holy Spirit, impart to me the Gift of Counsel, the guiding ray of light that will enable me to choose what is true and right whenever I am assailed by doubts or dangers and that will infallibly lead to my last aim and end.
O Holy Spirit, impart to me the Gift of Fortitude, the strengthening ray of light that will aid me to overcome all temptations, all difficulties and hardships in the way of salvation with a generous soul, and to persevere in fidelity and love in spite of all obstacles and trials.
O Holy Spirit, impart to me the Gift of Knowledge, that illuminating light that will not only teach me the truth in all things pertaining to my salvation, but will make me despise what is deserving of contempt and love what is worthy of being loved.
O Holy Spirit, impart to me the Gift of Piety, that heavenly light which, entering into the depths of my being, will not only strongly incline my heart to love Divine worship and the liturgical services of the Church, but to practice cheerfully all that true godliness requires of me.
O Holy Spirit, impart to me the Gift of the Fear of the Lord. Let its Divine light penetrate my soul and fill it with such a reverence and awe of the Divine Majesty as to make me not only dread every sin as an offense against the great God, but also to shun carefully whatever in the least degree wounds Divine charity. Amen.
Act of Oblation to the Holy
Spirit
ON MY KNEES before the great cloud of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself body and soul to Thee, eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Thy purity, the unerring keenness of Thy justice and the might of Thy love. Thou art the strength and light of my soul. In Thee I live and move and have my being. I desire never to grieve Thee by unfaithfulness to grace, and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against Thee. Make me faithful in every thought, and grant that I may always listen to Thy voice, watch for Thy light, and follow Thy gracious inspirations. I cling to Thee and give myself to Thee, and I ask Thee by Thy compassion to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced feet of Jesus, looking at His five Wounds, trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened side and stricken Heart, I implore Thee, adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, so to keep me in Thy grace that I may never sin against Thee with the sin which Thou wilt not forgive. Grant to me the grace, O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and of the Son, to say to Thee always and everywhere, "Speak, Lord, for Thy servant hears." Amen. (After a prayer by Cardinal Newman)
O HOLY SPIRIT, Spirit of Truth, come into our hearts; shed the brightness of Thy light upon the nations, that they may please Thee in unity of faith. (Raccolta 277)
O HOLY SPIRIT, Who art God together with the Father and the Son, deliver us this day from sadness and discouragement; preserve all Christians from despair and its fatal results. To all, even to those who destroy their own lives, or who may be overtaken by a sudden or violent death, mercifully grant both time and grace to make an act of perfect contrition. Amen.
To Obtain the Grace of the
Holy Spirit
O GOD, before Whom every heart lies open, to Whom every will speaks, and from Whom no secret is hidden, purify, we beseech Thee, our hearts by the inpouring of the Holy Spirit, that we may come to love Thee perfectly and praise Thee worthily. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
O GOD the Holy Spirit, Divine Spirit of Mercy, Truth, Holiness and Love, it pains me to think that there are souls who obstinately oppose Thee. Yet I, too, have at times offended Thee by my sins. I now implore Thy mercy and forgiveness; and I promise, with the help of Thy holy grace, never to offend Thee again, and to avoid all willful occasions of sin.
HONOR and glory be unto Thee, O most sweet, most consoling, most mild, most meek, most kind, most merciful, most gracious Holy Spirit. Thou most sweet Comforter of pious souls, fill our hearts with Thy sevenfold graces and Gifts. Amen.
Aspirations to the Holy Spirit
(To be said after Mass or Holy Communion)
LIGHT of the intellect, enlighten me;
Divine Fire of hearts, inflame me;
Fullness of souls, fill me;
Lord of grace and life, vivify me;
In this vale of suffering, guide me;
In my weakness, strengthen me;
From stumbles and falls, deliver me;
With Thy Divine Gifts, overwhelm me;
With Thy Presence, console me;
By Thy Divine operations, sanctify me;
Into my Jesus, transform me;
And unto Thy glory, bear me,
That, having been faithful upon earth,
I may be eternally happy in Heaven, in the
perfect reverberation of Thy love.
Amen.
May the grace of the Holy Spirit enlighten our hearts and refresh them abundantly with the sweetness of perfect charity!
O Infinite Love, I love Thee; do Thou confirm and increase my love!
O HOLY SPIRIT, sweet Guest of my soul,
abide
in me and grant that I may ever abide in Thee.
(From the Raccolta)
O HOLY SPIRIT! Lord of light!
From Thy clear celestial height
Thy pure and beaming radiance give.
Come, Thou Father of the poor!
Come, with treasures which endure!
Come, Thou light of all that live!
Thou of all Consolers best,
Visiting the troubled breast,
Dost refreshing peace bestow.
Thou in toil art Comfort sweet,
Pleasant coolness in the heat,
Solace in the midst of woe.
Light immortal! Light Divine!
Visit Thou these hearts of Thine,
And our inmost being fill.
If Thou take Thy grace away,
Nothing pure in man will stay;
All his good is turned to ill.
Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
On our dryness, pour Thy dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away.
Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray.
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 joys which never end. Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit in
Favor of the Church
O HOLY SPIRIT, Creator, be propitious to the Catholic Church; by Thy heavenly power make it strong and secure against the attacks of its enemies, and renew in charity and grace the spirit of Thy servants whom Thou hast anointed, that they may glorify Thee and the Father and His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
O MILDEST Comforter, Holy Spirit, come to me. My soul sighs for Thee! My heart thirsts for Thee! Thou alone canst satisfy my longing; Thou alone canst make me happy. Despise not, O Divine Bridegroom, the dwelling of my poor heart.
My heart, alas, is unclean, but Thou canst
purify it.
My heart is dark, but
Thou canst illuminate it.
My heart is wicked, but
Thou canst penetrate it with love.
My heart is sad, but Thou
canst comfort it.
My heart is weak, but Thou canst strengthen
it.
My heart is cold, but
Thou canst inflame it.
My heart clings to earth,
but Thou canst fill it with heavenly desires.
My heart is full of sin,
but Thou canst adorn it with all virtues.
My heart is inconstant
and wayward, but Thou canst make it docile.
Come then, O Holy Spirit, Thou Father of the poor, come and fill me with Thy love. Amen.
Father, Father, send us the promised Paraclete, through Jesus Christ Our Lord.
Prayer to
Mary, Spouse of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit dispenses His choicest graces to those who have a tender love and devotion to Mary, His Immaculate Spouse. Mary on her part obtains the richest blessings for souls who honor and invoke her as the Spouse of the Holy Spirit.
O MARY, thou spotless Bride of
the Holy Spirit,
thou art the glory of Jerusalem, the joy of Israel, the honor of our
nation!
Thou, as the Valiant Woman, didst crush the head of the serpent when
thou
didst offer thy Divine Son to the Heavenly Father, in the love of the
Holy
Spirit, for the salvation of the world. Through the merits of this
precious
Sacrifice and through the sufferings of thy Son, obtain for us the
Gifts
of the Holy Spirit. I thank the Holy Spirit that He has chosen thee as
His Bride and constituted thee the dispenser of His graces. Look upon
me
with thy compassionate eyes; look upon my distress and needs. Help me,
that I may never lose the grace of God nor defile the temple of the
Holy
Spirit, but that my heart may ever remain His holy dwelling, and that
with
thee I may eternally praise and bless the Holy Spirit in Heaven. Amen.
Our Lady of Light, Spouse of the Holy Spirit, pray for us.
O HOLY SPIRIT, Spirit of the Father and the Son, let the might of Thy love be more and more felt in the hearts of men. Let Thy light shine more and more on souls that are wandering in the darkness far away from God. Turn them to the light-giving Heart of Jesus and to the healing stream of His Precious Blood. Strengthen souls that love Thee. Perfect in them Thy Seven Gifts and Thy Twelve Fruits, and so make them Thy temples here that Thou mayest be adored in them forever. Amen.
O HOLY SPIRIT, sweet Guest of my soul,
abide
in me, and grant that I may
ever abide in Thee. Amen.
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