A Chaplet for Pentecost
No one has enough Holy Spirit in their lives. And clearly we need the Holy Spirit in the world badly.
Did you know that Pope Leo XIII asked the entire Catholic Church to pray to the Holy Spirit for nine days every year before Pentecost — and that almost nobody does it?
He issued the call in 1895. He even named the specific prayer he wanted on every Catholic’s lips — a single line from Psalm 104:
“Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth.”
He was responding to an Italian nun named Saint Elena Guerra, who had written him a series of urgent letters with one message: the Church is ignoring the Holy Spirit. She wanted devotion to the Spirit to be as natural for Catholics as the Hail Mary. Leo listened.
The chaplet below is built around that psalm verse, prayed through five mysteries of the Holy Spirit. It is one way to answer his call — for anyone who loves chaplets — during the nine days before Pentecost, or continuing through Trinity Sunday.
When to Pray
• Nine days before Pentecost (Ascension Thursday to Pentecost Sunday)
• Continue through Trinity Sunday if you wish
How to Pray
This chaplet is prayed on standard rosary beads.
Crucifix — Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
First large bead — Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Three small beads — pray three times, one bead per prayer
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth.
O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
First Mystery — The Spirit Over Creation and in Man
Large bead — Read the mystery
In the beginning the Spirit hovered over the waters before anything existed. Then God breathed into Adam’s nostrils and man became a living soul. The same breath that ordered chaos gave life to flesh. The Spirit is the source of all life — cosmic and personal.
Same large bead — Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Ten small beads — one bead per prayer
Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth.
After the last small bead — Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Move to the next large bead and begin the Second Mystery.
Second Mystery — The Spirit and the Incarnation
Large bead — Read the mystery
The angel said to Mary: the Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. The Spirit who hovered over the first creation now forms the new creation in her womb. The same breath that made Adam makes Christ.
Same large bead — Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Ten small beads — one bead per prayer
Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth.
After the last small bead — Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Move to the next large bead and begin the Third Mystery.
Third Mystery — The Spirit at the Baptism of Jesus
Large bead — Read the mystery
As Jesus rose from the water the Spirit descended like a dove and the Father spoke: this is my beloved Son. The Trinity revealed publicly for the first time. The Spirit anoints Jesus for his mission — and in him anoints us.
Same large bead — Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Ten small beads — one bead per prayer
Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth.
After the last small bead — Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Move to the next large bead and begin the Fourth Mystery.
Fourth Mystery — The Spirit at Pentecost
Large bead — Read the mystery
Jesus has ascended to the Father, and now the promise is fulfilled. The Father and the Son pour forth the Holy Spirit upon the waiting Church. Wind and fire fill the Upper Room. Mary is there — she who first received the Spirit now receives him again with all the apostles. And we receive this same Pentecost in our hearts now and always.
Same large bead — Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Ten small beads — one bead per prayer
Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth.
After the last small bead — Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Move to the next large bead and begin the Fifth Mystery.
Fifth Mystery — The Spirit Guiding the Church and Our Lives
Large bead — Read the mystery
Pentecost is not over. The Spirit poured out in that upper room has never been withdrawn. He moves in the sacraments, in Scripture, in the quiet of prayer, in the nudge of conscience, in the ordinary moments of a life offered to God. What the apostles received, you can receive. The upper room is not closed. Come, Holy Spirit. Renew the face of the earth.
Same large bead — Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Ten small beads — one bead per prayer
Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth.
After the last small bead — Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Closing Prayer — Blessed Elena Guerra
Send Your Spirit, Lord, and transform us interiorly with Your gifts. Create in us a new heart that we may please You and be conformed to Your will. We ask this through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Optional — Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit
O Lord Jesus Christ Who, before ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul, the work of Your grace and Your love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal, the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints, the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable, and the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of Your true disciples and animate me in all things with Your Spirit. Amen.
A Note on the Novena
If you are praying this chaplet as a novena — either the nine days from Ascension to Pentecost, or continuing through Trinity Sunday — consider concluding on the final day with the Act of Consecration to the Holy Spirit. It is a fitting way to seal the novena with a personal offering.
Act of Consecration to the Holy Spirit
O Holy Spirit,
Divine Spirit of light and love,
I consecrate to you my understanding,
heart, and will, my whole being for time and eternity.
May my understanding be always submissive
to your heavenly inspirations,
and to the teaching of the Catholic Church,
of which you are the infallible guide;
may my heart be ever inflamed
with love of God and of my neighbor;
may my will be ever conformed to the divine will;
and may my whole life be a faithful imitation of the life
and virtues of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
to whom with the Father and Thee be honor and glory forever.
Amen.
The Five Mysteries
1. The Spirit hovered over the waters before creation and breathed life into man. The Spirit is the source of all life — cosmic and personal.
2. The Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary and formed Christ in her womb. The same breath that made Adam makes Christ.
3. The Spirit descended on Jesus at his Baptism, revealing the Trinity and anointing him — and us — for mission.
4. Ascended to the Father, Jesus and the Father pour forth the Spirit upon the waiting Church. We receive this same Pentecost in our hearts now and always.
5. The Spirit has never been withdrawn. He moves in the sacraments, Scripture, prayer, conscience, and the ordinary moments of a life offered to God. The upper room is not closed.
