Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of us Your faithful and kindle in us the fire of Your love. Send forth Your Spirit and we shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth. Let us pray. O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit instructs the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolations. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.
I learned to pray the Holy Spirit prayer as a candidate at my Cursillo weekend. The prayer has made a lasting impact on me. Previously it was difficult for me to grasp the mystery of the Holy Spirit. I could picture in my mind what God the Father or Jesus might look like, so it was easier for me to understand Them. The Holy Spirit is different because we don’t see Him, and we only can feel or sense Him. Dr. Bob Rice (2011) writes that “… we are often not aware of all the things the Holy Spirit is doing in our lives,” (p. 61) yet of the three persons of the trinity, the Holy Spirit is the most intimate with us. When we feel the presence of God, we are sensing the Holy Spirit (p. 60).
Last week I was honored to serve at a Cursillo weekend. Upon reflection, I recalled how the Holy Spirit transformed all of the men attending and also those of us serving. Each one of us was affected differently, and exactly according to our needs. All of us there sensed a great presence. I could see it in our smiles, tears, and how our hearts were set on fire. The experience reminds me of the reading on Pentecost Sunday in Acts 2: 1-11 in which the Holy Spirit descended upon each of the apostles. They were given the ability to speak in different languages and were astounded and bewildered.
I have grown to love the prayer and pray it often as it is so impactful. “There are very few prayers to God as the Holy Spirit” (Loyola Press). Its origins are not well known but it was developed from the Pentecost liturgy. The prayer echoes Ezekiel 36:26 “I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.” Whereas, the “send forth” line is from Psalm 104:30. (Catholic Answers). The prayer is important because it calls on the Spirit for wisdom, guidance, and strength in living our lives according to God’s will. We invite the Spirit to renew our hearts, inspire our actions, and deepen our relationship with God. (Diocese of Brooklyn).
Come Holy Spirit!
Catholic Answers. What’s Up With the Holy Spirit Prayer? Retrieved May 27, 2026 from https://www.catholic.com/qa/whats-up-with-the-holy-spirit-prayer
Diocese of Brooklyn. 52 Prayers Every Catholic Should Know. Retrieved May 28, 2026 from: https://dioceseofbrooklyn.org/52-prayers/prayer-to-the-holy-spirit/
Loyola Press. Prayer to the Holy Spirit. Retrieved May 27, 2026 from: https://www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/prayer/traditional-catholic-prayers/prayers-every-catholic-should-know/prayer-to-the-holy-spirit/
Rice, B. (2011). Discipleship Quad Guidebook, Part 3. Franciscan University of Steubenville.
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