“My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).”

My Ways are Not Your Ways. . . © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012. KJ photo

We are made in God’s likeness and image; He is not made in ours. He made us; we belong to Him. How often do we attempt to remake God in our own image? How often do we attempt to limit His Perfections by squeezing them through the mold of our inadequacies?

He is God; We are Not! © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012.

We like to see God as our BFF, our best friend forever. In some ways, He is. However, to limit our conception of God to this quality alone is to commit a grave injustice. God is supreme, transcendent, omniscient, omnipotent- Love Divine. We are not! By His Grace, we are His adopted sons. Yet, our status as adopted children of God is a miraculous gift of God’s grace. We are not His equals, His buddies, His colleagues and compatriots. When we seek to conform God to ourselves, rather than ourselves to God, we twist and mutilate the intrinsic beauty of the relationship He desires from us. We are dependent upon God for every breath and heartbeat, as well every movement of our immortal soul. Thus, we are properly His creation, redeemed by Christ’s blood, baptized with the Holy Spirit, and sealed with His grace.

Sacred Scripture directs us:

In humility and love. . . © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012.

“Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, Who though He was in the form of God did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, He emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave . . . (Philippians 2:6-7).”

It is through the Holy Spirit that we see ourselves are we truly are. In humility we recognize His greatness, and our weakness. Thus, in this posture of truth and meekness we may approach God in prayer. As we continue to prepare for Pentecost, let us pray for the gift to see ourselves as we truly are, and to be given the grace to transcend our fallen nature.

This novena to the Holy Spirit is currently prayed each day after Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians at Holy Hill.

Each day the Preparatory prayer is:

O Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler!

I adore You as my Triune God.

I bless You by uniting myself to the praises You receive from the angels and saints.

I offer You my whole heart, and I render You heartfelt thanks for all the benefits You have bestowed and unceasingly bestow upon the world. You are the author of all supernatural gifts and Who did enrich with immense favors the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, I beseech You to visit me by Your Grace and Your Love, and grant me the favor I so earnestly seek in this novena. . . .(state your request here). O Holy Spirit, Spirit of all Truth, come into our hearts: shed the brightness of your light on all nations, that they may be of one faith and pleasing to You. Amen.

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

(Recite the prayer of the appropriate day)

Set Our Hearts Aflame . . © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012. EA photo

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, 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. Let voice, mind, 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.

May the Holy Spirit give you His peace!

Blessings,

Ad Jesum per Mariam,

M.A. J.M.J.