full blast
"The pair upon arriving imposed hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit." —Acts 8:17
We will begin the Pentecost novena on Friday and pray for a new coming of the Holy Spirit. Most of us already have the Holy Spirit living within us because we have been baptized and confirmed. However, we need the Holy Spirit to be as active as possible in our lives. Because the Holy Spirit is God, even the slightest increase of the Holy Spirit's activity in our lives will have major effects. For example, if the sun's heat and light increased by 1%, the whole of planet earth would be dramatically affected. There would be smaller polar ice caps, larger oceans, more deserts, more jungles, warmer winters, blistering summers, etc.
Similarly, when the Holy Spirit is more active, many more people accept God's word (Acts 8:14), many are freed from unclean spirits (Acts 8:7), are cured of paralysis and other ailments (Acts 8:7), are filled with joy (Acts 8:8), and share in Christ's sufferings (see 1 Pt 4:13). Moreover, in the fullness of the Holy Spirit, we reach not only more people with the gospel, but we also reach them more deeply, as the Spirit of truth is with us always and is within us (Jn 14:16-17). Receive the Holy Spirit in fullness!
Prayer: Father, may I want the fullness of the Holy Spirit more than I want to breathe.
Promise: "If you love Me and obey the commands I give you, I will ask the Father and He will give you another Paraclete — to be with you always: the Spirit of truth." —Jn 14:15-17
Praise: Praise You, Jesus, risen in splendor and glory. We adore You with all our hearts. Glory to You forever!
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Giles H. Pater, November 15, 2001
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, November 16, 2001