Day 9

Pentecost

On the ninth day the waiting ended, and what arrived was not what they had asked for. They had asked, right up to the Ascension, whether the kingdom was going to be restored to Israel. What came instead was wind, fire, language, and a door thrown open.

That is worth holding as this novena closes. The answer to a novena is not usually the thing requested, and it is not usually smaller. Whatever you have been asking for these nine days, ask it once more, and then let the answer be larger than the question if it wants to be.

Begin

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of thy love. V. Send forth thy Spirit, and they shall be created. R. And thou shalt renew the face of the earth. Let us pray. O God, who hast taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that in the same Spirit we may be truly wise, and ever rejoice in his consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today’s petition

Come, Holy Spirit, and do what you came to do, whether or not it is what I asked for.

Add your own intention here, in your own words. It is not stored anywhere.

Close

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

That closes it. Nothing about these 9 days is kept: your place is cleared and there is no record of what you asked for.