This is the Queen of Feast Days for Holy Mother Church. In fact, it is her birthday. On this day, after praying the first novena in the history of the Church, the Apostles, the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Holy Women were visited by the Holy Ghost in a manner unique in history. So powerful was this visitation that the power took the form of flames and danced upon their heads! How marvelous the power of the Holy Ghost!
“We ought to pray and invoke the Holy Ghost, for each one of us greatly needs His protection and His help. The more a man is deficient in wisdom, weak in strength, borne down with trouble, prone to sin, so ought he the more fly to Him Who is the never ceasing Fount of Light, Strength, Consolation and Holiness.”- Pope Leo XIII
O LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO, BEFORE ASCENDING INTO HEAVEN DIDST PROMISE TO SEND THE HOLY GHOST TO FINISH THY WORK IN THE SOULS OF THY APOSTLES AND DISCIPLES, DEIGN TO GRANT THE SAME HOLY SPIRIT TO ME, THAT I 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 IN ME ALL THINGS WITH THY SPIRIT. AMEN.
