HOLY GHOST NOVENA - SEVENTH DAY

The Holy Spirit - GIAQUINTO, Corrado

Novena in honor of the Holy Ghost - Day 7
Love Causes God to Dwell in Our Souls 

"THE HOLY SPIRIT is called “Sweet Guest of the soul".  

This was the great promise made by Jesus Christ to those who love him, when he said: “If you love me, keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he shall give you another Paraclete, that he may abide with you forever. The Spirit of truth . . . shall abide with you, and shall be in you”. For the Holy Spirit never forsakes a soul if He is not driven away from it; he does not forsake, unless he be first forsaken.

God, then, dwells in a soul that loves him. But he declares that he is not satisfied if we do not love him with our whole heart. Saint Augustine tells us that the Roman Senate would not admit Jesus Christ into the number of their gods because they said that he was a proud god, who would have none other beloved but himself. And so it is. He will have no rivals in the heart that loves him; and when he sees that he is not the only object loved, he is jealous (so to speak).

Saint James writes of those creatures who divide up with him the heart which he desires to have all to himself: “Do you think that the scripture says in vain: To envy does the spirit covet which dwells in you” (James 4:5). In short, as Saint Jerome says, Jesus is jealous, “Zelotypus est Jesus.” Therefore the heavenly spouse praises that soul which, like the turtledove, lives in solitude and hidden from the world. Because he does not choose that the world should take a part of that love which he desires to have all to himself, therefore he also praises his spouse by calling her “a garden enclosed”, a garden closed against all earthly love. Do we doubt that Jesus deserves our whole love? “He gave himself wholly to you,” says Saint John Chrysostom, “he left nothing for himself.” He has given you all his blood and his life; there is nothing left to give.

Affections and prayers

I understand, O my God, that You want me to be all Yours. Many times have I driven You from my soul, but You did not shrink from returning to be united to me again. Ah! Take possession of my entire self, for today I give myself wholly to You. Do You accept me, O Jesus, and do not permit that I should again live in the future, no, not even for a moment, without Your love.

You seek me and I seek none but You. You love me and I love You. Since You love me, bind me to Yourself that I may never abandon You.

Act of Filial Submission

O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore You. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, console me. Tell me what I should do, give me Your orders. I promise to submit myself to all that You desire of me and to accept all that You permit to happen to me. Let me only know Your will. Amen.

Our Father

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and in the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

          

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost

O Lord Jesus Christ Who, before ascending into heaven, didst promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Thy work in the souls of Thy 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.