Holy Spirit of light and love, you are the substantial love of the Father and the Son; hear my prayer. Bounteous bestower of most precious gifts, grant me a strong and living faith which makes me accept all revealed truths and shape my conduct in accord with them. Give me a most confident hope in all divine promises which prompts me to abandon myself unreservedly to you and your guidance. Infuse into me a love of perfect goodwill, and act according to God's least desires. Make me love not only my friends but my enemies as well, in imitation of Jesus Christ who through you offered himself on the Cross for all people. Holy Spirit, animate, inspire, and guide me, and help me to be always a true follower of you. Amen.
O Fire! O Light! O God!
What words do I have
to talk about you,
O living fire,
dancing flame within my heart,
dancing light
filling the spaces
between spaces.
You are the light
echoing in the angst of a father
whose child has turned her back
for sins of the past,
unknown,
unexpressed.
Fire shining in the heart
filled with grief,
cradling the body
of a beloved
never more to walk,
growing cold.
Light shining out in the joy
of children playing
on a spring afternoon.
Fire in the promise
of love pledged
between two chosing to become one.
Light in the hands
twisted with age,
clasping prayer beads,
letting them slip,
one after another,
as a heart
reaching out
to the infinity
that is you.
O God!
each breath we take,
breathing in the breath you give,
spirit,
holy wind,
Ruach.
In you we live,
and breathe
and have our being,
You, the living flame,
unseen perhaps,
but not unfelt.
Dance in my heart,
O light,
o living flame of love,
and quicken
each breathe I take,
for good or ill,
until
you are the light I see
shining in the heart of sorrow,
you are the voice I hear
calling out in need,
you are the smile I see
in the eyes of the hope filled,
yours is the cry I hear
in the voice of the child.