A prayer for every day: petitioning the Holy Spirit and Our Lady

“Come, Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well-beloved spouse.” 

This has been a favourite go-to prayer since my university days, when one of my professors opened every class with these words. I find myself spontaneously reciting this prayer when I am trying to make a decision or just have a lot on my mind.

I couldn’t help thinking about the significance of this prayer at this time of year, when the Church celebrates May as the month of the Blessed Virgin Mary and we also prepare to mark the great Feast of Pentecost, focused on the Holy Spirit, which falls on June 5 this year. I love that it combines the two great forces of the Holy Spirit and Our Lady, who were so intimately united at the Annunciation. As “spouses,” Mary and the Holy Spirit are an obviously powerful team.

I think one of the most significant lessons we can take from the relationship between Mary and the Holy Spirit is that of trust. Mary, of course, had perfect trust because she was without original sin. Though we cannot attain perfect trust in this life, we can still strive for it. What’s striking about Mary’s fiat is that she totally surrendered to the will of the Holy Spirit, regardless of any apparent earthly consequences of being found with child during her betrothal. Mary understood that her life was not her own, her time was not her own, and even her body was given over to God’s will.

Parents, especially pregnant moms, have the daily opportunity to emulate that same type of trust shown by Our Blessed Mother. The expectant mother gives over her bodily autonomy as another life grows within her womb. Many things over which she will have no control will happen to her body, and mom is faced with the choice every day to trust that all is happening for the good of her child. The same can be said for parenting, especially of young children, when parents have to say yes daily, even when they are required to sacrifice their own needs and preferences.

In the Gospel of John (14:26), Jesus says that after his ascension, he will leave the Holy Spirit as our Advocate or Counsellor – depending on the biblical translation.

Some of us haven’t thought much about the Holy Spirit since our confirmation, when we had to memorize the Gifts of the Holy Spirit (in case the bishop called on us!). Can most people say they have really cultivated a relationship with the Holy Spirit? If we don’t ever seek out our Counsellor or Advocate, how can he counsel us or advocate for us? And what about those gifts we supposedly received at our Confirmation? Do we ever think about them, or have they become another Google-search topic? Maybe it’s time we dust off those gifts and put them to use.

One way to honour Mary and the Holy Spirit in this season when we are focusing on both is to incorporate into our daily routines a quick prayer like the one at the start of this column. The prayer doesn’t even have to be a memorized actual prayer as long as we get into the habit of calling on the assistance of the Holy Spirit and Our Blessed Mother. Think of them as your personal dynamic duo who can help you in all situations, big or small. Relying on spiritual help regularly can be a great stress reliever, as we come to realize that whatever burden we are carrying does not have to crush us with its weight if we bring in the “heavy lifters” to help us shoulder the load.

The more often you call on the help of the Holy Spirit and Mary, the more often you will notice in your life what I like to call “Holy Spirit moments.” These are the moments when you learn to trust and act on what you will come to recognize as promptings from the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost is often referred to as the birthday of the Church. What better way to honour the Queen of Heaven and prepare to celebrate the Church’s birthday than to incorporate the intercession of the Holy Spirit and Our Lady into our lives? Let these two spiritual pillars teach you how to give your life to God by trusting in his plan.

Lazzuri writes from her home in Nova Scotia, where she lives with her husband, six children, and her mom. She can be reached at [email protected]