Angeli et amici: In Ascensione Domini

The Society of Saint Hugh of Cluny, once upon a fictional time, in order to raise funds for their worthy apostolic endeavors raffled off a brand new Lexus. Stu and Jill really wanted to win so they decided to ask some revered priests to pray a novena. The Benedictine monk said: “Ut In Omnibus Glorificetur Deus! Yes, my children, I will gladly pray a novena. But please tell me what is a Lexus?”. The Franciscan friar said: “Pax et bonum! Sure I’ll pray a novena but what’s this Lexus thing?” The Jesuit priest said: “Wow! Lexus. What a great car! But what’s a novena?”

The primordial, prototypical and primary Novena in the Catholic Church is the one begun on the Friday after Ascension Thursday addressed to the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity preparatory for the great feast of Pentecost which throughout the centuries has been richly indulgenced by the Sovereign Pontiffs and is recounted in the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. A favored formulary that may be fortuitously followed follows:

First Day: Almighty and eternal God, Who hast vouchsafed to regenerate us by water and the Holy Ghost, and hast given us forgiveness of all our sins, vouchsafe to send forth from heaven upon us Thy sevenfold Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and Fortitude, the Spirit of Knowledge and Piety, and fill us with the Spirit of Holy Fear. Amen. Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be’s

Second Day: Come, O blessed Spirit of Holy Fear, penetrate my inmost heart, that I may set Thee, my Lord and God, before my face forever; help me to shun all things that can offend Thee, and make me worthy to appear before the pure eyes of Thy Divine Majesty in heaven, where Thou livest and reignest in the unity of the ever Blessed Trinity, God world without end. Amen. Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be’s

Third Day: Come, O Blessed Spirit of Piety, possess my heart. Enkindle therein such a love for God, that I may find satisfaction only in His service, and for His sake lovingly submit to all legitimate authority. Amen. Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be’s

Fourth Day: Come, O Blessed Spirit of Fortitude, uphold my soul in times of trouble and adversity, sustain my efforts after holiness, strengthen my weakness, give me courage against all the assaults of my enemies, that I may never be overcome and separated from Thee, my God and greatest Good. Amen. Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be’s

Fifth Day: Come, O Blessed Spirit of Knowledge, and grant that I may perceive the will of the Father; show me the nothingness of earthly things, that I may realize their vanity and use them only for Thy glory and my own salvation, looking ever beyond them to Thee, and Thy eternal rewards. Amen. Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be’s

Sixth Day: Come, O Spirit of Understanding, and enlighten our minds, that we may know and believe all the mysteries of salvation; and may merit at last to see the eternal light in Thy light; and in the light of glory to have a clear vision of Thee and the Father and the Son. Amen. Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be’s

Seventh Day: Come, O Spirit of Counsel, help and guide me in all my ways, that I may always do Thy holy will. Incline my heart to that which is good; turn it away from all that is evil, and direct me by the straight path of Thy commandments to that goal of eternal life for which I long. Amen. Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be’s

Eighth Day: Come, O Spirit of Wisdom, and reveal to my soul the mysteries of heavenly things, their exceeding greatness, power and beauty. Teach me to love them above and beyond all passing joys and satisfactions of the earth. Help me to attain them and possess them for ever. Amen. Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be’s

Ninth Day: Come, O Divine Spirit, fill my heart with Thy heavenly fruits, Thy charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, faith, mildness, and temperance, that I may never weary in the service of God, but by continued faithful submission to Thy inspiration, may merit to be united eternally with Thee in the love of the Father and the Son. Amen. Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be’s

In the Cenacle the Apostolic College, singularly and sacredly selected by the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, was marvelously maternally ministered to by the Mother of God who thereby earned the sublime dignity Queen of the Apostles, which is liturgically celebrated on the Saturday within the Octave of the Ascension. A range of Religious ranks practice devotion to Our Blessed Lady under the title Regina Apostolorum, including the Pallotines, the Marianists, and particularly the branches of the Pauline Family founded by Blessed James Alberione viz., the religious congregations of the Society of St. Paul, the Daughters of St. Paul, the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master, the Sisters of Jesus Good Shepherd, and the Sisters of Mary Queen of Apostles; the secular institutes of Jesus Priest, Saint Gabriel Archangel, Our Lady’s Annunciation, and Holy Family; and last but not least the Union of Pauline Cooperators. An altogether appropriate appeal authored by Alberione appears appended: “Hail, Mary, our Mother, Teacher and Queen. In your goodness, listen to the petition which we present to you according to the will of Jesus: “Pray, therefore, the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into his harvest.” Turn your merciful eyes upon the five billion people living on this earth. Many of them are wandering in darkness without a father, a shepherd, a teacher. God made you an apostle to give Jesus, Way and Truth and Life, to the world. By having recourse to you, they will find the road that leads to Jesus. Through you may all Catholics work with all their strength for all vocations, for all apostolates! Through you, may all the faithful work for all unbelievers, all the fervent for all the indifferent, all the Catholics for all non-Catholics. Through you, may all those called correspond, may all apostles be holy, may they be welcomed by all men and women. At the foot of the cross, your heart expanded to welcome us all as your children. Obtain for us an apostolic heart, modeled after your heart, the hearts of Jesus and St. Paul, so that one day you may have us all, apostles and faithful, around you in heaven. Bless your spiritual son and daughters, Mary, Teacher and Queen.”

Preparing this package of potent imprecations reminds one that it is customary for the Faithful on Ascension Thursday, in commemoration of the summit of the Mount of Olives from which the Only Begotten forty days after His Resurrection returned to the First Person of the Blessed Trinity, to climb a hilltop for a picnic and enjoy some scrumptious sort of fine feathered friend at the holy day repast for upon this day unto Heaven Christ “flew”!

Mr. Screwtape