The Holy Spirit Chaplet, written by Bl. Elena Guerra can be used as a Holy Spirit Novena, beginning on Friday, May 27, 2022. The chaplet is shared at the end of this post.
It is a joy for me to write about my friend Blessed Elena Guerra, whom I first met through my husband in 1991 when I was writing the Silver Jubilee edition of As By A New Pentecost. He said the story of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal could not be told without Elena! In October of 1973, Fr. Val Gaudet wrote an article in New Covenant entitled, A Woman and the Pope. He explained that Pope St. John XXIII called Elena “the apostle of the Holy Spirit.” In fact, Fr. Gaudet thought Elena’s teaching influenced Pope St. John XXIII to pray his famous prayer: “Renew your wonders in this our day as by a New Pentecost.”
Bl. Elena’s life spanned from 1835 to 1914. She founded a religious order in Lucca, Italy, that became the Oblate Sisters of the Holy Spirit. In 1886, Bl. Elena began to be aware of her prophetic task, which was to write to Pope Leo XIII and urge him to renew the Church through a return to the Holy Spirit. She wrote about a dozen confidential letters to the Holy Father between 1895 and 1903, calling for renewed preaching on the Holy Spirit, “who is the one who forms the saints.”
Bl. Elena told Pope Leo XIII of her desire to see the whole Church unite in constant prayer, like Mary and the apostles in the Upper Room, awaiting the coming of the Spirit: “Oh, if only the invocation Veni! (Come) . . . would become as popular a prayer as the Ave (Hail Mary)!” Her words are full of fire:
“Pentecost is not over. In fact, it is continually going on in every time and in every place, because the Holy Spirit desired to give himself to all men and all who want him can always receive him, so we do not have to envy the apostles and the first believers; we only have to dispose ourselves like them to receive him well, and He will come to us as he did to them.”
She also wrote, “The mystery of Pentecost is a permanent mystery. The Spirit continues to come to all souls who truly desire Him . . . If they only want Him . . . if they only invoke Him . . . if they only prepare a place for Him in their hearts. . . . Who is hungry enough? Who is thirsty enough? Who is humble enough? Who is zealous enough? . . . It is necessary that we return to the Holy Spirit so that the Holy Spirit may return to us.”
Pope Leo XIII heard the Lord’s call through Bl. Elena. He responded to her first letter by publishing Provida Matris Caritate in 1895, in which he asked the entire Church to celebrate a solemn novena (nine consecutive days of prayer) to the Holy Spirit each year between the feasts of the Ascension and Pentecost. After her third letter, the pope wrote the encyclical Divinum Illud Munus in 1897, which also concerned the doctrine on the Holy Spirit. Bl. Elena was pleased with the Holy Father’s efforts but disappointed with the bishops’ poor response to the call for an annual novena. Following the ninth letter of Bl. Elena, in 1902, the Holy Father wrote a letter to the bishops, Ad Fovendum in Christiano Populo, reminding them of the obligation to make the novena annually.
Bl. Elena formed prayer groups called “Permanent Cenacles.” She often was heard to exclaim, “Let us go to the Cenacle!”
From her early years as an educator, Bl. Elena wrote many pamphlets and books urging people to return to the Holy Spirit. In 1880, she had even approached Don Bosco, while he was passing through Lucca. He encouraged her to continue her apostolate with the youth, as well as her activity as a writer. He said, “You have a pen of gold.”
That “pen of gold” composed not only letters to the pope, but also many beautiful prayers to the Holy Spirit. Elena used the invocation of Pope Leo XIII and wrote a Holy Spirit Chaplet that is used as a Pentecost Novena. This novena is a plea for each of the seven sanctifying gifts of the Spirit, with a prayer that is repeated seven times for each gift: “Father, in the name of Jesus, send forth your Spirit and renew the world.” This prayer is followed by an invocation to Our Lady, “O Mary, who by the work of the Holy Spirit, conceived the Savior, pray for us.” At the end of the chaplet, there are three additional invocations to Our Lady and a Hail Mary. This prayer is still used today by the Oblate Sisters of the Holy Spirit, and I have had the privilege to pray it with them in Elena’s bedroom in Lucca.
In her ninth letter to Pope Leo XIII, on October 15, 1900, Elena begged the pope to exhort all Catholics to pray for the new century and to place it under the sign of the Holy Spirit: “Most Holy Father, I humbly present with confidence to your Holiness that the new century may begin with the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus to be sung at the beginning of the Mass of the first day of the year.”
As a result of Bl. Elena’s request, Pope Leo intoned the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus (Come Creator Spirit) in the name of the whole Church, on January 1, 1901. On the same day, an event took place in Topeka, Kansas, that marked the beginning of a great revival in the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit destined to sweep throughout this country and around the world. And just over sixty-six years later, we sang the Veni Creator Spiritus on the Duquesne Weekend, using the same Gregorian chant melody used by Pope Leo XXIII.
I call Elena my friend because I really am in communion with her and her mission, and I call on her every day. In some mysterious way, the Holy Spirit has used me to make her better known. In 1998, a young Brazilian studying in Rome my book As By A New Pentecost. Although he had never heard of her, when he saw the name “Elena Guerra,” there was a quickening in his spirit. Her name remained in his heart. He wrote to me three years later to tell me of his love for this blessed, and he and I became friends. He served for some time as vice-postulator of Elena’s cause for canonization and has insisted I have a first-class relic of the blessed, which I cherish. There have been significant healing miracles in Brazil through the intercession of Bl. Elena. May the time come soon for her canonization. Let it be! Veni Creator Spiritus!
. . . . .
The Holy Spirit Chaplet
This prayer to the Holy Spirit originated with the exhortation of Pope Leo XIII. In a papal brief promulgated on May 5, 1895, he exhorted all Catholics to devoutly make a Holy Spirit Novena. The pope suggested a special formula of prayer: “Send forth your Spirit and renew the world.” With this in mind, Bl. Elena Guerra, “The Holy Spirit Apostle of Modern Times,” composed these invocations in 1896 to ask the Holy Spirit for the grace of a New Pentecost, which renews the face of the earth.
How to pray:
O God, come to my assistance.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father…
1. Come, O Spirit of Wisdom, detach us from earthly things and infuse in us a love and taste of heavenly things.
“Father, in the Name of Jesus, send forth your Spirit and renew the world.”
“O Mary, who by the work of the Holy Spirit, conceived the Savior, pray for us.”
2. Come, O Spirit of Understanding, enlighten our minds with the light of your eternal truth and the riches of holy thoughts.
“Father, in the Name of Jesus, send forth your Spirit and renew the world.”
“O Mary, who by the work of the Holy Spirit, conceived the Savior, pray for us.”
3. Come, O Spirit of Counsel, make us docile to your inspirations and guide us in the way of salvation.
“Father, in the Name of Jesus, send forth your Spirit and renew the world.”
“O Mary, who by the work of the Holy Spirit, conceived the Savior, pray for us.”
4. Come, O Spirit of Fortitude , and give us strength, constancy and victory in the battle against our spiritual enemies.
“Father, in the Name of Jesus, send forth your Spirit and renew the world.”
“O Mary, who by the work of the Holy Spirit, conceived the Savior, pray for us.”
5. Come, O Spirit of Knowledge, be the Master of our souls and help us to put into practice Your teachings.
“Father, in the Name of Jesus, send forth your Spirit and renew the world.”
“O Mary, who by the work of the Holy Spirit, conceived the Savior, pray for us.”
6. Come, O Spirit of Piety, come to live in our heart to possess and sanctify all of our affections.
“Father, in the Name of Jesus, send forth your Spirit and renew the world.”
“O Mary, who by the work of the Holy Spirit, conceived the Savior, pray for us.”
7. Come, O Spirit of the Fear of the Lord, reign over our will and make us always disposed to suffer every evil rather than to sin.
“Father, in the Name of Jesus, send forth your Spirit and renew the world.”
“O Mary, who by the work of the Holy Spirit, conceived the Savior, pray for us.”
Invocation to Mary:
O most pure Virgin Mary, by your Immaculate Conception you were made a chosen tabernacle of Divinity by the Holy Spirit. Pray for us.
May the Divine Paraclete come soon to renew the face of the earth.
Hail Mary, full of grace…
O most pure Virgin Mary, by the Mystery of the Incarnation you became true Mother of God by the Holy Spirit. Pray for us.
May the Divine Paraclete come soon to renew the face of the earth.
Hail Mary, full of grace…
O most pure Virgin Mary, persevering in prayer with the Apostles in the Upper Room, you were abundantly inflamed by the Holy Spirit. Pray for us:
May the Divine Paraclete come soon to renew the face of the earth.
Hail Mary, full of grace…
Let us pray:
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. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Dear Patti Mansfield,
I am hoping that I may be able to get copies of all 12 of Elena’s letters to Pope Leo.
I am asking for myself and a close friend.
Is there any way you could help? It would be greatly appreciated.
God Bless You.
We will reach out to her about this. God bless you!
I too would like copies of the letters. Thank you
In this page there is no instruction on how to pray the Chaplet. Do we say “Oh Mary, through the work of the Holy Spirit…..etc” ten times? There is no instruction on how to pray the Chaplet! Send me an instruction? Until then I will try the best I can.
I hope this is helpful: http://www.societyofsaints.net/uploads/1/7/6/9/17698361/holyspiritchapletelenaguerrav2pdf.pdf
Awesome prayer!
I would like to see these letters to Pope Leo. I am intrigued as I learn about this historical expression from Elena to Pope Leo near the turn of that century as well as the historical Pentecostal landmarks in Topeka, and Azuza Street. I have a sense of connecting the dots as it were. I respect the earthly papal authority and I curiously regard these non-typical Catholic expressions in Kansas and California. Not only that but the breadth of interest and experience in spiritual Christian life elsewhere. Where all have we heard of the heart-drawn experiences of spiritual fervor in prayer and devotion to God, Bible reading coming alive, personal expression of Christian faith in living, and not necessarily or always in the context of observed Pentecostal expression?
Thank you for the article. In the late 1980’s I had the privilege of hearing a talk by Patti at a conference either in Canada or Franciscan University of Steubenville. I’ve been praying daily for Blessed Elena Guerra’s intercession as I am a member in the Charismatic prayer group community of worshippers. Thank you for the article. I am praying for her intercession for a friend in our prayer group named Elena who needs a physical miracle from a variety of issues some life changing.
Ms. Mansfield;
This is good to know. Thank You. The Spirit, our Advocate in defense against our Accuser in the courtroom of daily life in the Faith, is indeed a powerful force in keeping the flame alive.
Bernie Dunn
Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish
Topeka, KS
WHERE THE HOLY SPIRIT BECAME ACTIVE ENGENDERING THE CHARISMATIC RENEWAL.
Peace
My sister-in-law and I recently put music to the chaplet and prayed it with our parish. This was before I found out that Bl. Elena Guerra was approved to be Canonized! I am very excited. Is there somewhere I could post a recording of the musical chaplet that would be useful for people who are so inspired to pray it with music? We have not yet made a recording, but we hope to soon. I became Catholic around 3 years ago and had never heard of a chaplet before then. The week after we decided to convert someone lead the Chaplet of Divine Mercy musically at our parish and I determined right then and there that it was my very favourite way to chaplet. After leading the Pentecost Novena 2 years ago, and then again this year, I felt the need to write music for the Holy Spirit Chaplet and it has already been such a blessing to me and some in our parish. I would love for others to be able to sing it around the world with us!
I would delight in seeing Sister Elena’s letters to the Pope regarding the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Are they available to the public? Thank you.
Grace and Peace to you,
Eric Carpenter
Unfortunately, the letters aren’t available in English, but you can access them here: https://www.elenaguerra.it/epistole/.
I rejoice with the Renewal Ministries and Patti Mansfield in Saint Elena Guerra’s canonization! Thank you for the biography and the Holy Spirit chaplet.
Bl. Elena’s prophetic mission to encourage a return to the Holy Spirit is inspiring. Her calls for renewed preaching on the Spirit remind us of its vital role in forming saints. A Holy Spirit prayer book could serve as a powerful tool in answering her call to deepen our connection to the Spirit.
Hi everyone, I’m hoping for any information about “English Language – translated” books/articles, etc- about or by Elena! 💜
Thanks for any help-
Come, Holy Spirit!
Hello, Were you able to get in touch with Casey Munro above who composed a music to the Holy Spirit Chaplet. I am interested in that piece that she offered to share to the world.
Thank you and be blessed.
I’m sorry, we were not able to get in touch with her.
Thank you for posting the Chaplet to the Holy Spirit as prayed by Blessed Elena Guerra.
Do you sell the Chaplet Rosaries? Or where would they be available from?
Thank you,
Bernadine Sanche
You probably can find them at local or online Catholic bookstores.
Holy Spirit be with us every moment of every day