The third Person of the Blessed Trinity is the Holy Ghost. To Him we attribute the work of regeneration, revelation, and sanctification. On Pentecost the Holy Ghost was sent by Christ to the Apostles. He is thesource of the Church's holiness and spiritual unity.
FOR THE GRACE OF THE HOLY GHOST
Come, Holy Ghost, Sanctifier all powerful, God of love, Thou who didst fill the Virgin Mary with grace, Thou who didst wonderfully transform the hearts of the Apostles, Thou who didst endow all Thy martyrs with a miraculous heroism, come and sanctify us. Illumine our minds, strengthen our wills, purify our consciences, rectify our judgments, set our hearts on fire, and preserve us from the misfortune of resisting Thine inspirations. Amen.
Indulgence of 500 days. (290)
FOR A PURE HEART
May our hearts be cleansed, 0 Lord, by the inpouring of the Holy Spirit, and may He render them fruitful by watering them with His heavenly dew.
ROMAN MISSAL Indulgence of 500 days; plenary indulgence on the usual condi- tions for the daily recital of this invocation for a month. (281)
CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY GHOST
0 Holy Spirit, divine Spirit of light and love, I consecrate to Thee my understanding, my heart and my will, my whole being for time and for eternity. May my understanding be always submissive to Thy heavenly inspirations and to the teachings of the holy Catholic Church, of which Thou art the infallible Guide; may my heart be ever inflamed with love of God and of my neighbor; may my will be ever conformed tothe divine will, and may my whole life be a faithful imitation of the life and virtues of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and Thee be honor and glory for ever. Amen.
Indulgence of 500 days. (289)
FOR THE HELP OF THE HOLY GHOST
We beseech Thee, 0 Holy Spirit, descend with Thy light and consolation into our souls; enlighten our understanding, and consecrate the hearts which Thou hast sanctified as Thy temples. 0 Holy Ghost, come and bring us God's blessings and peace; console us and all the afflicted; encourage and strengthen the weak; instruct and support the wavering; arouse sinners to penance, and enkindle in their cold hearts the fire of divine love and filial confidence in Thee, that all men, in peace and joy, may thankfully praise and adore Thee, together with the Father and the Son, one God, world without end. Amen.
FOR LIGHT
0 Holy Spirit, Spirit of truth, come into our hearts;-shed the brightness of Thy light upon the nations, that they may please Thee in unity of faith.
Indulgence of 300 days. (277)
FOR THE GRACE OF GOD
0 Thou plenteous source of every good and perfect gift! bestow abroad the consoling light of Thy seven-fold grace over our hearts! Yea, Spirit of love and gentleness: most humblywe implore Thine assistance! Thou knowest our faults, our failings, our necessities, the dullness of our understanding, the waywardness of our affections, the perverseness of our will. When, therefore, we neglect to practice what we know, visit us, we beseech Thee, with Thy grace; enlighten, God, our minds, rectify our desires, correct our wanderings, and pardon our omissions, so that, by Thy guidance, we may be preserved from making shipwreck of faith, and keep a good conscience, and so, at length, we may be landed in the safe haven of eternal peace. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
SAINT ANSELM OF CANTERBURY
HYMN TO THE HOLY GHOST
This famous hymn, the Veni Creator, is officially recited on Pentecost, when the Church commemorates the coming of the Holy Ghost on the Apostles. It is used also at the election of a pope, the consecration of a bishop, the ordination of priests, and the opening of a school year-occasions when the Church wishes to call down the help of the Spirit. We can use this hymn to invoke the presence and blessing of the Holy Ghost on all our actions.
Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest,
And in our souls take up Thy rest,
Come with Thy grace and heavenly aid,
And fill the hearts which Thou last made.
To Thee, the Comforter, we cry,
To Thee, the gift of God most high,
The fount of life, the fire of love,
The soul's anointing from above.
The sevenfold gifts of grace are Thine,
0 Finger of the hand Divine;
True promise of the Father Thou,
Who dost the tongue with speech endow.
Thy light to every thought impart,
And shed Thy love in every heart;
Our body's poor infirmity
With strength perpetual fortify.
Our mortal foe afar repel,
Grant us henceforth in peace to dwell;
If Thou be our preventing guide,
No evil can our steps betide.
Make Thou to us the Father known;
Teach us th' Eternal Son to own,
And Thee, whose name we ever bless,
Of Both the Spirit to confess.
All glory while the ages run
Be to the Father and the Son,
Who rose from death; the same to Thee,
0 Holy Ghost, eternally. Amen.
y Send forth Thy Spirit and all things shall be created;
jy And Thou shall renew the face of the earth.
LET Us PRAY
0 God who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people by sending them the light of Thy Holy Spirit, grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort. Through Christ our Lord.
ROMAN BREVIARY
Indulgence of 5 years; plenary indulgence once a month on the
usual conditions, for the daily recitation of this hymn with its
versicle and prayer. (283)