Patroness of America's 229th Anniversary

On May 28, 2021, our nation will celebrate the 229th anniversary of our nation's consecration to Our Lady, the Immaculate Virgin, Patroness of America. The private devotion to Our Lady of America, the Immaculate Virgin is a response to this consecration of our nation by our first Bishop, John Carroll.

This consecration has offered our nation the advantage of Our Lady's intercession, protection and patronage. While we have been greatly tested throughout our history with the civil war, two World Wars and numerous other conflicts, we have overcome these difficulties and risen to greatness.

Today, our challenges seem to be more spiritual and internal vs. physical and external. As a nation we face the challenges of civil unrest, disease and waning of faith. Worst of all we are losing sense of the sacredness of human life.

This consecration is of great importance to our nation's successful response to the turmoil of today and the continuing moral decline. Our Lady shows us the way and promises the graces to succeed. She will never abandon us, no matter how far we stray. In our defense, the Church and her bishops have been steadfast in calling on her, Our Mother to be our source of protection, intercession and patronage.

We should be concerned for our nation's future and confident in Our Lady's guidance.

Holy Spirit Novena Day 9

DAY NINE

O Lord, Holy Spirit,
grant me sight to see the wondrous promise of divine love;
insight to see my own weakness;
delight in Your divine presence in my soul
which You have made Your temple through sanctifying grace.
I pray, O Holy Spirit,
that I may be not doubting;
that I be spared the pain of being alone
without trust or hope in Christ;
that my prayer may always be "My Lord and my God!"
I pray that I may acquire a sense of retreat
to prayer and recollection at various times in my daily life;
for prayer is the bond that joins us to Christ.
I pray that I may be aware of the physical needs of the poor
and that I may share what I can with them
in the charitable works of the Church.
I pray, O Holy Spirit,
that You will in Your mercy
grant me the favor I have sought in this novena...

State your request here...

Amen.

Come, O Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of Your faithful,
and kindle in them the fire of Your love.

Holy Spirit Novena Day 8

DAY EIGHT

O Holy Spirit,
life and light of the Church,
give us thoughts higher than our own thoughts,
and prayers better than our own prayers,
and powers beyond our own powers,
that we may love and live,
imitating Jesus Christ,
our Lord and Savior.
Come to us, Holy Spirit,
come with the Father
and the Son
and grant me the favor I so earnestly request in this novena...

State your request here...

Vouchsafe to dwell within our souls
and quickly make our hearts Your own.
Quench in us the fires of hate and strife,
the wasting fever of the heart.
From perils guard our feeble life
and to our souls Your peace impart.
Let voice and mind and heart
and strength confess
and glorify Your name
and let the fire of charity burn bright
and other hearts inflame.

Amen.

Come, O Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of Your faithful,
and kindle in them the fire of Your love.

Holy Spirit Novena Day 7

DAY SEVEN

Come, Holy Spirit,
creator of all things:
come visit our hearts with Your power.
Fill with grace, friendly guest,
the hearts which You have created.
You are called the Consoler,
gift from the hand of God,
source of life, light, love,
and flame, highest good.
You are the pledge of sevenfold grace,
finger of the Father’s hand,
promised us by Him,
and You make our tongues speak the truth.
Cast light on our senses,
pour love into our hearts.
Grant our weak bodies strength
that they may never grow weary of doing good
and grant me the favor I so earnestly seek in this novena...

State your request here...

Keep the enemy far from us,
give us peace always,
let us willingly follow in Your footsteps
that we may be far removed from sin.
Grant that through You
we may grow in knowledge of the Father and of the Son,
and that we may ever strongly believe in You,
the Spirit of both.
Praise and honor be forever to the Father on the highest throne,
in the risen Son of God,
in the Consoler.

Amen.

Come, O Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of Your faithful,
and kindle in them the fire of Your love.