Novena in preparation for Pentecost
Fourth day
Fortitude
Fortitude is the Gift of the Holy
Ghost highlighted today and it is through perseverance that we can realize our
heavenly reward, but only in striving to do God’s holy will in all things.
Fortitude fortifies us not to worry about what will happen to our physical
wellbeing or material things and never to put merit into the approval of man
but always in the approval of the Holy Trinity for that is all that really
counts. All the rest don’t amount to a hill of beans. Yet to sustain ourselves
we need beans and other nourishment so that we can physically carry out
whatever mission God appoints for each person’s spiritual welfare. Fortitude
enables us to accept our crosses and whatever sufferings God chooses for His
children and not to question. That isn’t easy. That is why the Gift of
Fortitude is so vital.
Thou in toil art comfort sweet;
Pleasant
coolness in the heat;
Solace in
the midst of woe.
The
Gift of Fortitude
By the gift of Fortitude the soul is
strengthened against natural fear, and supported to the end in the performance
of duty. Fortitude imparts to the will an impulse and energy which move it to
undertake without hesitancy the most arduous tasks, to face dangers, to trample
under foot human respect, and to endure without complaint the slow martyrdom of
even lifelong tribulation. “He that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be
saved.”
Prayer
Come, O Blessed Spirit of Fortitude uphold my soul in time of troubles
and adversity, sustain my efforts after holiness, strengthen my weakness, give
me courage against all the assaults of my enemies, that I may never be overcome
and separated from Thee, my God and greatest Good. Amen.
Our Father
Our Father, Who art in Heaven,
hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in
Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we
forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil.
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is
with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy
womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and in the hour
of our death. Amen.
Glory Be (7x)
Glory be to the Father, and to the
Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall
be, world without end. Amen.
Act of
Consecration
On my knees before the great
multitude of heavenly witnesses,I offer myself, soul and body to You, Eternal
Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring keenness of
Your justice, and the might of Your love. You are the Strength and Light of my
soul. In You I live and move and am. I desire never to grieve You by
unfaithfulness to grace and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the
smallest sin against You. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I
may always watch for Your light, and listen to Your voice, and follow Your
gracious inspirations. I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You, by
Your compassion to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of
Jesus and looking at His Five Wounds, and trusting in His Precious Blood and
adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart, I implore You, Adorable Spirit,
Helper of my infirmity, to keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against
You. Give me grace, O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and the Son to say to
You always and everywhere, “Speak Lord for Your servant heareth.”
Prayer for the
Seven Gifts
O Lord Jesus Christ Who, before
ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work
in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy
Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul, the work of Your grace and Your
love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the perishable things of
this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal, the Spirit of
Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth, the
Spirit of Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and
gaining heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with You and
that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation,
the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in
the science of the Saints, the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of
God sweet and amiable, and the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a
loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark
me, dear Lord, with the sign of Your true disciples and animate me in all
things with Your Spirit. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment