In this special year, the year of the Jubilee of Hope, we have been celebrating being Pilgrims of Hope. Pope Francis says, “May the Holy Spirit illumine all believers in the light of Hope!”
This year, the Feast of Pentecost takes place on Sunday, June 8th, 2025. Pentecost commemorates the decent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. Jesus promised them that he would send his Holy Spirit to be with them and with us forever. He called God’s Spirit the Advocate (someone who is on our side, who protects us) and the Comforter (someone who looks after us, who helps us when we are frustrated or angry or sad). Jesus promised them that the Holy Spirit would remind them of all that he had taught them. He told his disciples to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit. They waited together for nine days, praying for the coming of the Spirit as Jesus had told them. That is the very first nine days of prayer, the first novena.
We still gather to pray for nine days before the feast of Pentecost. The Novena to the Holy Spirit is the oldest novena in the Church. Let us pray this novena together.
