Day 2: Yearn for the Lord's Spirit Above All Else

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My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." (Psalm 84: 2)

The Lord accompanies His people throughout their journey. The people of God set up or break camp when the Cloud covers the Tent of Meeting or departs from it! Hence, it is the Lord who guides us every step of the way! He knows what we need: when to rest and when to keep on moving. Such is the life of the baptized. As St. Paul says: "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."

Saint Clare understood this well, which is why she ardently encouraged us to: desire to have the Spirit of the Lord above all else, and let Him work in you."

The Spirit of the Lord enables us to "pray always to Him with a pure heart, and to have humility, patience in difficulty and infirmity, and to love those who persecute, blame, and accuse us."

He prevails over another spirit working within us, one that doesn't come from God: the evil spirit that stirs “pride, vainglory, envy, greed, worldly care, gossip, discord and division.” We are the ones who are responsible for choosing which spirit will guide us, all day, every day!

Our daily encounter with the Lord in the Tent of Meeting (i.e.: during prayer) is necessary to "yearn for the courts of the Lord" and "desire the Spirit of the Lord and His holy manner of working”!

Yes, let "my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God" all day, every day! 

Prayer

Lord, so many desires assail me and drive me away from You, Your Life, Your Peace, Your Joy! Come through Your Spirit and put my life, that of my brothers & sisters and that of the world in order. Grant us to above all desire the spirit and His holy work in our lives!

Come Holy Spirit, descend and remain in us!

  “My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." (Psalm 84: 2)

In communion with Saint Clara and all those praying this novena, I fervently pray with those words given to us by the Church:

Come, Holy Spirit, send forth the heavenly ray of your light.

Come, father of the poor, come, giver of gifts, come, light of hearts.

Greatest comforter, sweet guest of the soul, sweet consolation.

In labour, rest, in heat, temperateness, in tears, solace.

O most blessed light, fill the inmost heart of your faithful.

Without the nod of your head, there is nothing in man, nothing that is harmless.

Cleanse that which is unclean, water that which is dry, heal that which is wounded.

Bend that which is inflexible, warm that which is chilled, correct that which has gone astray.

Give to your faithful, those who trust in you, the sevenfold gifts.

Give the reward of virtue, give a death of salvation, give joy constantly.

Meditation of the Day

Today I will call the Holy Spirit over the course of my day. I'll make myself attentive to His workings in me, His motions, and inspirations. I will deepen my desire for Him with a ”cry from the heart”…I will push away the evil spirit, who brings division. I will obey the Spirit who brings victory to love in everyday life.

Community prayer

St. Clare's Blessing

I bless you in my life and after my death as much as I can and more than I can. With all the blessings with which the Father of mercies has and will have blessed His sons and daughters in heaven and on earth, and a spiritual father and mother have blessed and bless their spiritual sons and daughters. Always be lovers of God and your souls and the souls of your Sisters, and always be eager to observe what you have promised the Lord. May the Lord be with you always and, wherever you are, may you be with Him always. Amen.

Thank you! 105 people prayed

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Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone. Col 4:6

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9 Joyful Days with Saint Clare of Assisi

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