You're listening to the 10-day devotion to the Holy Spirit on the St. Jose Maria Institute podcast.

The prayers and reflections for this devotion are taken from the Handbook of Prayers,

published by Midwest Theological Forum.

This long-standing custom of the church in preparation for Pentecost is an opportunity to ask the Holy Spirit

to strengthen our hearts and make firm resolutions for our interior lives.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen.

Come Holy Spirit, enlighten my understanding in order that I may know your commands.

Strengthen my heart against the snares of the enemy and kindle my will.

I've heard your voice, and I do not want to harden my heart and resist saying,

later, tomorrow.

Right now, let's there be no tomorrow for me.

O spirit of truth and of wisdom, spirit of understanding and of counsel,

spirit of joy and of peace. I want what you want,

because you want it, as you want it, when you want it. Day 5. From the homily, the Great Unknown,

by St. Jose Maria Escriva. We Christians carry the great treasures of grace and vessels of clay.

God has entrusted his gifts to the weakness and fragility of human freedom.

We can be certain of the help of God's power.

But our lust, our love of comfort, and our pride sometimes cause us to reject his grace

and to fall into sin.

For more than 25 years, when I've recited the creed and asserted my faith in the divine

origin of the church as one holy Catholic and apostolic, I have frequently added, in spite of

everything.

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