Novena to the Holy Spirit
Feast: Pentecost (next: 16 May 2027)
When to pray: Begin on the Friday after Ascension Thursday and finish on the Saturday before Pentecost. Where Ascension is kept on a Sunday, still begin on the Friday after the Thursday date. A novena is prayed on nine consecutive days.
Prayer for each day
Holy Spirit, fire of God, come into my heart as you came on the apostles. Give me your gifts, especially the one I need today, and make me bold to live and speak the faith. Amen.
Day by day
Day 1: Waiting in prayer with Mary
All these were persevering with one mind in prayer with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
Acts 1:14, Douay-Rheims
Holy Spirit, after the Ascension the apostles waited for you in prayer, with Mary the mother of Jesus. I join them now. With Mary beside me, quiet my heart, open me to your coming, and prepare me to receive whatever gifts you wish to give. Come, Holy Spirit, and renew in me the grace of my baptism and confirmation. Amen.
Day 2: Wisdom
And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: the spirit of wisdom, and of understanding, the spirit of counsel, and of fortitude, the spirit of knowledge, and of godliness.
Isa 11:2, Douay-Rheims
Holy Spirit, the prophet foretold that the spirit of wisdom would rest upon the Messiah. Give me the gift of wisdom, that I may see all things in the light of God, love what is eternal more than what passes away, and order my whole life toward heaven. Amen.
Day 3: Understanding
Then he opened their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.
Luke 24:45, Douay-Rheims
Holy Spirit, the risen Lord opened the minds of his disciples that they might understand the Scriptures. Give me the gift of understanding, that I may grasp more deeply the truths of the faith, hear God speaking in his word, and see the meaning of the mysteries I profess. Amen.
Day 4: Counsel
But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you.
John 14:26, Douay-Rheims
Holy Spirit, Jesus promised that you would teach us all things and bring to mind all he had said. Give me the gift of counsel, that in every choice I may know what is right, choose what pleases God, and give good advice to those who come to me. Amen.
Day 5: Fortitude
But you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 1:8, Douay-Rheims
Holy Spirit, Jesus promised that the apostles would receive power when you came upon them. Give me the gift of fortitude, that I may not be afraid to do good, to resist temptation, to suffer patiently and, if need be, to stand alone for Christ. Amen.
Day 6: Knowledge
Now, we have received not the spirit of this world, but the Spirit that is of God: that we may know the things that are given us from God.
1 Cor 2:12, Douay-Rheims
Holy Spirit, we have received not the spirit of this world but the Spirit who is of God, that we may know the things given us by God. Give me the gift of knowledge, that I may judge created things rightly, use them well, and never let them draw me away from my Creator. Amen.
Day 7: Piety
For you have not received the spirit of bondage again in fear: but you have received the spirit of adoption of sons, whereby we cry: Abba (Father).
Rom 8:15, Douay-Rheims
Holy Spirit, you are the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, Abba, Father. Give me the gift of piety, that I may love God as my Father, pray to him with the trust of a child, honour what is holy, and treat every person as a brother or sister. Amen.
Day 8: Fear of the Lord
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. A good understanding to all that do it: his praise continueth for ever and ever.
Ps 110:10 [Ps 111:10], Douay-Rheims
Holy Spirit, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Give me the gift of holy fear, not a servile dread but a reverent love that is afraid to offend God. Keep me from sin, make me humble before his majesty, and let me never take his mercy for granted. Amen.
Day 9: Fire to go out and witness
And there appeared to them parted tongues, as it were of fire: and it sat upon every one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost: and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak.
Acts 2:3-4, Douay-Rheims
Holy Spirit, on Pentecost you came upon the apostles as tongues of fire, and they went out to preach the wonderful works of God. Set my heart on fire with that same love. Make me bold to live the faith openly, to speak of Jesus without shame, and to bring others to him by my words and example. Amen.
Scripture
Douay-Rheims numbering (modern in brackets): 1 Cor 2:12; Acts 1:14; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:3-4; Isa 11:2; John 14:26; Luke 24:45; Ps 110:10 [Ps 111:10]; Rom 8:15. Scripture index
Source
Written for The Crusade, 2026. How we check sources