Pentecost marks a powerful moment in the life of the Church—the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church’s mission in the world. In the nine days between the Ascension and Pentecost, the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary gathered in prayer, waiting in hope for the coming of the Advocate.
That moment became the foundation for the Church’s first novena: the Novena to the Holy Spirit. This prayer remains one of the most important and transformative novenas Catholics can pray, inviting the Holy Spirit to move in our lives with power, clarity, and grace.
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What Is the Novena to the Holy Spirit?
How to Pray the Novena to the Holy Spirit
What Is the Novena to the Holy Spirit?
The Novena to the Holy Spirit is a nine-day prayer traditionally prayed from the Friday after Ascension Thursday through the Saturday before Pentecost. It is the only novena officially prescribed by the Church, rooted in the scriptural account of Acts 1:14.
Each day focuses on one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit—wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord—along with reflections on the fruits of the Spirit and prayers for a deeper indwelling of God’s presence.
New to Novenas or need a refresher? Learn what a novena is, why it’s such a powerful way to pray, and how to start in our blog: How to Pray: Novenas.
Why Should You Pray It?
We need the Holy Spirit. We need His wisdom, courage, and light—especially in a world filled with confusion and fear. This novena opens our hearts to the Spirit’s transforming power and helps us ask God for the gifts we need to live our faith fully and boldly.
It’s a beautiful way to prepare for Pentecost, but it can also be prayed anytime you desire deeper renewal, guidance in discernment, or help in embracing your daily mission.
How to Pray the Novena to the Holy Spirit
You can pray the Novena to the Holy Spirit alone, with your family, or with a prayer group. Choose a time each day that you can commit to for nine consecutive days. Ideally, begin on the Friday after Ascension Thursday to lead up to Pentecost, but you can pray it anytime throughout the year.
Each day follows a simple structure:
- Begin with the opening prayer.
- Meditate on the specific gift of the Holy Spirit for the day.
- Pray the concluding prayer.
Try to enter into the novena with intentionality and stillness. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart and reveal where He wants to move in your life.
Novena to the Holy Spirit
Opening Prayer (for each day)
Let us bow down in humility at the power and grandeur of the Holy Spirit. Let us worship the Holy Trinity and give glory today to the Paraclete, our Advocate.
Closing Prayer (for each day)
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.
O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, through Christ Our Lord, Amen.
Day One: Charity
Oh Holy Spirit, by Your power, Christ was raised from the dead to save us all. By Your grace, miracles are performed in Jesus’ name. By Your love, we are protected from evil. And so, we ask with humility and a beggar’s heart for Your gift of Charity within us.
The great charity of all the host of Saints is only made possible by your power, Oh Divine Spirit. Increase in me, the virtue of charity that I may love as God loves with the selflessness of the Saints. Amen.
Day Two: Joy
Oh Holy Spirit, by Your power, Christ was raised from the dead to save us all. By Your grace, miracles are performed in Jesus’ name. By Your love, we are protected from evil. And so, we ask with humility and a beggar’s heart for Your gift of Joy within us.
All of the Saints are marked with an uncompromisable Joy in times of trial, difficulty and pain. Give us, Oh Holy Spirit, the Joy that surpasses all understanding that we may live as a witness to Your love and fidelity! Amen.
Day Three: Peace
Oh Holy Spirit, by Your power, Christ was raised from the dead to save us all. By Your grace, miracles are performed in Jesus’ name. By Your love, we are protected from evil. And so, we ask with humility and a beggar’s heart for Your gift of Peace within us.
The Saints were tempted, attacked and accused by the devil who is the destroyer of peace. When we are accused by the devil, come to our aid as our Advocate and give us Peace that lasts through all trials! Amen.
Day Four: Patience
Oh Holy Spirit, by Your power, Christ was raised from the dead to save us all. By Your grace, miracles are performed in Jesus’ name. By Your love, we are protected from evil. And so, we ask with humility and a beggar’s heart for Your gift of Patience within us.
Oh Holy Spirit, you give lavishly to those who ask. Please give us the patience of the Saints who are now with you in heaven. Help us to endure everything with an eternal patience that is only possible with your help. Amen.
Day Five: Kindness
Oh Holy Spirit, by Your power, Christ was raised from the dead to save us all. By Your grace, miracles are performed in Jesus’ name. By Your love, we are protected from evil. And so, we ask with humility and a beggar’s heart for Your gift of Kindness within us.
Jesus approached sinners with immense kindness. Holy Paraclete, please treat us humble sinners with the same kindness and give us the ability to treat all others with that kindness as well. Amen.
Day Six: Faithfulness
Oh Holy Spirit, by Your power, Christ was raised from the dead to save us all. By Your grace, miracles are performed in Jesus’ name. By Your love, we are protected from evil. And so, we ask with humility and a beggar’s heart for Your gift of Faithfulness within us.
You, oh Lord, are ever faithful. You are faithful until the end. Though we are weak and distracted, please give us the grace to be faithful to You as you are to us! Amen.
Day Seven: Gentleness
Oh Holy Spirit, by Your power, Christ was raised from the dead to save us all. By Your grace, miracles are performed in Jesus’ name. By Your love, we are protected from evil. And so, we ask with humility and a beggar’s heart for Your gift of Gentleness within us.
Despite the gravity of our sins, oh Lord you treat us with Gentleness. Dear Holy Spirit, give us your power to treat all in our lives with the Gentleness of the Saints. Amen.
Day Eight: Self-Control
Oh Holy Spirit, by Your power, Christ was raised from the dead to save us all. By Your grace, miracles are performed in Jesus’ name. By Your love, we are protected from evil. And so, we ask with humility and a beggar’s heart for Your gift of Self-Control within us.
Your Martyrs had the overwhelming self-control to go joyfully to a painful death without shrinking from the opportunity to join You in heaven. Give us this self-control to have command over our emotions and desires that we may serve You more fully. Amen.
Day Nine: Goodness
Oh Holy Spirit, by Your power, Christ was raised from the dead to save us all. By Your grace, miracles are performed in Jesus’ name. By Your love, we are protected from evil. And so, we ask with humility and a beggar’s heart for Goodness within us.
We want to be like your Saints in heaven. Holy Spirit, renew us by your power with your Goodness that we may bring the Good News to the world. Amen.
Additional Resources
Keep the momentum going—Jesus is calling you deeper. If you’re ready to build a stronger prayer life, these step-by-step guides will help you draw closer to Him through simple, powerful forms of prayer:
- How to Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet: A simple and beautiful way to entrust yourself and the world to God’s mercy.
- The Ultimate Guide to the Mysteries of the Rosary: Dive deeper into the life of Christ through the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous Mysteries.
- How to Pray with Ignatian Contemplation: Learn how to pray with Scripture in a way that engages the imagination and heart.
- How to Pray the Rosary: A simple guide to get started (or re-started) with this beloved Catholic devotion.
- Litany of Humility: A Prayer for Lent: A bold and challenging prayer that invites you to follow Christ through surrender and humility.
- How to Pray the Angelus: A daily devotion that marks the Incarnation and sanctifies your day through simple prayer.
- How to Pray: Novenas: Everything you need to know about praying novenas with purpose and confidence.
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