5 Prayers Invoking the Holy Spirit's Guidance for the Election of the New Pope

All we can do now is pray! Let us pray that the Cardinals elect a holy and truly Catholic Pope. May the confusion of the past Pontificate end!

From ChurchPOP

By Caroline Perkins

The conclave is underway, and the first vote was cast on Wednesday, May 7, resulting in black smoke.

We must continue to call on the Holy Spirit during this time.

Catholics believe that the Holy Spirit plays a guiding role in the election of the pope. The process is deeply spiritual. The cardinals pray for the Spirit’s guidance before and during the conclave.
Here are some prayers calling on the Holy Spirit to add to your prayer routine during the conclave:

Veni Sancte Spiritus

Come, thou Holy Spirit, come! And from thy celestial home Shed a ray of light divine! Come, thou Father of the poor! Come, thou source of all our store! Come, within our bosoms shine! Thou, of comforters the best; Thou, the soul’s most welcome guest; Sweet refreshment here below. In our labour, rest most sweet; Grateful coolness in the heat; Solace in the midst of woe. O most blessed Light divine, Shine within these hearts of thine, And our inmost being fill! Where thou art not, we have naught, Nothing good in deed or thought, Nothing free from taint of ill. Heal our wounds, our strength renew On our dryness pour thy dew; Wash the stains of guilt away. Bend the stubborn heart and will; Melt the frozen, warm the chill; Guide the steps that go astray. On the faithful, who adore And confess thee, evermore In thy sev’nfold gift descend. Give them virtue’s sure reward; Give them thy salvation, Lord; Give them joys that never end.

A Prayer to the Holy Spirit by Saint Augustine of Hippo

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.

A Prayer to the Holy Spirit by Cardinal Mercier

O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore You. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, console me. Tell me what I should do; give me Your orders. I promise to submit myself to all that You desire of me and to accept all that You permit to happen to me. Let me only know Your Will.

Traditional Prayer to the Holy Spirit 

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy love.

Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created, and Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray.

O God, who hast taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that in the same Spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Litany of the Holy Spirit

Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, …
God the Holy Spirit,
Holy Trinity, One God,
Divine Essence, one true God, Have mercy on us.
Spirit of truth and wisdom, …
Spirit of holiness and justice,
Spirit of understanding and counsel,
Spirit of love and joy,
Spirit of peace and patience,
Spirit of kindness and goodness,
Spirit of generosity and gentleness,
Spirit of faithfulness and modesty,
Spirit of self-control and chastity,
Love substantial of the Father and the Son,
Love and life of saintly souls,
Fire ever burning,
Living water to quench the thirst of hearts,

From all evil, Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.
From all impurity of soul and body, …
From all gluttony and sensuality,
From all attachments to the things of the earth,
From all hypocrisy and pretense,
From all imperfections and deliberate faults,
From our own will,
From slander,
From deceiving our neighbours,
From our passions and disorderly appetites,
From our inattentiveness to Your holy inspirations,
From despising little things,
From debauchery and malice,
From love of comfort and luxury,
From wishing to seek or desire anything other than You,
From everything that displeases You,

Most loving Father, forgive us.
Divine Word, have pity on us.
Holy and divine Spirit, leave us not until we are in
possession of the Divine Essence, Heaven of heavens.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Send us the divine Consoler.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Fill us with the gifts of Your Spirit.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Make the fruits of the Holy Spirit increase within us.

V. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful,
R. And enkindle in them the fire of Your love.
V. Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created,
R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, who hast taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that in the same Spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.