A 9-day prayer commitment for parents

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OPENING PRAYER
Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love. Send forth Your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.

The following two prayers are said at the end of each day’s novena prayer:

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
Before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, we offer to You, Eternal Spirit of God, our son/daughter <name>. Help him <or “her”> to adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring righteousness of Your justice, and the unconditional nature of Your love. You are the strength and light of his soul; help him to realize this. In You he lives and moves and has his being. May he desire to never grieve You by unfaithfulness, and we ask You to instill in him a desire to avoid even the smallest sin against You. Mercifully guard his every thought and grant that he may always watch for Your light, listen to Your voice, and follow Your inspirations. Teach him to cling to You and give himself to You. We ask You by Your compassion to watch over him in his weakness and strengthen his resolve to know and do Your will. We implore You, Holy Spirit, to keep <name> always in Your grace. Give him grace, O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and the Son, to say to You always and everywhere, “Speak Lord for Your servant is listening.” Amen.

PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
O Lord Jesus Christ, before ascending into heaven You promised to send us the Holy Spirit to finish Your work upon the Earth. Grant the same Holy Spirit to <name> so that his soul may be sanctified and grow in the works of Your grace and Your love. Free him from evil. Fill <name> with the Spirit of Wisdom to despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal; the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten his mind with the light of Your divine truth; the Spirit of Counsel to always choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven; the Spirit of Fortitude to bear his crosses with Jesus and to overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose his salvation; the Spirit of Knowledge to know God and know himself and grow in holiness; the Spirit of Piety to find the service of God sweet and enjoyable, and the Spirit of Fear of the Lord to always have a loving reverence toward God and dread displeasing Him in any way. Help <name>, dear Lord, to be one of Your true disciples, and animate him in all things with Your Spirit. Amen.

FIRST DAY: For all the gifts
Almighty and eternal God, You have restored <name> into your image and likeness by the water of baptism and the Holy Spirit, and You gave him the forgiveness of all sin. Send forth from heaven upon <name> your sevenfold Spirit: Fill <name> with the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and Fortitude, the Spirit of Knowledge and Piety, and the Spirit of Holy Fear. Help <name> to come alive in all these gifts, that he may be purified, turn away from all evil, and serve Your kingdom well. Amen.

1 “Our Father”, 1 “Hail Mary”; 7 “Glory be to…”
Act of Consecration, & Prayer for the Seven Gifts

SECOND DAY: The Gift of Holy Fear
Come and fill <name>, O blessed Spirit of Holy Fear. Penetrate his inmost heart so that he may honor, obey and prefer You and his Lord Jesus and his Father God above all else. Help him to despise all things that offend You, and make him worthy to appear before the pure eyes of Your Divine Majesty in heaven, where You live and reign forever in the unity of the ever Blessed Trinity. Amen.

1 “Our Father”, 1 “Hail Mary”; 7 “Glory be to…”
Act of Consecration, & Prayer for the Seven Gifts

THIRD DAY: The Gift of Piety
Come and fill <name>, O Blessed Spirit of Piety. Possess his heart. Purify him. Humble him. Enkindle in him such a love for God that he may be satisfied only in His service and lovingly submit to all legitimate authority for the sake of Your kingdom. Make him increasingly uncomfortable with everything that is evil, so that he will turn away from it and live only in You. Amen.

1 “Our Father”, 1 “Hail Mary”; 7 “Glory be to…”
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts

FOURTH DAY:The Gift of Fortitude
Come and fill <name>, O Blessed Spirit of Fortitude. Protect his soul in times of trouble and adversity. Sustain his efforts in holiness, strengthen him in his weakness, and give him courage against all the assaults and temptations of his enemies, that he may not be overcome and separated from You, Dear Lord. Amen.

1 “Our Father”, 1 “Hail Mary”; 7 “Glory be to…”
Act of Consecration, & Prayer for the Seven Gifts

FIFTH DAY: The Gift of Knowledge
Come and fill , O Blessed Spirit of Knowledge, and grant that he may perceive the will of the Father in all things, in every moment of every day. Give him an awareness of the pointlessness of earthly things and the ugliness of unholy desires, that he may stay pure in all his decisions and use the things of this world only if they bring You glory. Tell him what he needs to know for his salvation and for the service of others. Amen.

1 “Our Father”, 1 “Hail Mary”; 7 “Glory be to…”
Act of Consecration, & Prayer for the Seven Gifts

SIXTH DAY: The Gift of Understanding
Come and fill <name>, O Spirit of Understanding, and enlighten his mind, that he may accept and believe the mysteries of salvation and the truths of Your kingdom in order to stay on the path to heaven and serve Your kingdom in his daily life. Help him to discern what is evil, and enlighten him so that he may be holy here on earth and live forever in the light of Your glory with a clear vision of You and the Father and the Son. Amen.

1 “Our Father”, 1 “Hail Mary”; 7 “Glory be to…”
Act of Consecration, & Prayer for the Seven Gifts

SEVENTH DAY: The Gift of Counsel
Come and fill <name>, O Spirit of Counsel. Help him and guide him in all his ways, that he may always do Your holy will. Incline his heart to prefer only what is good; turn it away from all that is evil, and direct him by the straight path of Your commandments to that goal of eternal life for which he longs.

1 “Our Father”, 1 “Hail Mary”; 7 “Glory be to…”
Act of Consecration, & Prayer for the Seven Gifts

EIGHTH DAY: The Gift of Wisdom
Come and fill <name>, O Spirit of Wisdom, and reveal to his soul the mysteries of heavenly things, in their exceeding greatness, power and beauty. Teach him to love them above and beyond all the passing joys and satisfactions of earth and to prefer Your wisdom over the so-called wisdom of this world. Help him to grow in Your wisdom, especially during temptations, trials, and all the daily challenges that he faces. Amen.

1 “Our Father”, 1 “Hail Mary”; 7 “Glory be to…”
Act of Consecration, & Prayer for the Seven Gifts

NINTH DAY: The Fruits of the Holy Spirit
Come and fill <name>, O Divine Spirit. Fill his heart with Your heavenly fruits: Your love for others, Your joy, Your peace, Your kindness, Your generosity, Your faithfulness, Your gentleness, and Your temperance for self-control, that he may never weary in the service of God. Keep him close to You so that his life produces Your fruits in ever-increasing abundance. Help him to continually and faithfully submit to Your divine inspiration so that he will be united eternally with You in the love of the Father and the Son. Amen.

1 “Our Father”, 1 “Hail Mary”; 7 “Glory be to…”
Act of Consecration, & Prayer for the Seven Gifts

© 2004 by Terry A. Modica

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