Novena to the Holy Spirit
May 15-23, 2010
As disciples of Jesus, we too join together in prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in ourselves, our families, our communities, our parishes, and our Church. We need the power of the Spirit to be transformed from disciples to apostles in order to make known God's goodness to the world.
During this nine day period, May 15 to May 23, 2010 we ask that you join with us, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, in praying that the Spirit's gifts will once again "renew and re-create the world."
The following daily prayer consist of a short spiritual reading excerpted from the United States Catechism for Adults or The Catechism of the Catholic Church, a reflection question or two, and a closing prayer.
Spiritual reading is a practice of reading books and articles about spirituality with the purpose of growing in holiness. Spiritual reading is devoted to the reading of lives of saints, writings of Doctors and the Fathers of the Church, theological works written by holy people, and doctrinal writings of Church authorities. It is different from lectio divina which focuses on the bible.
St. Paul's advised Timothy to "attend to reading" (1 Tim 4:13) which meant that he should read "holy books, not casually and absentmindedly for a brief time, but slowly and mindfully or meditatively. All the founders of religious orders have strongly recommended this exercise and in the early 20th century, St. Pope Pius X recommended this practice as a means of holiness.
This stained glass window "Credo" was designed by Sister Vincent de Paul Curran SNDdeN. Our Lady Queen Chapel, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, 30 Jeffreys Neck Road, Ipswich, MA 01938-1308.