Come Holy Spirit Prayer Question

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Avila123

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Not sure if this is the right place for this question but here goes.

I searched for the Come Holy Spirit Prayer and hope that I found the correct version (see below). I am puzzled by the second sentence “Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.” What does this mean?

I was advised (by a priest) to pray this on a regular basis to help me with a regular personal circumstance, but I am pedantic and cautious about prayer and need to fully understand the prayer. I couldn’t ask the question at the time as I only heard the words in the middle of receiving some much needed Spiritual direction.

I would really appreciate some help with this. Thank you.
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.
And You shall renew the face of the earth.
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O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful,
grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise
and ever enjoy His consolations,
Through Christ Our Lord,
Amen.
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I always thought it referred to “the faithful”.

My opinion only.
 
You may find this article helpful: catholicvoiceoakland.org/Archives/Archive052404CM.html
The origins of this prayer are a little difficult to trace. “The Catholic Sourcebook” (Third edition, Brown-ROA, 2000) simply notes that it “evolved in the antiphons and hymns of every liturgical tradition, especially the Pentecost sequence.”
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On the Feast of Pentecost, Catholics hear “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love” in the Gospel acclamation at Sunday Mass.
The next portion of the prayer is found in Psalm 104, verse 30: “When you send forth your breath [spirit], they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.”
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Father Dominic Serra, professor of liturgical studies at The Catholic University of America, notes that the final portion of the prayer, asking for wisdom, has ancient liturgical roots. Father Serra indicates that the phrase, “O God, who didst instruct the hearts of Thy faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the same Spirit we may always be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation” is found in the Gregorian Sacramentary, a liturgical book with prayers dating back to the ninth century or even earlier.
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There is more to the article which I encourage you to read as well. You may also find it helpful to read Psalm 104 to see the context of the line that puzzles you.
 
Avila123 said:
Not sure if this is the right place for this question but here goes.

I searched for the Come Holy Spirit Prayer and hope that I found the correct version (see below). I am puzzled by the second sentence “Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.” What does this mean?

I was advised (by a priest) to pray this on a regular basis to help me with a regular personal circumstance, but I am pedantic and cautious about prayer and need to fully understand the prayer. I couldn’t ask the question at the time as I only heard the words in the middle of receiving some much needed Spiritual direction.

I would really appreciate some help with this. Thank you.
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When God sends forth His Spirit, He fills the hearts of people, converting them and bringing them to Himself, thus creating the faithful. It is the Holy Spirit who converts people.

We should pray to the Holy Spirit every day to continually fill our hearts and continually convert us.
 
Michael57, floresco and CB Catholic,

Thank you. I like the way your replies went. Firstly “the faithful”, then the explanation of the prayer (how is is still very relevant and needed today), the context of the Psalm and a further line. Now I understand the prayer on the level of a prayer for the faithful, church and world.

With regard to the personal aspect, its a bit like, the priest planted the seed and your posts have given light and the Holy Spirit is now moving to help it grow. Its one of those things that will keep coming and going in my mind until I reach the deeper “I get it point”. It’s difficult to explain, all I know is that when I get there, I will move on.

Thank you again.

God bless you
 
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