A RENEWED SENSE OF SPIRITUAL VITALITY

As of today, we have faithfully completed five weeks of the seven-week-long Easter season. This means that we have two more weeks left until we celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost. It is incredible how time flies, and it is hard to believe that we have already come this far. During the remaining two weeks, we continue to commemorate Jesus Christ’s resurrection and reflect on this holy season’s significance.

As we approach the feast of Pentecost, which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and other disciples of Jesus (cf. Acts 1: 4), the daily readings in the liturgy increasingly refer to the work of the Holy Spirit. This is a significant time for Christians because it highlights the importance of the Holy Spirit in the life of every Christian. In light of this, it is important to continue praying, “Come Holy Spirit, fill my heart with love, joy and peace.” This simple yet powerful prayer helps us acknowledge our dependence on the Holy Spirit, and invite Him to take control of our lives. 

In the Catholic faith, the month of May is dedicated to praying the Rosary, and many of us faithfully pray it individually, as a family or even in online groups on social media platforms. The Feast of the Ascension of the Lord falls on Thursday, 9 May 2024, and many Catholics initiate a nine-day Novena Prayer to the Holy Spirit. This Novena Prayer is a traditional Catholic practice that involves praying for nine consecutive days to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit (cf. Is 11: 1-3). 

I strongly encourage everyone to continue the practice of praying the Rosary with great fervour during this Month of the Rosary. Furthermore, I particularly urge everyone to join in the Novena Prayer to the Holy Spirit, which can bring you closer to God and help you experience His divine presence. As we draw near to Pentecost, let us remember the significance of the Holy Spirit in our lives. May we be blessed with a renewed sense of spiritual vitality during this time of celebration.

During the recitation of the Rosary, we incorporate the Novena Prayer to the Holy Spirit, until Pentecost. By including the Novena Prayer to the Holy Spirit in our Rosary prayers, we seek to keep ourselves in harmony with the presence of the Holy Spirit and His guidance as we say: 

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love. 

V. Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created. 

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth. 

Let us pray: O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant us, in the same Spirit, to be truly wise and ever to rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.