Pentecost Novena
"The Pentecost Novena is the first
of all novenas, nine days of prayer. After Jesus’ Ascension into heaven, He
commanded His disciples to come together in the upper room to devote themselves
to constant prayer (Acts 1:14). They prayed for nine days before receiving the
Holy Spirit on Pentecost."
On May 4, 1897, Pope Leo XIII proclaimed: "We decree and
command that throughout the whole Catholic Church, this year and in every
subsequent year,
a novena shall take place before Whit-Sunday (Pentecost), in all parish
churches."
(from Presentation Ministries website, see link below)
Let’s join the world in praying a novena in
preparation of Pentecost – beginning on Friday, May 22nd,
the day after Ascension Thursday. Here are links to a few of the Pentecost
Novenas available on the web:
Burning Bush Novena
- developed by Kim Kollins and promoted with
Pentecost of the Nations. Multiple formats are
available to download and print.
Pentecost Novena - available on Presentation Ministries
Website
Novena to the Holy Spirit - originally developed by David Thorp,
includes the Prayer for a New Millennium.
Novena to
the Holy Spirit for the Seven Gifts -
available from the EWTN website, focusing on the seven sanctifying gifts of the
Holy Spirit as mentioned in Isaiah 11
Another wonderful resource, which includes a Novena and other
prayers, is a booklet called "The
Road to Pentecost: A Prayer Guide from Easter to Pentecost." This
booklet was commissioned by the National Service Committee in England and
printed by the National Service Committee of the US. It is available from our
bookstore or from
www.nsc-chariscenter.org.