May 22, 2020 - May 30, 2020: NOVENA FOR PENTECOST

NOVENA FOR PENTECOST/WHIT SUNDAY

“And I send the promise of my Father upon you: but stay you in the city, till you be endued with power from on high.”
(St. Luke, xxiv. 49)

“Then they returned to Jerusalem, from the mount that is called Olivet, which is nigh Jerusalem… And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alpheus and Simon Zelotes, and Jude the brother of James. All these were persevering with one mind in prayer with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.”
(Acts, i. 12-14)

Novena for Pentecost
(starts from Friday immediately after Ascension Thursday, until Saturday before Pentecost/Whit-Sunday)

May 22nd, 2020 – May 30th, 2020.

O Jesus! triumphant Conqueror of Sin and Death! who hast taken possession of that seat of bliss purchased by Thy Blood, remember Thy tender promise, that Thou wouldst not leave us orphans (St. John, xiv. 18). Send down upon each of us, and upon Thy whole Church, that Spirit of Light, of Truth, and of Love, who alone can bring to our minds and imprint on our hearts the Divine lessons of Humility, Poverty, Obedience, and Contempt of the World, which Thou hast taught us during Thy mortal life. But if Thy apostles themselves were rendered unworthy of receiving the plenitude of Thy Spirit, by too natural an attachment to Thy Adorable Humanity, which was so lovely, so amiable, and so worthy their tenderest love! how can we hope for His descent into our hearts, which are defiled by a thousand imperfect and sinful inclinations? O my God! if thou desirest to give us Thy holy Spirit, prepare Thyself His dwelling in our souls: unite our hearts and affections to the ardent sighs and perfect dispositions with which Thy Blessed Mother and apostles awaited His coming in the Cenacle. And Thou, O Adorable Spirit! who breathest where Thou wilt (St. John, iii. 8), deign to descend on us who are here assembled in Thy Name, and on all the members of Thy Church, to which “Thou wilt teach all truth to the end of time” (St. John, xvi. 13). O Spirit of Purity! Spirit of Peace! whom the foulest stain of sin cannot resist, purify our souls, and infuse therein that peace which the “world” can neither give nor take away (St. John, xiv. 27) Oh! rend the Heavens, and come down, consoling Spirit! that, strengthened and encouraged by Thee, we may faithfully comply with the duties of our particular state, embrace the Cross in whatever shape it is presented, and study to accomplish the Divine Will with the utmost perfection.

VENI SANCTE SPIRITUS

Come Holy Ghost, send down those beams,
Which sweetly flow in silent streams,
From thy bright throne above.

O come, thou Father of the poor,
Thou bounteous source of all our store,
Come fire our hearts with love.

Come thou of comforters the best,
Come thou the soul’s delicious guest,
The pilgrim’s sweet relief.

Thou art our rest in toil and sweat,
Refreshment in excessive heat,
And solace in our grief.

O sacred light, shoot home thy darts,
O pierce the centre of those hearts,
Whose faith aspires to thee.

Without thy Godhead nothing can
Have any price or worth in man:
Nothing can harmless be.

Lord, wash our sinful stains away,
Water from heav’n our barren clay,
Our wounds and bruises heal.

To thy sweet yoke our stiff necks bow,
Warm with thy fire our hearts of snow,
Our wand’ring feet repeal.

O grant thy faithful, dearest Lord,
Whose only hope is thy sure word,
The seven gifts of thy Spirit.

Grant us in life t’obey thy grace,
Grant us in death to see thy face,
And endless joys inherit. Amen.

For the Latin version of the Sequence for Pentecost - Veni Sancte Spiritus (Click here and recite the last hymn).

Taken from: The Fervent Adorer, 1867, Permissu Superiorum.

O King of glory, Lord of hosts, who didst ascend in triumph above all the heavens! leave us not orphans, but send upon us the Spirit of truth, promised us by the Father. Alleluia.