Ten Day Devotion to the Holy Spirit
To increase our devotion to the Holy Spirit, we can begin by practicing the human and Christian virtues, at work and in our daily dealings with others. If a Christian fights to acquire these virtues, his soul is preparing to receive the grace of the Holy Spirit fruitfully. The Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, the soul's sweet guest (Sequence: Come Holy Spirit) pours out his gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and the fear of the Lord (cf Is 11:2).
The Holy Spirit desires (far more than we could ever desire) to give us his gifts in such abundance that they form a torrential river in our supernatural life, and produce their wonderful fruits in us. He is waiting only for us to rid our souls of any possible obstacles, to ask him to give us a greater desire of purification, and to tell him from the depth of our soul: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. Enkindle in them the fire of your love. It is his only wish to fill us with his grace and his gifts. If you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Luke 11:30)
Throughout these days of perparation for the Feast of Pentecost, we have to implore humbly the Father of lights (Jas 1:17) to send the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba! Father (Gal 4:6). We shoudl ask Christ to send forth, from the bosom of his Father, the one who is thus praised:
Thou of all consolers best,
thou the soul's delightful guest,
dost refreshing peace bestow. (Sequence of the Mass of Pentecost)
In the ten-day preparation which begins on the feast of the Ascension, we want to become more receptive to the graces which the Paraclete pours out on us continually. Let us each ask him for his gifts, so that we may be his good instrument in our family circle, at work, and in society. A sure way to be humble is to contemplate how, even without talents, fame or fortune, we can be effective instruments if we go to the Holy Spirit so that he may grant us his gifts.
The Apostles, though they had been taught by Jesus for three years, fled in terror from the enemies of Christ. But after Pentecost, they let themselves be flogged and imprisoned, and ended up giving their lives in witness to their faith. (J. Escriva, Furrow)
Our faithfulness to the inspirations and graces which we receive from the Holy Spirit will often be revealed in our readiness to respond to spiritual guidance, and in our daily effort to work toward the goals and the implementation of the suggestions which have been indicated to us.
Recourse to our Lady, the spouse of the Holy Spirit, is the surest way for us to dispose our soul for whatever new gifts the Paraclete wishes to give us.
Holy Spirit Prayer
Holy Spirit, Soul of my Soul, I adore You.
Enlighten, guide, strengthen, and console me.
Tell me what I ought to do and command me to do it.
I promise to be submissive
to all that You ask of me and
all that You allow to happen to me.
Oh Holy Spirit, show me Your will. Amen.