Pentecost Novena
Praying a Novena
A novena is nine days of prayer that usually encourages us to pray for a particular intention as we prepare for a feast day.
Praying for an intention, particularly praying for other people, is known as the prayer of intercession. It is a form of prayer that takes us beyond ourselves as we ask our loving Father to bless someone else.
‘ We can say that God’s heart is touched by our intercession, yet in reality he is always there first.
What our intercession achieves is that his power,
his love and his faithfulness are shown ever more
clearly in the midst of the people.’
(Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium 283)
In the 19th Century Blessed Elena Guerra, the founder of the Oblates of the Holy Spirit, felt it was important that the Church be renewed to the passion of the first Christians at Pentecost and petitioned Pope Leo XIII in the following manner:
‘Pentecost is not over. In fact it is continuously going on in every time and in every place because the Holy Spirit desired to give Himself to all men and all who want Him can always receive Him, so we do not envy the apostles and the first believers; we only have to dispose ourselves like them to receive Him well, and He will come to us as He did to them.’
As a result of her promptings the Pope issued several important documents about the Holy Spirit. He also asked the Church to celebrate a novena (nine days of prayer) every year between the Ascension and Pentecost.
We are therefore invited to pray the Pentecost Novena for this fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, especially since it is through the Holy Spirit that a person can encounter Jesus Christ and experience the love of God our Father. Whilst this is something that each of us needs, the novena challenges us to go beyond our own needs by asking for this incredible blessing for others.
Set a time each day when you will take a moment of prayer. You only need about 10 minutes.
Put a reminder on your phone, a note on your fridge or something to prompt you to pray each day.
Day 1 (Friday 22nd March 2020)
Intercession for a growth in trust
Begin by invoking the Holy Spirit using Pope John XXIII’s ‘invocation’ prayer:
Renew your wonders in this our day, as by a new Pentecost.
Grant to your Church that, being of one mind and steadfast in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and following the lead of Blessed Peter, it may advance the reign of our Divine Saviour, the reign of truth and justice, the reign of love and peace. Amen.
Come Holy Spirit, in your power and might to renew the face of the earth.
Holy Spirit, awaken the whole human race and help us to build bridges of trust that open our hearts to the Good News of Jesus Christ.
‘ See now, he is the God of my salvation. I have trust and no fear, for the Lord is my strength, my song, he is my salvation.’ Isaiah 12:2
Prayer Intention
Pray for a growth in trust that enables those we love, those we care about and those we know to open their hearts to the Holy Spirit, who is the first evangeliser.
Day 2 (Saturday 23rd May 2020)
Intercession for the renewal of the Church
Renew your wonders in this our day, as by a new Pentecost.
Grant to your Church that, being of one mind and steadfast in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and following the lead of Blessed Peter, it may advance the reign of our Divine Saviour, the reign of truth and justice, the reign of love and peace. Amen.
Come Holy Spirit, in your power and might to renew the face of the earth.
Come Holy Spirit, rekindle your fire and renew your Church.
‘ In the days to come – it is the Lord who speaks - I will pour out my Spirit upon all mankind. Your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even on my slaves, men and women, in those days, I will pour out my spirit. I will display portents in heaven above and signs on the earth below. The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great day of the Lord dawns. All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ Joel 2: 28-31
Prayer Intention
Pray for the ‘Spirituality of Pentecost’ to renew the Church throughout the world – especially in your continent, nation, diocese, parish and in your own life.
Day 3 (Sunday 24th May 2020)
Intercession for the unity of Christianity
Renew your wonders in this our day, as by a new Pentecost.
Grant to your Church that, being of one mind and steadfast in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and following the lead of Blessed Peter, it may advance the reign of our Divine Saviour, the reign of truth and justice, the reign of love and peace. Amen.
Come Holy Spirit, in your power and might to renew the face of the earth.
Come Holy Spirit, unite your church – ‘Father, make them one that the world may believe.’
‘ I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you therefore to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably,
in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were called into one and the same hope when you were called. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all.’ Ephesians 4: 1-6
Prayer Intention
Pray for reconciliation, the purification of memories and the healing of the Christian body – in the world, in your nation and in your own life.
Day 4 (Monday 25th May 2020)
Intercession for the renewal of society
Renew your wonders in this our day, as by a new Pentecost.
Grant to your Church that, being of one mind and steadfast in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and following the lead of Blessed Peter, it may advance the reign of our Divine Saviour, the reign of truth and justice, the reign of love and peace. Amen.
Come Holy Spirit, in your power and might to renew the face of the earth.
Come, Holy Spirit, and renew the face of the earth – transform society by the power of your Spirit.
‘ The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for he has anointed me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to the captives and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ Luke 4: 18-19
Prayer Intention
Pray for the coming of the Kingdom and for the Culture of Life born of the Spirit, to penetrate the whole of society; for governments and those in public office in your continent and nation.
Day 5 (Tuesday 26th May 2020)
Intercession for conversion and holiness
Renew your wonders in this our day, as by a new Pentecost.
Grant to your Church that, being of one mind and steadfast in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and following the lead of Blessed Peter, it may advance the reign of our Divine Saviour, the reign of truth and justice, the reign of love and peace. Amen.
Come Holy Spirit, in your power and might to renew the face of the earth.
Come Holy Spirit, let faith and hope arise in the hearts of people and let your glory be manifested in your Church.
‘ We know that by turning everything to their good God co-operates with those who love him, with all those he has called according to his purpose. They are the ones he chose specially long ago and intended to become true images of his Son, so that his Son might be the eldest of many brothers. He called those he intended for this; those he called he justified; and with those he justified he shared his glory.’
Romans 8: 28-30
Prayer Intention
Pray for the conversion of sinners, for growth in holiness and the revelation of God’s glory – in the Church, in the world, in your family and in your life.
Day 6 (Wednesday 27th May 2020)
Intercession for reconciliation and healing
Renew your wonders in this our day, as by a new Pentecost.
Grant to your Church that, being of one mind and steadfast in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and following the lead of Blessed Peter, it may advance the reign of our Divine Saviour, the reign of truth and justice, the reign of love and peace. Amen.
Come Holy Spirit, in your power and might to renew the face of the earth.
Come Holy Spirit; help us live together in unity, humility and love.
‘And when you stand in prayer, forgive whatever you have against anybody, so that your Father in heaven may forgive your failings too.’ Mark 11:25
Prayer Intention
Pray for reconciliation in broken relationships and the healing of life’s hurts. May the peace of Christ that has broken down every dividing wall, lead us into unity. Pray for this for your diocese, parish, family
and yourself.
Day 7 (Thursday 28th May 2020)
Intercession for empowerment for evangelisation
Renew your wonders in this our day, as by a new Pentecost.
Grant to your Church that, being of one mind and steadfast in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and following the lead of Blessed Peter, it may advance the reign of our Divine Saviour, the reign of truth and justice, the reign of love and peace. Amen.
Come Holy Spirit, in your power and might to renew the face of the earth.
Come, Holy Spirit, empower us to fulfil your call to be witnesses to the ends of the earth and to be bearers of the Good News.
‘ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ Acts 1:8
Prayer Intention
Pray for a new empowerment by the Holy Spirit so that we can be effective witnesses and for a new boldness in bringing the Gospel to the whole of creation; for the work of ‘New Evangelisation’ in the Church.
Day 8 (Friday 29th May 2020)
Intercession for the victory of the Holy Cross
Renew your wonders in this our day, as by a new Pentecost.
Grant to your Church that, being of one mind and steadfast in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and following the lead of Blessed Peter, it may advance the reign of our Divine Saviour, the reign of truth and justice, the reign of love and peace. Amen.
Come Holy Spirit, in your power and might to renew the face of the earth.
Come, Holy Spirit, let your victory be proclaimed and your glory be revealed upon the face of the earth.
‘ For Christ did not send me to baptise, but to preach the Good News, and not to preach that in terms of philosophy in which the crucifixion of Christ cannot be expressed. The language of the cross may be illogical to those who are not on their way to salvation, but those of us who are on the way see it as God’s power to save.’ 1 Corinthians 1:17-18
Prayer Intention
Pray that the victory of the Holy Cross and its saving power be manifested in our lives and proclaimed over all the earth. ‘We adore you O Christ and we bless you; because by your cross you have redeemed the world.
Day 9 (Saturday 30th May 2020)
Intercession for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit and his gifts
Renew your wonders in this our day, as by a new Pentecost.
Grant to your Church that, being of one mind and steadfast in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and following the lead of Blessed Peter, it may advance the reign of our Divine Saviour, the reign of truth and justice, the reign of love and peace. Amen.
Come Holy Spirit, in your power and might to renew the face of the earth.
‘ When he had been at table with them, he had told them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for what the Father had promised. ‘It is’, he had said, ‘what you have heard me speak about: John baptised with water but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’ Acts 1: 4-5
‘ There is variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of them.’ 1 Corinthians 12: 4-6
Prayer Intention
Pray for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit in your life. May the gifts of the Spirit be more fully manifest for building up his body in love and to bring all things in heaven and on earth under his headship.
Pentecost sequence
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 all comforters best;
You the soul’s most welcome guest.
Sweet refreshment here below.
In our labour, rest most sweet;
Grateful coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.
O most Blessed Light Divine,
Shine within these hearts of thine,
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 us virtue’s sure reward.
Give us your salvation, Lord.
Give us joys that never end.
Amen. Alleluia.
Pentecost Novena from the Burning Bush Initiative
© 2005 Kim Catherine-Marie Kollins
Jerusalem Bible © 1996 by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd. and Double Day and Company Ltd.
Pentecost Sequence © 1970 Liturgical Press