Justin Appel

Dear Friends,

Since today's reading from Acts incorporates the story of the giving of the Holy Spirit, I would simply like to present a couple of traditional prayers to the Holy Spirit to accompany them.

(Read the lesson here)

The first is the traditional late-medieval Gradual hymn for Pentecost Sunday, Veni Sancte Spiritus:

Come, Holy Spirit,
send forth the heavenly
radiance of your light.

Come, father of the poor,
come, giver of gifts,
come, light of the heart.

Greatest comforter,
sweet guest of the soul,
sweet consolation.

In labour, rest,
in heat, temperance,
in tears, solace.

O most blessed light,
fill the inmost heart
of your faithful.

Without your spirit,
there is nothing in man,
nothing that is not harmful.

Cleanse that which is unclean,
water that which is dry,
heal that which is wounded.

Bend that which is inflexible,
fire that which is chilled,
correct what goes astray.

Give to your faithful,
those who trust in you,
the sevenfold gifts.

Grant the reward of virtue,
grant the deliverance of salvation,
grant eternal joy.

The second is a prayer from the Orthodox tradition, from the morning office, followed by the Trisagion prayer and a prayer to the Trinity:

O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, who art in all places and fillest all things, Treasury of blessings and giver of life: come and dwell in us, cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O gracious Lord.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us. (Three times)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy God, visit and heal our infirmities for thy Name's sake.
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I love both of these prayers because of the posture they help us to assume. It is a posture of invitation in which the Spirit can enter within our souls and change us in that moment. They recognize the dynamic nature of God's presence, and of the salutary effect of being present with, and indwelled by the Spirit. Prayers such as this seem a wise introduction to a new day, as they ask God to illuminate, warm, soften, and heal the heart.

Blessings,
Justin