SEVENTH DAY (Thursday)
Heal our wounds--our strength renews;
On our dryness pour Thy dew,
Wash the stains of guilt away.
The Gift of Counsel
The gift of Counsel endows the soul
with supernatural prudence, enabling it to judge promptly and rightly what must
done, especially in difficult circumstances. Counsel applies the principles
furnished by Knowledge and Understanding to the innumerable concrete cases that
confront us in the course of our daily duty as parents, teachers, public
servants, and Christian citizens. Counsel is supernatural common sense, a
priceless treasure in the quest of salvation. "Above all these things,
pray to the Most High, that He may direct thy way in truth."
Prayer
Come, O Spirit of Counsel, help and guide me
in all my ways, that I may always do Thy holy will. Incline my heart to that
which is good; turn it away from all that is evil, and direct me by the
straight path of Thy commandments to that goal of eternal life for which I
long.
ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT (to be said daily)
On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, soul and body to You, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring keenness of Your justice, and the might of Your love. You are the Strength and Light of my soul. In You I live and move and am. I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against You. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light, and listen to Your voice, and follow Your gracious inspirations. I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You, by Your compassion to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and looking at His Five Wounds, and trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart, I implore You, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, to keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against You. Give me grace, O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and the Son to say to You always and everywhere, "Speak Lord for Your servant heareth." Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (to be said daily)
On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, soul and body to You, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring keenness of Your justice, and the might of Your love. You are the Strength and Light of my soul. In You I live and move and am. I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against You. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light, and listen to Your voice, and follow Your gracious inspirations. I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You, by Your compassion to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and looking at His Five Wounds, and trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart, I implore You, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, to keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against You. Give me grace, O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and the Son to say to You always and everywhere, "Speak Lord for Your servant heareth." Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (to be said daily)
O Lord Jesus Christ Who, before ascending
into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit 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, and 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.
