The Pentecost Novena is the original novena. It’s the first one ever asked for and by Jesus.
After the Ascension– when Christ was taken up to heaven after rising from the dead — He asked them to remain in prayer.
Jesus asked them to pray constantly in the upper room until the descent of the Holy Spirit which came on Pentecost.
The Apostles and Our Lady obeyed this command.
What is Pentecost
Pentecost is when the Holy Spirit came down as a mighty wind and tongues of fire. This important event in Christian history is described in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:1-31)
The Church celebrates this day as Pentecost Sunday. It illustrates the importance of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We can pray for those gifts anytime. However, it is very powerful leading up to Pentecost Sunday.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: “The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. ”
Such gifts complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them. They make the faithful docile in readily obeying divine inspirations” (CCC, 1831).
How to Celebrate Pentecost
To celebrate Pentecost we are going to pray the Holy Spirit Novena with Father Byrd as a parish wide endeavor.
This powerful and moving novena is meant to help us open ourselves up to the third person of the Holy Trinity and call down the Holy Spirit on our faith community, family and ourselves.
Pray along with Fr. Byrd on Spotify here.
Get the PDF of the novena here: PENTECOST-NOVENA-2023
Image credit public domain: Titian 1545
