Within nine days of Pentecost, we are having a novena to the Holy Spirit focusing on Her fruits - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and, self-control (Gal 5:22-23). Each day we will focus on a different fruit in the order found in Galatians.
Please spend some time during the day praying and reflecting on that particular day’s fruit - its significance, its power, its nourishment, and how to actualize it more deeply in your life: To help us, at each 12:10pm Masses, we will focus on and pray for the fruit of the day. The Newman staff members will assist by sharing their insights. Please feel free to share your insights in the chat before and after Mass, so that together we may actualize the fruitful power of the Holy Spirt at Newman and beyond.
For one possible novena prayer template, click here. However, feel free to structure this novena in whatever prayer style that works for you.
Below are the Newman Staff’s reflections on the 9 Fruits of the Holy Spirit:
May 22 - LOVE
Fr. Steven Bell, CSP
May 23 - JOY
Fr. Ivan Tou, CSP
May 24 - PEACE
Fr. Steven Bell, CSP
May 25 - PATIENCE
Fr. Ivan Tou, CSP
May 26 - KINDNESS
Colleen Lenord
May 27 - GENEROSITY
Fr. Steve Bossi, CSP
May 28 - faithfulness
Fr. George Griener, SJ
May 29 - Gentleness
Fr. Steve Bossi, CSP
May 30 - self-control
Frances Rojek
Here is a sample Novena Prayer to help us focus on the fruits of the Holy Spirit:
NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
Opening
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in me the fire of your love
and kindle in me your precious fruits:
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Opening Prayer
(adapted from the opening prayer of the Mass on Pentecost Sunday)
O God, who by the mystery of the great feast of Pentecost
sanctify your whole Church in every people and nation,
pour out, we pray,
the gifts of the Holy Spirit
across the face of the earth
and, with the divine grace that was at work
when the Gsopel was first proclaimed,
fill now once more the hearts of believers.
May the fruits of the Holy Spirit,
in particular <name the fruit of the day>,
which I meditate today with deep affection,
grow and blossom in me and all the baptized
I ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
AMEN
Proclaim the Pentecost Readings
Reading 1 - Acts 2:1-11
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled,
they were all in one place together.
And suddenly there came from the sky
a noise like a strong driving wind,
and it filled the entire house in which they were.
Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,
which parted and came to rest on each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in different tongues,
as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem.
At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd,
but they were confused
because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
They were astounded, and in amazement they asked,
“Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?
Then how does each of us hear them in his native language?
We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites,
inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene,
as well as travelers from Rome,
both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs,
yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues
of the mighty acts of God.”
Responsorial Psalm - Ps 104: 1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34
R. (cf. 30) Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
How manifold are your works, O Lord!
the earth is full of your creatures;
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD be glad in his works!
Pleasing to him be my theme;
I will be glad in the LORD.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
If you take away their breath, they perish
and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
Gospel - John 20:19-23
On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”
Quiet Reflection on the Readings and the Fruits of the Holy Spirit
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Gal 5:22-23)
Reflect quietly, peacefully, and joyfully on the readings and the fruits of the Holy Spirit, in particular the fruit of the day.
Prayer Intentions
Bring the needs of the Church, the world, and your personal needs before our Lord.
Our Father
Hail Mary
Concluding Prayer: Pentecost Sequence
Veni, Sancte Spiritus
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
And from your celestial home
Shed a ray of light divine!
Come, Father of the poor!
Come, source of all our store!
Come, within our bosoms shine.
You, of comforters the best;
You, the soul’s most welcome guest;
Sweet refreshment here below;
In our labor, rest most sweet;
Grateful coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.
O most blessed Light divine,
Shine within these hearts of yours,
And our inmost being fill!
Where you are not, we have naught,
Nothing good in deed or thought,
Nothing free from taint of ill.
Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
On our dryness pour your dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away:
Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray.
On the faithful, who adore
And confess you, evermore
In your sevenfold gift descend;
Give them virtue’s sure reward;
Give them your salvation, Lord;
Give them joys that never end. Amen.
Alleluia.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. AMEN