Prayer For Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Praying for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit 1. PLACE The Upper Room: Those who experienced the first Baptism of the Holy Spirit were gathered together in the Upper Room. Because we want this occasion to be unique and special, choosing a place where you can be undisturbed and focused, where you can freely respond and express yourself is important. 2. PRESENCE In His Presence: No one can do this for themselves, only the Lord can send the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised, “where two or three have come together in my name, I am there among them." You may be praying with others or praying alone. If you are praying alone, I suggest you call upon Mary to gather with you, to make it “two”. Above all be certain, as the Lord promised, you are now in his presence. Below are some additional prayers you may wish to use. 3. PASSAGE He Opened the Scriptures to Them: Recall those beautiful words proclaimed by the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, “Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” It is best to come to this moment with a text(s) you have chosen. Perhaps it is a text you consider as one that has inspired you to seek this Grace of Renewal. Included below are other texts you might consider. Additional prayers are listed below. 4. PETITION Seek and You Will Find … how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” Lk 11:13: “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.” Jo. 15:7. Realize that you are asking for something that will profoundly change your life. As St. Paul acclaimed, “… yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me. Gal. 2:20. Below is a prayer of petition, with which to pray for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. 5. PRAISE The Manifestation of the Holy Spirit: How will I know? The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is also known as The Grace of Renewal. Firstly, it creates in us a relationship, person to person, with the Lord. Secondly, it is an awaking, a coming alive in a life of faith, either for the first time, or as a rebirth. It is meant to be an experience, something discernable. Firstly it is a gift of a person, the Lord giving us himself in a new dynamic, personal relationship. From this flow the charisms, the gifts of the Spirit, and the fruits of the Spirit. These are chosen by the Spirit and entrusted to us. They are meant to equip us for service in the Kingdom. Scriptures These are five texts in Acts where the actual moment of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is described happening. 1.   The day of Pentecost with the disciples in the upper room. (Acts 2:1) 2.   The baptism of the Ethiopian by Philip and the Samaritans receiving the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:) 3.   The conversion of St Paul. (Acts 9:1) 4.   The Gentile Pentecost and the baptism of Cornelius and family. (Acts 10:1) 5.   The baptism of the disciples of John the Baptist. (Acts 19:1) PRAYERS PRAYER FOR THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Jesus my Lord, I confess to you and to all the world my need for your presence in my life. I am alone and in darkness without you. I am influenced and controlled by the many forces that surround me. Even though I struggle against them, it is sin that so easily dominates my life. Who can save me but you alone, my Lord and my God. Deliver me from the Evil One. Touch my life with that power which flows from your resurrection. Cause your Holy Spirit to be born in me anew. Prince of Peace and Lord of Glory reign now in my heart. Baptize me with your Holy Spirit and Fire. Raise me up to a New Life in you. PRAYING WITH MARY ON PENTECOST Holy Mary Mother of God, on Pentecost Day you gathered all the friends of Jesus in that meeting room of prayer. Jesus had instructed that all must come together in prayer, to wait in trusting hope for the Promised One to come. In the mystery of God’s grace, let us gather with you now. We desire with all our hearts that the Anointing of Pentecost may come upon us once again. Pray for us dear Mary, that the Mighty Wind of God’s Breath will come and fill our house of prayer. Pray that Jesus your Son will send down upon us now, those tongues of flame, to enkindle in our hearts the fire of love and the light of faith . Pray that our tongues be freed so that we might fill this house with the praises of God. Pray O Queen of heaven, that the Holy Spirit will give to our hearts a song of joy and thanksgiving for His mighty works now done in our midst. Come Holy Spirit, come. Come down upon us now. Melt our frozen hearts, reshape our distorted minds, and renew our sagging spirits with your Breath of Life. PRAYER FOR THE RENEWAL OF FAITH With St. Thomas I now cry out, “my Lord and my God!” Yet like St. Thomas I have doubted you and questioned my faith in you. I too have been scandalized by the world, troubled by my problems, confused by my sufferings or those of others. I was tested and found wanting. Even though I vowed as did St. Peter, “Lord, I will never deny you”, Satan has sifted me like sand through his fingers and I fell away. In my thoughts and in my words I said, “I do not know the man.” In my actions I denied my faith before everyone. While I was denying you, you were suffering and dying for my sins. You broke Satan’s hold over me by your passion and cross; you won forgiveness for my sins. What mercy you have shown by entering into my death and bring me back to life again. Now heal me as you healed St. Peter on the shores of Tiberias Sea. Ask me now, as you asked St. Peter, “do you love me?” Yes Lord. You know everything; you know that I love you. GIFTS AND FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.  ·        To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom;  ·        to another the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit;  ·        to another faith by the same Spirit;  ·        to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit;  ·        to another mighty deeds;  ·        to another prophecy;  ·        to another discernment of spirits;  ·        to another varieties of tongues;  ·        to another interpretation of tongues.  But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes. The Fruits of the Spirit are: Charity, generosity, joy, gentleness, peace, faithfulness, patience, modesty, kindness, self-control, goodness, chastity.