O Holy Spirit, we are here before you conscious of our many sins, but united in a special way in Your holy name. Come and abide with us, and deign to penetrate our hearts. Be the guide of our actions, indicate the path we should follow and show us what we must do, so that, with Your help, our work may be wholly pleasing to You. May You be our only inspiration and the overseer of our intentions, for You alone possess a glorious name with the Father and the Son. May You, Who are infinite justice, never permit us to be disturbers of justice. Let not our ignorance induce us to evil, nor flattery sway us, nor moral and material interest corrupt us.

Unite our hearts to You alone, and do it strongly, so that with the gift of Your grace we may be one in You and may in nothing depart from the truth. Thus, united in Your name, may we in our every action follow the dictates of Your mercy and justice, so that today and always our judgments may not be alien to You and in eternity we may obtain the unending reward of our actions. Amen.

Speak, O Lord, for Your servant is listening. I say, Your servant, because at last I am such. I am Your servant and I want to be; I want to walk in Your way all the days and nights of my life. Fill me with a spirit to understand what Your holy plans are for me. And reduce my desires to the single desire to understand Your sublime truths.

Speak, in order to console my anxious soul. Speak, in order to lead it to repentance. Speak, so that Your glory, thus more exalted, will grow eternally.

For every darkened corner
There is a quiet light
That flickers on unselfishly
Against each raging night.

A faithful flame of tender love
That burns within each heart,
Enkindling a glow of hope
That never will depart.

No matter what the circumstance
Or storm that mars your sight,
Sweet Jesus with His constant flame
Of love will be your light.

So, let each dawn remind you
Of the One Whose Presence near
Will guide you on your journey
And lead you home from here.

~~ by Anne Costa