Novena to Holy Spirit: Kindness

  Novena to Holy Spirit: Kindness

The 3rd day in our novena (nine days of prayer) we pray especially for the young people in our parish and this year our deanery who will be confirmed at the Cathedral on the Feast of Pentecost, Sunday 19th May.  

Each day we will share a bible passage linked to one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, a hymn or short reflection.

St Paul's letter to the Colossians 3: 12-14  12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Statue of St Therese
in Cathedral Cloister

Today we remember one of the fruits of the spirit - kindness. There are many saints who are known for their acts of kindness.  In the letter to the Colossians this extract links kindness to three other fruits of the spirit, gentleness, patience which when combined with love helps bind in unity.  In today's Gospel Jesus prays for his disciples and us that we may be one. 

Little acts of kindness are often linked to St Therese of Lisieux whose feast day we celebrate in October, but her little way is something we can follow every day.  

To learn more about St Therese's Little Way and acts of kindess.

And a little act of kindness activity for our younger readers Acts of kindness activity. from Mission Together.

A hymn to kindness to help us as we reflect on God's kindness to us, and time for us to reflect on how we can share words of kindness as well as acts of kindness in our lives.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful

and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created,

and you shall renew the face of the earth.