Expectant faith yearns for the Holy Spirit
Pentecostes by Luis Tristan (WIkiMedia)
From earth we yearn for the gifts of the Holy Spirit. From heaven he meets us and gives us himself, his own life.
In him are found all wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. These gifts are not separate packages we can obtain, possess or rightly apply effectively apart from him. They develop in us as we open the gates of our hearts ever wider to the kingdom of God. We enter into him, and he abides in us. The gifts flow from our relationship with the whole Trinity.
The Fruits of the Spirit emerge in our lives as we cooperate to his work in us. We grow in his attributes of love, peace, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. They flow into us from the Holy Spirit and flow out of us through the Holy Spirit. It all begins with expectant faith.
Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit
O Lord Jesus Christ, who, before ascending into heaven, did promise to send the Holy Ghost
to finish your work in the souls of your Apostles and Disciples,
deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me
that he may perfect in my soul the work of your grace and your love.
Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom, that I may despise the perishable things of this world
and aspire only after the things that are eternal;
the Spirit of Understanding, to enlighten my mind with the light of your divine truth;
the Spirit of Counsel, that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven;
the Spirit of Fortitude, that I may bear my cross with you
and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation;
the Spirit of Knowledge, that I may know God and know myself
and grow perfect in the science of the Saints;
the Spirit of Piety, that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable;
the Spirit of Fear, that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God
and may dread in any way to displease him.
Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of your true disciples
and animate me in all things with your Spirit. Amen.
well said
Nancy, thanks for the reflection on the Holy Spirit and having expectant faith. In our Diocese and Parish we are praying for renewal and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. I will share your reflection with the group. Praise be to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as we wait with expectant faith for a refreshing of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
I believe that the Holy Spirit puts expectant faith in our hearts to prepare us to renew our souls and willingly take every opportunity to renew our parishes, often one person at a time, beginning with us.
Thanks Nancy!
love this article