Come, Holy Spirit Prayer

Catholic Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit is a traditional Catholic prayer asking the Holy Spirit to fill the faithful with the fire of God’s love, followed by a line drawn from Psalm 104 and a short prayer to the Father for true wisdom.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created, and Thou shalt renew the face of the earth. Let us pray. O God, who didst instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise, and ever to rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer points from Come, Holy Spirit Prayer

Ask the Holy Spirit to fill your heart right now.
Ask Him to kindle the fire of God’s love where you have grown cold.
Pray for the renewal of your family, your church and your town.
Ask God for true wisdom in what you are about to do.
Thank Him for the comfort and help of the Spirit.
Offer your work to the Father through Christ.

About this prayer

This is one of the best-known prayers to the Holy Spirit, said for centuries before study, work, meetings and retreats, and especially at Pentecost. It has three parts. The first asks the Spirit to fill the hearts of the faithful and kindle in them the fire of God’s love, which recalls Pentecost, when the disciples saw “tongues like flames of fire” come to rest on each of them. The second is drawn from Psalm 104: “When You send Your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the earth.” The third, after Let us pray, asks the Father for true wisdom and the Spirit’s comfort, through Christ. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit “will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.” The words here are the traditional English form; newer translations put the same prayer in modern English. This prayer is for anyone beginning a task, a class or a time in God’s word who wants to ask for the Spirit’s help.

When to pray this prayer

Before reading the Bible or a time of prayer
At the start of a class, a study session or an exam
Before a meeting or an important decision
On Pentecost Sunday and in the days before it
At the start of a retreat or Bible study
When you feel spiritually cold and want to be kindled again

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