Novena to the Holy Spirit
About the Novena
“The Pentecost Novena is the first of all novenas, nine days of prayer. After Jesus’ Ascension into heaven, He commanded His disciples to come together in the upper room to devote themselves to constant prayer (Acts 1: 14). They prayed for nine days before receiving the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.”
On May 4, 1897, Pope Leo XIII proclaimed: “We decree and command that throughout the whole Catholic Church, this year and in every subsequent year, a novena shall take place before Whit-Sunday (Pentecost), in all parish churches.” (Encyclical: On the Holy Spirit, para. 13)
Pray with us for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit as the apostles prayed in the Upper Room with Mary, the mother of Jesus, as they awaited the “promise of the Father.”
Wait for the Promise of the Father
“While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for ‘the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’” Acts 1:4-5
The apostles waited, in obedience to Jesus, not knowing what would happen, or how long they would wait.
“When they entered the city they went to the upper room where they were staying… All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” Acts 1:13-14
The apostles devoted themselves to prayer with Mary, the mother of Jesus. They prayed for nine days and on the tenth day a noise like a strong driving wind filled the entire house in which they were.
Let us too wait on the Lord to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, to be renewed in the outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost. Let us devote ourselves to prayer for nine days, a Novena leading up to the outpouring of the Spirit this Pentecost. Here are links to four novenas, or you may have a favorite novena to the Holy Spirit. Let’s devote ourselves with one accord to prayer, waiting for the promise of the Father.
