In 1897 an Italian nun named Sister Elena Guerra (1835–1914) wrote a letter to Pope Leo XIII (1810–1903) asking for a novena to be prayed by the faithful to the Holy Spirit. In her letter, she mentioned the Blessed Virgin Mary, who with the eleven apostles devoted themselves with one accord to prayer in the upper room (cf. Acts 1:13-14), leading up to the coming of the Holy Spirit. In response, Pope Leo XIII issued an encyclical on the Holy Spirit – Divinum illud munus (That divine gift) – in which he decreed a novena to be prayed in preparation for the feast of Pentecost. This novena to the Holy Spirit carries a plenary indulgence. In addition, when this novena is prayed again during the Octave of Pentecost up to Trinity Sunday, will a second time gain the same Indulgences. All these Indulgences are permitted to be applied for the souls in Purgatory.
Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical exhorted the faithful to develop a devotion to the Holy Spirit – to know Him, to love Him, and to implore Him more earnestly. The goal of this devotion is, first of all, to help the faithful to acquire a clearer knowledge of the Holy Spirit, who is the Love of God. Knowledge of the Holy Spirit is measured not on how much one knows about the Holy Spirit, but through one’s free assent to the truths essential to salvation, and how one evaluates things as to their true worth in relation to God. Knowledge of the Holy Spirit makes clear one’s purpose in life as an instrument in the service of God. Knowledge of the Holy Spirit enables one to see the loving care of God even in times of adversity, while it directs one to glorify Him in every circumstance of life. Knowledge of the Holy Spirit makes one prize the friendship of God above all else.
Secondly, this devotion to the Holy Spirit will obtain for the faithful a more abundant supply of heavenly gifts. However, the faithful must strive that this devotion should not consist merely in external observances, but rather to move one towards action, especially to avoid sin, which is offensive to the Holy Spirit. However, it is not enough to simply avoid sin; every Christian ought to shine with the splendor of virtue, especially with the virtue of chastity and holiness, so that one’s body and soul can become a temple befitting so great a guest – the Holy Spirit. Since the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, one who resists the truth and turns away from it, sins most grievously against the Holy Spirit.
One of my experiences of the Holy Spirit was in a most unexpected circumstance. This particular instance happened when I was just an ordinary parishioner in my home parish. Later on in life and through my priesthood, it became evident through many instances that the Holy Spirit comes and goes where He pleases, and one simply cannot force the Holy Spirit to come as one wishes; this reminds me of what Jesus said in John 3:8: “The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes” (John 3:8). It was an early evening and I had just completed an hour of Eucharistic adoration. As I stepped out of the chapel to go outside, I felt something like a light rain, but the weather was clear. Other people were also outside. Then I felt a gentle shower – soft and tiny droplets steadily drizzling down on my head and whole body. And yet I was totally dry. While this was happening, I felt my mind open, and I understood the world as it exists and my purpose in it, and I was at peace with it. After all these years, I can say that was the gift of knowledge and understanding, for I have come to freely assent each and every day to whatever purpose God has willed for me in life.