This famous Novena guides the Catholic day by day in obtaining an increase of the priceless seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost. In seven different ways these Gifts make the Christian soul responsive to the daily inspirations of the Holy Spirit, leading him to a profound respect for the things of God (Fear), to joy in God s service (Piety), to realization of the nothingness of this earth (Knowledge), to supernatural courage (Fortitude), to sure direction in spiritual decisions (Counsel), to penetration of the truths of the Catholic Faith (Understanding), and to a relish for the things of Heaven (Wisdom). NOVENA TO THE HOLY GHOST makes it easy to approach the Holy Ghost to receive the abundant Gifts that He desires to lavish on souls.
This beautiful treasury includes daily prayers, a novena for Pentecost, the litany of the Holy Spirit, the chaplet of the Holy Spirit, prayer for various occasions, Latin prayers and hymns, and suggested resources. Readers will discover the outpouring of spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit wants to share with each one of them. This is the perfect book for anyone looking to deepen their prayer life with traditional words handed down through generations of Catholics.
This work not only supplies the faithful with a number of very beautiful prayers to the Holy Ghost, it also brings to their notice and stresses a very important dogmatic truth. The prayers reveal the universal activity of the Holy Ghost in the life of the Christian. By what in theology is called "the law of appropriation," the effective agency in the economy of redemption is attributed to the Third Divine Person. That this appropriation is not the indulgence of mere poetic fancy on the part of the theologian is made manifest by the words of our Divine Saviour, at the close of the Last Supper. It goes without saying that there is an indivisible oneness in all the activities of the Divine Nature, as exercised outside the circle of the Divine Life proper. Yet the utter distinction of the Divine Persons from one another is a truth on the same level as the absolute oneness of the Divine Nature which each possesses in its fullness. The Second Person alone became incarnate. Neither the Father nor the Holy Ghost took flesh. On the Son alone, through the humanity He assumed devolved the role of cancelling out sin and meriting redemption for mankind. His part in this divine drama ended, in a certain sense, with His ascension into heaven. The Third Divine Person then appears on the stage as the chief protagonist in all the succeeding scenes which have their denouement in eternity. He carries out the, vork of redemption by forming the souls of men to the life, von for them by Christ: He had inaugurated the work of redemption by forming Christ Himself in the womb of Mary. All this is adumbrated in the Saviour's parting words to His apostles on the eve of IIis death. He intimated to them that, in a mysterious manner, His own part in their supernatural formation was drawing to a close, and that His place in that work was to pass to another. As the Word of God, that is the Living Expression of what God is, it had been for Him to reveal God and God's mind. He had spent three years developing for them and for others the divine message. He had spoken clearly: men heard His words: but their souls did not lay llold of tIle implications of what He had said to them. The apostles caught the terms but missed the meaning of the sentences which were woven of these terms. Jesus says so explicitly: what is more He implies that it could not but be so. "I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will teach YOU the truth. The Holy Ghost will teach you all things and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you." (St. John XVI. 12, 13, and XIV. 26). Christ's exposition of Divine Truth was but part of a whole process. He revealed: it belonged to Another to carry that supernatural doctrine into the very spirit of men and to cause the intelligence to be illuminated by it. The apprehension of Christ's meaning which was to come only after Christ's exaltation is to be due entirely to the active intervention of the Third Divine Person. Not only does the Holy Spirit enlighten the mind, He, as well, strengthens the will, so that it does not falter in face of the rude discipline of life that becomes of obligation on the apprehension of the Divine Truths. The moral code of Jesus is the logical consequence of the lofty status which He reveals as the condition of man when redeemed. Noblesse oblige. Born of water and the Holy Ghost, the Christian is an adopted child of God and co-heir with Christ. His actions must, of moral necessity, be stamped with the dignity that is his. But no external teaching, no stirring exhortation, will suffice to enable the Christian to play worthily the part that has been assigned to him. There is needed for this a divine energy working from within. The Holy Spirit imparts this divine energy. The Passion generated the exhaustless reservoirs of the divine power. The Holy Ghost engineers the connections between these reservoirs and the soul of man.
One of the most personal and powerful acts a Christian can engage in is prayer. Yet many believers struggle with their prayer lives, wondering whether they are really making a difference and how they can be more effective. Delving deep into the biblical understanding of prayer, beloved author and leader Derek Prince shows readers the secret to leading a dynamic prayer life, how to receive what they ask for, and how to align themselves with the heart of God. Practical strategies like fasting, biblical study, discipline, and consistency are extensively explained and illustrated by powerful testimonies. This is a life-changing book.
Vatican II issued an urgent call for the laity to take a more active role in the life of the Church. What should the life of the Christian believer be like? How are average lay Christians called to help save the world? How does theology fit into the picture? One of Frank Sheed's most popular books, this ideal volume for the layman shows the practical aspects of theology in the life of a Christian believer. Logic, clarity, and simplicity permeate this eminently readable book. Drawing from his fifty years of street-corner preaching, as well as his long career as an author, lecturer and publisher, Sheed understands and communicates better than anyone the importance of theology and its relationship to living sanely in today's world. A brilliant synthesis of the Catholic view of life.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
40 Days with the Holy Spirit will inspire you to encounter God in fresh and surprising ways, with 40 insightful, well-planned 20-30 minute daily exercises original prayers that capture each day's insight into the deep, spiritual work of the Holy Spirit.
We present this small treatise to pious persons, entreating them to peruse it. Long ago the Holy Ghost said: "It is a holy and wholesome thing to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from their sins." (II Macabees 12:46) Our Lord shed tears in seeing the tomb of Lazarus, and the Church, well acquainted with the feelings of her Divine Founder, is incessently recommending charity for the Souls suffering in Purgatory. One of her eminent doctors, St. Thomas of Aquinas, has said that: "Of all prayers, the most meritorious, the most acceptable to God are prayers for the dead, because they imply all the works of charity, both corporal and spiritual." But there are many people unconscious of the fact that charity for the "Poor Souls" is profitable to the living as well as to the dead. It is the teaching of the most learned theologians, viz: St. Alphonsus Ligori, Sylvius, Robert Bellarmine, Bonacina, and Suarez. "It is true," says St. Alphonsus, "they are unable to pray or merit anything for themselves, yet, when they pray for others, they are heard by God." Let us refer to Bellarmine: "The Souls in Purgatory," says he, "can pray for those, who address to them their petitions, and obtain from God help, forgiveness, assistance against temptations, and, all favors, both temporal and spiritual, which they may need." Many Saints have experienced this wonderful assistance. St. Catherine of Bologna assured her Sisters that: "She obtained many favors by the prayers of the holy Souls in Purgatory, which she had asked in vain, through the intercession of the Saints." St. Theresa affirms that: "She always obtained the favors which she asked from God, through the intercession of the Poor Souls." We read also in the book of St. Bridget's Revelations that: "Being one day conducted by an Angel into Purgatory, she heard a soul say: "Oh Lord, vouchsafe to reward those who assist us! Return hundredfold blessings to those who help us and introduce us into the light of Heaven." St. Leonard of Port Maurice emphatically affirms that: "The blessed Souls, delivered by our prayers, will come down from Heaven to assist us in our temporal and spiritual affairs." The Venerable Cure d' Ars, replying to a priest said: "If one knew what we may obtain from God by the intercession of the Poor Souls, they would not be so much abandoned. Let us pray a great deal for them, they will pray for us." Blessed Margaret Mary Alacoque had a special devotion for the Souls in Purgatory and has often accepted the charge of suffering for them. "Would that you knew," she said, "how my soul was replenished with joy, when speaking to those Souls, and seeing them immersed in glory as in a deep ocean. As I requested them to pray for you, they replied: "An ungrateful soul is not to be found in Heaven!" No, we cannot be deceived! If we have an ardent charity, a sincere piety, a true devotedness for the Poor Souls, we will be favored with their protection. Let us try it! When we are in trouble, when we long for a favor, let us perform some pious or charitable work for the relief of the "Poor Souls." They will be grateful, they will plead for us, and present our requests to the Eternal Father, Who loves them. May God bless this humble work! May He deign to enkindle generous hearts with zeal for the "Poor Souls." "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." (Matt., V., 7.)
