Resources

Women of Christ Conference 2021 - Saturday Nov 6, 2021

Phone: 262-689-9725
E-Mail: womenofchrist@gmail.com

Novena to the Holy Spirit

O Holy Spirit, O my God, I adore Thee, and acknowledge, here in Thy divine presence, that I am nothing and can do nothing without Thee. Come, great Paraclete, Thou father of the poor, Thou comforter the best, fulfil the promise of our blessed Savior, Who would not leave us orphans, and come into the mind and the heart of Thy poor, unworthy creature, as Thou didst descend on the sacred day of Pentecost on the holy Mother of Jesus and on His first disciples. Grant that I may participate in those gifts which Thou didst communicate to them so wonderfully, and with so much mercy and generosity. Take from my heart whatever is not pleasing to Thee, and make of it a worthy dwelling-place for Thyself. Illumine my mind, that I may see and understand the things that are for my eternal good. Inflame my heart with pure love of Thee, that I may be cleansed from the dross of all inordinate attachments, and that my whole life may be hidden with Jesus in God. Strengthen my will, that I may be made conformable to Thy divine will, and be guided by Thy holy inspirations. Aid me by Thy grace to practice the divine lessons of humility, poverty, obedience, and contempt of the world, which Jesus taught us in His mortal life.

Oh, rend the heavens, and come down, consoling Spirit! that inspired and encouraged by Thee, I may faithfully comply with the duties of my state, carry my daily cross most patiently, and endeavor to accomplish the divine will with the utmost perfection. Spirit of love! Spirit of purity! Spirit of peace! Sanctify my soul more and more, and give me that heavenly peace which the world cannot give. Bless our Holy Father the Pope, bless the Church, bless our bishops, our priests, all Religious Orders, and all the faithful, that they may be filled with the spirit of Christ and labor earnestly for the spread of His kingdom.

O Holy Spirit, Thou Giver of every good and perfect gift, grant me, I beseech Thee, the intentions of this novena. May Thy will be done in me and through me. Mayest Thou be praised and glorified forevermore!

Amen.

Examination of Conscience

Am I generous in the way I live the precepts of the church?
Did I skip Sunday Mass? Did I try to make the most of it, even if distracted? Did I tune it out and not try to tune back in?
Did I sacrifice other things for the sake of the Sabbath on Sunday, or did I, in effect, sacrifice the Sabbath for the sake of other things?
Have I been “saying” my prayers instead of “praying” them? Or neither? Do I begin and end my day in prayer? Do I only turn to God when I’m in need?
What have I done to increase my faith, hope and love? Do I pray for more faith, hope and love?
Do I dwell on my worries instead of dismissing them from my mind?
Do I fail in the virtue of hope by my attachment to the things of this world?
Do I try to see God’s providence in everything that “happens” in my life?
Do I try to see everything from the viewpoint of eternity?
Am I confident that, with God’s grace, I will be saved?
Do I allow myself to worry about my past life and thus weaken my hope in God‘s mercy?
How often today have I complained, even internally? Have I been moody or angry?
Did I put myself at the service of others, or have I used others for my sake?
Did I show my spouse(children, parents, other family) love in words and actions?
Did I respect my spouse(children, parents, other family) enough to be honest with them?
How am I with my children? Am I careful about the example I set? Do I try to build their character, or is my discipline reactive, based on what bugs me?
How am I with my friends? Do I always make things go my way? Do I go along with them, even in what is morally offensive? Do I initiate or participate in gossip?
Have I dwelt on what I considered someone’s unkindness toward me today?
How am I with my employer? Do I make the best use of my time? Do I behave with gratitude for my employment?
How am I with those I oversee? Do I ignore their issues unless I have to deal with them? Am I overly lenient to save face? Am I too strict?
Is there someone that I consciously avoid because I dislike the person?
Do I battle the capital sins in myself? (Pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, anger, and sloth.)
Do I live my Christian principles when no one is watching? Online? At work? In what I read? In what I watch? In what I listen to? In the car?
Am I a different person in my thoughts? Do I think things about others I could never say? Or do I strive to live the Golden Rule starting in my own heart?
What have I done to improve my character? How have I fought against attachments that hold me back?
Did I send God away and block him out of certain areas of my life – social life, leisure life, work life, studies, etc.?
“Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother…”(John 19:25). Do I turn to Mary, teacher of the hidden and silent sacrifice, to be strong in the face of difficulties that arise in my life?