May 28 - Day 7 of Novena for Pentecost - "...that the love with which You loved Me may be in them and I in them.”

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Only 3 days left in our Novena. If you haven’t prayed the Novena prayers with us, thus far, perhaps you can pray these last 3 days as a “Triduum”. If you wish to begin on this 7th day, see HERE

Today’s Gospel:

Lifting up His eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying:
“I pray not only for these,
but also for those who will believe in Me through their word,
so that they may all be one,
as you, Father, are in Me and I in You,
that they also may be in Us,
that the world may believe that You sent Me.
And I have given them the glory You gave Me,
so that they may be one, as We are One,
I in them and You in Me,
that they may be brought to perfection as one,
that the world may know that You sent Me,
and that You loved them even as You loved Me.
Father, they are Your gift to Me.
I wish that where I am they also may be with Me,
that they may see My glory that you gave Me,
because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
Righteous Father, the world also does not know You,
but I know You, and they know that You sent Me.
I made known to them Your Name and I will make it known,
that the love with which You loved me
may be in them and I in them.”

AND from the Novena for Pentecost:

SEVENTH DAY (Thursday, 7th Week of Easter)

Heal our wounds–our strength renews; On our dryness pour Thy dew, Wash the stains of guilt away.

The Gift of Counsel

The gift of Counsel endows the soul with supernatural prudence, enabling it to judge promptly and rightly what must done, especially in difficult circumstances. Counsel applies the principles furnished by Knowledge and Understanding to the innumerable concrete cases that confront us in the course of our daily duty as parents, teachers, public servants, and Christian citizens. Counsel is supernatural common sense, a priceless treasure in the quest of salvation. “Above all these things, pray to the Most High, that He may direct thy way in Truth.” (Jn 17:20-26)

Prayer

Come, O Spirit of Counsel, help and guide me in all my ways, that I may always do Thy holy will. Incline my heart to that which is good; turn it away from all that is evil, and direct me by the straight path of Thy commandments to that goal of eternal life for which I long.

Mary, Mother of the Church and Queen of our hearts, pray for us, that we may be open to receive God as you did — from the first moment of your life on earth – conceived without sin. Pray for us and with us, that we may be forever totally yours and through you totally one with Jesus your Firstborn.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Stephie,

Thanks again, for your Faith-full and loving “heart”! Hopefully some may begin today if they have not prayed any part of the Novena to prepare for the Great Feast of Pentecost to begin this Thursday tonight, (if they haven’t begun sometime today) and then Friday and Saturday to make a “3 day - Triduum” of prayer.

Pentecost is such a beautiful, grace-filled opportunity for for all of us to remember our Baptism, when God infused into our souls the Supernatural gifts of Faith, Hope and Charity, and the infused Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Counsel , Fortitude, Piety and Fear of the Lord. These gifts were intended for us – not simply to receive and forget – but rather to help us grow in holiness. Yet, how many were taught by parents, or teachers or heard from the pulpit or read in spiritual books anything about these gifts? I wonder. If we learned something in our youth, have we forgotten?

By God’s Grace, we can begin tonight – asking Jesus to help us to receive anew the Holy Spirit into our Hearts, that He may renew our Faith, Hope and Charity. Let us remember that when we were confirmed we also were strengthened in those same gifts and even though we can’t even remember receiving that Sacrament, we can ask Jesus to renew in us that strength we were given and begin again to grow in the holiness to which we are all called.

Mary, Mother of the Church intercede for all your children. Jesus we trust in You. Come Holy Spirit, renew the Church!