PRAYER FOR THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
Holy Spirit, divine Consoler, I adore You as my true God, with God the Father and God
the Son. I adore You and unite myself to the adoration
You receive from the angels and saints.
I give You my heart and I offer my ardent thanksgiving for all the grace which You never
cease to bestow on me.
O Giver of all supernatural gifts, who filled the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother
of God, with such immense favors, I beg You to visit me with Your grace and Your love
and to grant me the gift of holy fear, so that it may act on me as a check to prevent me
from falling back into my past sins, for which I beg pardon.
Grant me the gift of piety, so that I may serve You for the future with increased fervor,
follow with more promptness Your holy inspirations, and observe your divine precepts
with greater fidelity.
Grant me the gift of knowledge, so that I may know the things of God and, enlightened by
Your holy teaching, may walk, without deviation, in the path of eternal salvation.
Grant me the gift of fortitude, so that I may overcome courageously all the assaults of the
devil, and all the dangers of this world which
threaten the salvation of my soul.
Grant me the gift of counsel, so that I may choose what is more conducive to my spiritual
advancement and may discover the wiles and snares of the tempter.
Grant me the gift of understanding, so that I may apprehend the divine mysteries and by
contemplation of heavenly things detach my thoughts and affections from the vain things
of this miserable world.
Grant me the gift of wisdom, so that I may rightly direct all my actions, referring them to
God as my last end; so that, having loved Him and served Him in this life, I may have the
happiness of possessing Him eternally in the next. Amen.
Composed by Saint Alphonsus Liguori
NOVENA FOR THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
ACT OF CONSECRATION (Recite each of the nine days):
On my knees I before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses I offer myself, soul and
body to You, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring
keenness of Your justice, and the might of Your love. You are the Strength and Light of
my soul.
In You I live, move, and am. I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace, and I
pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against You. Mercifully guard my
every thought, word, and deed; and grant that I may always watch for Your light, and
listen to Your voice, and follow Your gracious inspirations.
I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You, by Your compassion to watch over
me in my weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and looking at His Five Wounds,
and trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart, I
implore You, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, to keep me in Your grace that I may
never sin against You. Give me grace O Holy Ghost, Spirit of the Father and the Son to
say to You always and everywhere, "Speak Lord for Your servant heareth."
Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE GIFTS (Recite each of the nine days):
O Lord Jesus Christ Who, before ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy
Ghost to finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the
same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul, the work of Your grace and Your
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.
Grant me the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine
truth.
Grant me the Spirit of Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and
gaining heaven.
Grant me the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with You, and that I may
overcome, with courage, all the obstacles that oppose my salvation.
Grant me the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and myself, and grow perfect in
the science of the Saints.
Grant me the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable.
Grant me 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 Your true disciples, and animate me in all things with
Your Spirit. Amen.
HOLY SPIRIT POEM (Recite each of the nine days):
Holy Spirit, Lord of Light,
From Thy clear celestial height,
Thy pure 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 our 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 gift, Descend.
Give Them Comfort when they die.
Give them Life with Thee on high.
Give them joys which never end.
DAY ONE:
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."
PRAYER
Almighty and eternal God, Who hast vouchsafed to regenerate us by water and the Holy
Ghost, and hast given us forgiveness all sins, vouchsafe to send forth from heaven upon us
your 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.
Recite: 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, & 7 Glory Be's
DAY TWO:
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."
PRAYER
Come, O blessed Spirit of Holy Fear, penetrate my inmost heart, that I may set you, my
Lord and God, before my face forever, help me to shun all things that can offend You, and
make me worthy to appear before the pure eyes of Your Divine Majesty in heaven, where
You live and reign in the unity of the ever Blessed Trinity, God world without end. Amen.
Recite: 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, & 7 Glory Be's
DAY THREE:
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.
PRAYER
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.
Recite: 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, & 7 Glory Be's
DAY FOUR:
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 under take 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."
PRAYER
Come, O Blessed Spirit of Fortitude, uphold my soul in time 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.
Recite: 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, & 7 Glory Be's
DAY FIVE:
The gift of Knowledge enables the soul to evaluate created things at their true worth--in
their 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."
PRAYER
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.
Recite: 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, & 7 Glory Be's
DAY SIX:
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."
PRAYER
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.
Recite: 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, & 7 Glory Be's
DAY SEVEN:
The gift of Counsel endows the soul with supernatural prudence, enabling it to judge
promptly and rightly what must 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."
PRAYER
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.
Recite: 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, & 7 Glory Be's
DAY EIGHT:
Embodying all the other gifts, as charity embraces all the 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.
PRAYER
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 the
passing joys and satisfactions of earth. Help me to attain them and possess them for ever.
Amen.
Recite: 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, & 7 Glory Be's
DAY NINE:
The gifts of the Holy Spirit 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 Spirit, 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 Spirit. 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.
PRAYER
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.
Recite: 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, & 7 Glory Be's
