The novena focuses on the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit as St Paul speaks of them in Galatians 5:22-23.
On January 13, 1982, a plane taking off in Washington
DC crashed into the Potomac
River. Camera crews filmed the scene as a helicopter rushed in to throw
down a rescue line to lift passengers to safety. As we watched the news that night in our
community, Sr Susan Helen said, “Look at that man in the
water! He keeps on handing the line to other people so they can be rescued
first.” We were all amazed to see a man helping other people before himself.
The passenger’s name was Arland D. Williams. He helped save five other people before he himself drowned in the icy water. As we saw him go under and not come up, we were all deeply
moved. That heroic image was burned into my memory, a graphic example of Jesus’
words: “Greater love than this no one has, than to lay down one’s life for a
friend” (Jn 15:13).
Mr. Williams certainly had agapē—the kind of love Paul speaks about as the first fruit of the
Spirit. While I don’t know anything about Williams except his last heroic act,
he must have practiced love in countless ordinary ways in his life. People tend
to act true to their character in emergency situations.
Greek has several words for love. Agapē is a special kind of love marked by a true gift of one’s
self. It has no self-interest about it. It is the kind of love that moves a
parent to stay up with a sick child, or a teacher to never give up on a
struggling student.
St. Paul
uses agapē often in his letters. For
him its primary meaning is God’s love for us. For example, Romans 5:8 says:
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we
were still sinners.”
Knowing and experiencing God’s love for us enables us to
then love others. As Paul said earlier in Galatians, “For the whole Law is
fulfilled in one word, ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” (5:14) In this
letter, Paul clarified the role of the Mosaic law. As Christians we are no
longer bound to observe that law, for we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ.
But Paul goes on to explain that this doesn’t mean we can do whatever we want.
We are still bound by the law of love, which Jesus taught us in the Gospel.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Love itself. On this first
day of the novena for Pentecost, we can ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with an
even greater love for God and for others. That is the basis for living a good
Christian life.
Today how can I show
greater love to those with whom I live and work?
Prayer to the Spirit of Love
Come, Holy Spirit.
Come, Mighty Spirit.
Spirit of love and wisdom.
Spirit of light and power.
You help us in our weakness.
Come, fill our inmost being.
Come, Holy Spirit, come to us.
Transform us so that our hearts may be
a new creation of your love.
Guide us with your wisdom and love,
and let the radiance of your light
renew the face of the earth. Amen.
Carlo Recalcati, SSP
"In the evening of life we will be judged on love." -- St John of the Cross
Optional Scripture reading:
Optional Scripture reading:
1 Corinthians 13:1-13—the hymn to love
2 comments:
Hello, Sister Marianne,
I am coming again to your blog. I prayed your novena a couple of years ago, and I really loved it. Actually, I hope to pray it every year in preparation for Pentecost, which is a church feast that I also love very much. First of all I want to thank you for putting it up, and secondly I just wanted to express my gratitude and praise for all that God has done in my life in the last 2 years. Time flies doesn't it? Anyhow, I hope you are well, and I will keep you in my prayers, and I ask also for your prayers for me and my wife.
In Christ,
Richard
Thank you very much, Richard! I am very happy that you like the novena. I hope to post it on the main page so it will be more easily accessible.
Yes I will definitely pray for you and your wife and your intentions. I remember when you had posted comments before. The other day I thought of it when I remembered that the novena was almost upon us already!
God bless you!
Sr Marianne
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