O God the Holy Spirit
You who are the light to your people,
always enlighten us.
You who are the fire of love,
always ignite us.
You who are the lord and giver of life,
always live in us.
You who give the sevenfold grace,
always replenish us.
As the wind is your symbol,
so direct our paths.
As the dove,
so launch us heavenwards.
As water,
so purify our spirits.
As a cloud,
so obscure our temptations.
As dew,
so revive our listlessness.
As fire,
so refine our impurities.
Christina Rossetti, 1830-1894, English Anglican poet
Two Thousand Years of Prayer, freely modified
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If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit
to those who ask him!”
prayer & verse 