Day 3
Collaborator to Holiness

In order to receive the divine power from the Holy Spirit on our way to holiness, we need to understand the very basics of how we should collaborate with the Holy Spirit. We need to recognize what we can do and what we cannot. Unlike any self-help programs out there, attaining holiness is simply beyond what our own power can reach. There is no one formula or set program to follow. As much as we cannot change others no matter how hard we try, we also need the humility to admit that we cannot change ourselves without the help of the Spirit. This is not a statement of hopelessness, but a great relief for all of us. It is the Spirit’s job to change us and to mold us. All we need to do is not to resist Him as we surrender ourselves to allow the Spirit to “operate” on us.

We should resist the temptation to attain holiness by ourselves.

The Spirit has more desire to sanctify us than ourselves. Our role is to become His collaborator. What we can offer is our openness, humility, and our willingness to be changed. This change in attitude makes possible the Spirit's work upon us to sanctify us. Little by little, we will be purified and our road to sainthood shall begin.

Imagine yourself like a car designed and manufactured by God, our Creator. He knows our every detail and our functionalities: how to fix us when we are in trouble (purification and pruning), and how to empower us to assume our greatest potential we are designed to be (holiness and sainthood). We just need to “open our hood” and let the spiritual physician to tune us up constantly so that we can operate in our optimal condition. This way, we can cruise along joyfully on our way to holiness, and to return to the Father's house in one piece.

We must know by now the nature of God's love towards us. As St. Faustina said: God is very generous and does not refuse His grace to anyone. So, the only “trick” now is that we show up at His shop to be tuned up regularly.

God has such high esteem for the hope possessed by souls that are ceaselessly turned toward him and rely on him alone, that one can truly say that they obtain all that they hope for.

– St. John of the Cross

So, in a powerful way, we receive the divine empowerment to
become holy because of the nature of God's love.
The persistence of His love towards us binds Himself to come to our aid, in haste!

Dear Holy Spirit, come to my assistance; O Lord, make haste to help me. I am willing to be your collaborator as you straighten my path to holiness. Grant me the humility and openness to submit myself completely to you and a desire to be holy, just as you are holy. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Novena to the Holy Spirit:

Invocation Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love. O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore you. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, and console me. Tell me what to do, direct my every choice.I promise to submit myself to all you desire of me and to accept all that you permit to happen to me. Let me only know your will.Grant this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Day Three Needing the Spirit“Peace” Galatians 5:22-25: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control: against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions &desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.

 
Meditation: This is the time for my spirit to touch the Spirit of God.I know that the feeling of the Spirit –touch is more important than all the sensations of material things. I must seek a silence in which my spirit can receive and become aware of the touch of the Spirit of God.Just a moment’s contact and all the fever of life leaves me. Then I am well,whole, calm, and able to rise and minister to others. God’s touch is a potent healer. I must feel that touch and sense God’s presence.
 
Prayer of the Day: Blessed Jesus, please give to me stillness of soul and let your mighty calmness reign in me. Rule me Lord of gentleness, Lord of peace. Give me great power of self-control over my words, thoughts and actions.From all irritability, want of meekness, want of kindness; deliver me, dear Lord. Amen

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.