First
Day
The
Holy Spirit
One's
life is a continuous process moving from the Source of all
life, God Himself; achieving certain results within the context
of the time allotted to us and concluding with a return to
Him. It is understandable that each person, while developing
in this manner, has different and difficult experiences and
thus encounters need for guidance and support. The Divine
assistance rendered to us by the Holy Spirit can take hold
in our lives and will quicken and deepen our progress before
both God and man.
Prayer
Almighty
and eternal God, You have given us new strength by water and
the Holy Spirit and redeemed us by the ultimate act of love
by Your Son Jesus. Send forth from heaven Your Holy Spirit,
the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel
and Courage, the Spirit of Knowledge and Piety, and fill us
with the Spirit of Blessed awe.
Our
Father, Hail Mary and Glory to be to the Father ONCE. Act
of consecration. Prayer for the Seven Gifts. To be said each
day at this point.
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Fourth
Day
The
Gift of Courage
With this
gift of Courage one is able to accept the reality of life
in such a manner that natural fears and inherent weaknesses
give way to strong Christian character. We bring to our work
our best effort. We seek true humility and do not look for
human approval. We risk all so as to gain even more, God who
is Ultimate - the Alpha and Omega of our lives.
Prayer
Come,
O Holy Spirit of Courage, in all difficulties and problems
support my every effort. Help me to render ineffective the
onslaught of the negative in life. Give me strength and courage
to defend my faith and never be separated from my God. I ask
this as I follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ My Lord
and Saviour. Amen.
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Seventh
Day
The
Gift of Counsel
With this
gift of Counsel we are more readily able to make good and
proper decisions and judgements because prudence, no pride
guides us. Counsel works along with Knowledge and understanding
to provide us the wildest scope with which to see the various
situations we encounter in our personal, professional and
Christian lives. This gift of heavenly common sense brings
us to a better understanding of Christ's declaration: "I
am the Way, the Truth and the Life."
Prayer
Come,
O Holy Spirit of Counsel, guide me as I choose between good
and evil. Help me to see through the glamour of evil to its
shallow and base origins. Help me see in goodness the gentle,
loving touch of the Father and learn to be likewise with both
friend and foe. Thus, may I come to share forever with You
the everlasting love of heaven. Amen.
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Second
Day
The
Gift of Awe
With this
gift we achieve the utmost respect for God and strive to avoid
all that would be contrary. We use the word awe not in the
negative sense of coercion or threat, but rather in a positive
sense of a creative love which flows freely between God and
us. It is a type of love which at once frees us from the world
and all its pleasures while giving us a true appreciation
of all God has done for us.
Prayer
Come,
O Holy Spirit of Awe, help me to attain a most respectful
stance and understanding of You My God. May I work with the
life You have given me so as to avoid sin and bring a life
of grace and goodness when You call me to the joy of heaven
where You live and reign in union with the Father and Son,
now and always. Amen.
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Fifth
Day
The
Gift of Knowledge
With this
gift of Knowledge come the perception of all things and persons
in their true worth or value. We learn to search out the purposes,
both obvious and inherent, for which activities occur and
subsequently determine their goodness and desirability in
the salvific plan of God. In this way we develop a hierarchy
of values which begins with, flows from and eventually culminates
in God. No one or nothing should ever become more important
to us than the attainment and possession of God's friendship.
Prayer
Come,
O Holy Spirit of Knowledge, and let God's will in my life
give me purpose and direction. May no personal or communal
vanity ever be allowed to become a barrier between Him and
me. As Jesus taught so well "Your will be done on earth
as it is in heaven."
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Eight
Day
The
Gift of Wisdom
With this
gift of Wisdom we bring together in a close-knit unity all
the other gifts. Now our faith is more clearly defined; our
hope uplifted and renewed; our love rekindled and broadened.
Wisdom brings us to the full realization of the power and
certitude of things divine and the weakness and uncertainty
of earthly things. In this context man's knowledge often referred
to as wisdom is seen as mere folly in the face of God's wisdom.
Prayer
Come,
O Holy Spirit of Wisdom, teach me to love the things heaven.
May this help me to live a positive, constructive and sensitive
life among the things of earth. Clearly may I experience God's
love, the bridge between both worlds. Amen.
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Third
Day
The
Gift of Piety
The gift
of Piety summons us to affectionately turn to God as our loving
Father. All persons and objects consecrated to Him we love
and respect. We see His authority flowing through the lives
of His Saints and most especially His Blessed Mother Mary.
The Church becomes for us the deposit of His word and our
beacon in the midst of our trials and tribulations. With all
valid and rightful authority, both religious and civil, we
work to achieve a truly humane world. One who practices piety
weaves his religion and life so as to see both as an exercise
in love and not labour.
Prayer
Come,
O Spirit of Piety, kindle within me a deep love for God that,
in service of His will, life may be truly satisfying. Help
me show respect for all rightful authority and work to return
others to You the source of all authority. Amen.
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Sixth
Day
The
Gift of understanding
With this
gift of understanding we approach life and religion as being
one reality. Religion no longer is an occasional expression
of faith but becomes an interaction between God and us. No
longer does our faith remain stagnant and something simply
of past history, but rather becomes fresh and alive with a
view to the future of unlimited horizons. Now we can fully
experience the biblical encouragement "With God all things
are possible."
Prayer
Come,
O Holy Spirit of understanding, enlighten my mind with Your
truth as it is expressed in my faith. Give me the strength
to actively work with this gift of faith, maturing and growing
stronger as Your witness to all the world. Amen.
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Ninth
Day
The
Fruits of the Holy Spirit
As with
any gift oftentimes what we do as a result of having received
the gift dictates the importance and degree of usefulness
of the gift in our lives. "By your fruits you shall know
them" so beautifully reminds us of the tremendous responsibility
we take upon ourselves as we pray for and hopefully receive
these dynamic gifts of the Holy Spirit. With these as precise
instruments we can live a life actively alive with God as
its motivating force. Not only do we draw closer to Him but
we cause our lives to be the attractive pull which brings
others to Him.
Prayer
Come,
O Holy Spirit, grant to me Your fruits of charity, joy, peace,
patience, gentleness, goodness, mildness, faith, modesty,
forebearance, continence, and chastity, that I might grow
and mature in perfect goodness and beauty before God and man.
Thus serving Your Divine Design may I come at last to Your
heavenly kingdom where You live and reign, Father, Son and
Spirit, now and always. Amen.
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