Almighty God,
your ascended Son has sent us into the world
to preach the good news of your kingdom:
inspire us with your Spirit
and fill our hearts with the fire of your love,
that all who hear your Word
may be drawn to you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The nine days from Ascension Day to the Eve of Pentecost are the original novena–nine days of prayer. Before he ascended, Jesus ordered the disciples not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there to be baptized by the Holy Spirit. After his Ascension, they returned to the upper room in Jerusalem where they devoted themselves to prayer. These last days of the Great Fifty Days of Easter can be a time for us to prepare for the celebration of Pentecost. As we anticipate the coming of the Holy Spirit, this can be a time to pray for renewal in the Spirit and a time to reflect on the gifts which the Spirit bestows on the Church.
The Traditional names of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. They are, in reality, supernatural graces for a more perfect Christian life.
The Gifts of the Spirit help us to be more conformed to Christ, make us more docile to His suggestions, more submissive to His inspirations, and more pliable to His directions. If we remain open to these Gifts and cooperate with them, we will become ever more the persons God wants us to be — other Christs
Three of the Gifts (fear, Piety, and Fortitude) perfect the will. The other four (Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, and Knowledge) perfect the intellect. They are united by love, by which the Holy Spirit dwells in us.
Opening our hearts to God’s will in our own lives and praying for God’s kingdom to be fully realized and complete on earth is our job as Christians
First Day – Importance of the Gifts – May 26
“The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him: the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and Fortitude, the Spirit of Knowledge and Piety. And he shall be filled with the Spirit of the Fear of the Lord” –Is 11:2-3
Come, O Holy Spirit, the Lord and Lifegiver: Take up your dwelling within my soul and make of it your sacred temple. Make me live by grace as an adopted child of God. Pervade all the energies of my soul, and create in me a fountain of living water springing up into life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Father, one God, in Trinity of Persons, now and forever. Amen.
Action – Pray for five people who need to know Jesus in their lives. Pray for them every day during Thy Kingdom Come, and then keep praying for them.
Second Day – Wisdom – May 27
“I called upon God, and the Spirit of Wisdom came upon me.” –Wis 7:7
Come, O Spirit of Wisdom, and reveal to me the mysteries of divine things, their greatness, and power, and beauty. Teach me to love them above and beyond all the transient joys and satisfactions of the mortal world. Show me the way by which I may be able to attain to them and participate in them forever; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Father, one God, in Trinity of Persons, now and forever. Amen
Action item— Pray for Port Royal, for all the families and children and churches in our town, for those who lead, for those who work, and worship in Port Royal, for those who visit. Ask God about how you can make help God’s kingdom to become a reality in Port Royal.
Third Day – Understanding – May 28
“Forget not My Law, and let your heart keep My Commandments … And you shall find grace and Understanding.” –Prv 3:1-4
Come, O Spirit of Understanding, and enlighten my mind, that I may know and believe all of the mysteries of salvation and discern your hand at work in the world. Teach me to see with your eyes that I may apply my heart unto wisdom in this life and be made worthy to attain to the vision glorious in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Father, one God, in Trinity of Persons, now and forever. Amen.
Action item – Pray for St Peter’s. Pray for our church, for the Vestry, for all who serve, that we may fully welcome in the reign of God and to discern how God is asking us how best to carry God’s love out into the world.
Fourth Day – Counsel – May 29
“Counsel will watch over you, and understanding will guard you.” –Prv 2:11
Come, O Spirit of Counsel, help and guide me in all my ways, that I may always do your holy will. Incline my heart to that which is good, turn it away from all that is evil, and direct me by the path of him who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life to the goal of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Father, one God, in Trinity of Persons, now and forever. Amen.
Action item – Pray for the Fredericksburg Region, and for The Diocese of Virginia, that this network of Christians may come together in powerful witness to God’s love out in the world.
Fifth Day – Fortitude – May 30
“Stephen, full of grace and Fortitude, was working great signs and wonders among the people.” – Acts 6:8
Come, O Spirit of Fortitude, and give courage to my soul. Make my heart strong in all trials and in all distress, generously pouring strength into it that I may be able to resist the allurements of the world, the flesh, and the devil; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Father, one God, in Trinity of Persons, now and forever. Amen.
Action item -Pray for all who come to the Village Harvest Food Distribution for food, and for all who make the food distribution possible, including The Healthy Harvest Food Bank.
Sixth Day – Knowledge – May 31
“Let your heart apply itself to instruction and your ears to words of Knowledge.” – Prv 23:12
Come, O Spirit of Knowledge, and make me understand the emptiness and chaos of life without you. Give me grace to recognize the goodness of the whole creation and to honor the Creator by using the world only for your glory and for the benefit and the salvation of all whom you have made; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Father, one God, in Trinity of Persons, now and forever. Amen.
Pray for our nation. Study the news, and pray that God will enter into the situations you read about and making healing possible.
Seventh Day – Piety – June 1
“Piety is profitable in all respects for it has the promise of the present life as well as that which is to come.” –1 Tm 4:8
Come, O Spirit of Piety, possess my heart; incline it to a true faith in you, to a holy love of you, my God, that with my whole being I may seek you, and find you to be my best, my tuest joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Father, one God, in Trinity of Persons, now and forever. Amen.
Action item – Pray for the Church around the world, that it will experience a revival and that the Holy Spirit may bring new life into its mission and ministry.
Eighth Day – Holy Awe [Fear] – June 2
“The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” –Wis 1:12
Come, O Spirit of Holy Awe, penetrate my inmost heart, that I may set you, my Lord and God, before my face forever. In joy and wonder may I be made worthy to appear before the pure eyes of your divine Majesty and behold your glory face to face in the heaven of heavens, where you live and reign in the unity of the Ever-blessed Trinity, now and forever. Amen.
Action item – Take an hour to pray The Lord’s Prayer.
Ninth Day – June 3
Come, O Holy Comforter, come in all your fullness and power. Enrich us in our poverty, inflame us in our feebleness, melt our hearts with your love. Make us wholly yours, until your gifts are ours and we are lost in you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Father, one God, in Trinity of Persons, now and forever. Amen.
Action item – —Spirit of truth, breathe life into us and move us to new places. Help us to see the ways in which we have power and resources to change the world, and urge u s to use what we have for the good of all. Through the one who motivates us into new living. Jesus Christ, Amen