Fr Tristan Writes 25th April 2025
This Thursday sees the great feast of the Ascension (a Holy Day of Obligation, and there will be two Masses in the parish to help you attend!) Jesus's return to the Father marked a profound turning point for the Apostles, when they entered a new phase in their discipleship. After forty days of being with them in his newly risen way of being, He instructed them to "stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high". And so began nine days of intense prayer and rejoicing together, until the day of Pentecost when that promised power - in the form of Jesus' Holy Spirit - would come upon them and remain with them, sending them out into the city streets, and into the world, manifested at last as the Church.
This nine days of prayer is the pattern for the liturgical period between Ascension and Pentecost, known as the 'Novena'. Traditionally, we pray each day for a different gift of the Holy Spirit to be given to us, empowering us to live our vocation. You can easily find the full formula of prayer to use online, but here's a brief version, just in case it is useful. Happy Novena!
Prayer for each day:
"Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your divine love. Send forth your spirit and they shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth. O God, who has taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the gift of the same Spirit we may always be truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen."
Intention for Day 1 (Friday after Ascension) For the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Day 2 (Saturday after Ascension) For the gift of Holy Fear
Day 3 (7th Sunday of Easter) For the gift of Piety
Day 4 (Monday) For the gift of Fortitude
Day 5 (Tuesday) For the gift of Knowledge
Day 6 (Wednesday) For the gift of Understanding
Day 7 (Thursday) For the gift of Counsel
Day 8 (Friday) For the gift of Wisdom
Day 9 (Saturday) For the fruits of the Holy Spirit
