Opening Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit, and fill the hearts of your faithful! Come, Holy Spirit and “Refresh my heart in Christ” (Philem20).
Like the apostles, I am awaiting your coming by devoting myself to prayer (cfr.Acts1:14). May these days dispose my heart to receive you, as the apostles received you in the Upper Room and then set out to manifest your greatness “…to the end of the earth (Acts1:8).
In a special way I ask that you help me with this particular intention: ______. Please fill my soul with all that I need.
Come Holy Spirit! Rush like a mighty wind into my heart and appear like blazing fire within my soul (cfr.Acts2:2-3)! Amen.

Reflection

I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! (Lk12:49)
God burns with a love that never dies down. “The Lord you God is a consuming fire…” (Deut.3:24). This consuming love was what Jesus came to bring to the world. He came to earth with a Heart already ignited with a burning love. The love of his Heart he wished to spread to all people. “…how I wish it were already blazing!” (Lk12:49)

On the day of Pentecost, the desired blaze of Jesus would begin to burn. “Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire…” (Acts2:3). Having caught the Consuming Fire of God, the Apostles left the Upper Room and set out to inflame the hearts of others.  “Those who accepted his message were baptized and about three thousand persons were added that day” (Acts2:41). At Pentecost the earth was set ablaze!
The Consuming Fire of God has entered the hearts of all Christians through the reception of the Holy Spirit at baptism and confirmation. “…one mightier than I is coming…He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire” (Lk3:16).  The Holy Spirit is the Consuming Fire of God; he is the Spirit of God’s Love.

The gift of the Consuming Fire of God isn’t a magical power that automatically remains an intense energy within us. The Consuming Fire of God, the Holy Spirit, is love and in the dynamics of love there is always a reciprocal motion of giving.  If the Holy Spirit’s flames are to remain passionately intense within the heart of a Christian, then it requires the constant response of love.  We must feed and stoke the Consuming Fire within us by making generous acts of love in response to his love already pour out upon us. “I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have received…” (1Tim1:6). Like a furnace ever growing with heat and power, our hearts, when united in love with the Consuming Fire of God, begin to burn brighter and evermore intensely. With each generous respond to the Consuming Fire of Love, we find God’s love growing within us all the higher. We are charged with an energy that could only be named Divine. Love is the fuel of love.

The Apostles were unstoppable in their mission, because they were burning with God’s love. This love consumed their hearts and they had become one with the Fire of God. Their fire and God’s Fire were indistinct and inextinguishable. The Christian consumed with the Holy Spirit becomes a great apostle and does great things. It is his union with the burning love of God that urges him ever onward (cfr.2Cor5:14).

Concluding Petitions to the Holy Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit and inflame my heart!
Come, Counselor from on High and lead me into the truth!
Come, Spirit of Holiness and make me holy!
Come, Spirit of Love and teach me to love!
Holy Spirit, strengthen within me the gift of wisdom.
Holy Spirit, strengthen within me the gifts of knowledge and understanding.
Holy Spirit, strengthen within me the gifts of counsel and piety.
Holy Spirit, strengthen within me the gifts of fortitude and fear of the Lord.
Holy Spirit, bear within me the fruits of charity and joy.
Holy Spirit, bear within me the fruits of peace and patience.
Holy Spirit, bear within me the fruits of kindness and goodness.
Holy Spirit, bear within me the fruits of generosity and gentleness.
Holy Spirit, bear within me the fruits of faithfulness and modesty.
Holy Spirit, bear within me the fruits of self-control and chastity.

Spirit of God, may your power of mercy and love fill me and lead me deeper into the mystery of our Lord’s Heart. Come Holy Spirit and create within me a new heart!
Amen.

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