Berkeley, Sunday, May 17, 2026 2:58 am
Solemnity: 50 days after Easter. May 24 on this year.
Day 1. May 17 3:02 am. I am starting two days late this novena. But the amazing thing is that the ten day cycle will fall on pentecost. i started those novenas on August 30, 2025. Other than one adjustment in October, probably, because I ran behind, I did not plan this situation. So, it is a great coincidence. This was the original novena, which is in the bible. Acts of the Apostles. I wrote a brief note about that in one of the earliest posts in this blog category, novena.
I will be first typing a few background things from [1], from which I will also add the prayer below. I will do the solemnity readings, and will see what else.
Day 2. May 18 1:53 am A wasted weekend to some extend. And after a long time. Purpose and discipline must go hand by hand. Text from [1]: “The Solemnity of Pentecost is celebrated fifty days after Easter. It is the feast on which we remember the gift of the Holy Spirit that overturns the confusion of Babel (ref. Gen 11:9)”. The passage as said before talks about people scattered from Babel and being confused. Thus, the parakletos is a source of wisdom, counseling. I thought I wrote that explanation. He is a helper and advisor. “In Jesus, who died, rose and ascended into Heaven, the peoples once again understand each other through one sole language, the language of love”.
I had a weekend update on music after a concert on Friday. In this music journey, it is interesting to learn about great artist, which songs I have heard, but I was not 100% familiar, or I did not know their names. One example is the great singer Rosalia. This is relevant for this topic. Does the Lux album has a religious. I would need to look into it. One singer, of course I had been familiar. I am so happy that he is back after an early retirement. Daddy Yankee seems to be singing to the Lord in his new album Lamento en Baile. It might be a positive refreshing change. The point I want to make is that for several decades in Latin American music, which is great music, there was not religious songs, with exceptions of Solo Le Pido a Dios. That seemed to be rather a country American music theme. I am not sure about the Lux album yet, I was listening to another great song from Rosalia produced in 2022.
OK. Probably not the space. But it is good when music tells the true. That was one example probably from the 2022 song from Rosalia. There are several other examples about culture, for instance from La Dona, where she cried while performing in a song she wrote about her parents. La Doña might represent Bay Area culture as woman does, but several things she is showing in the visuals, this is beyond her talented music, her band and students, is a true problem, which also needs to be addressed in culture. But no human is to judge. But yes to identify vices and virtues. Then, comes the political and sex explicit performers such as Vico C, Calle 13, a bit softer, but very good, Bad Bunny, and a great political thinker and artist Tom Morello. I think music brings several truths from society. Particularly, the underground music. Many months ago, it might be close to 8 to 10 months ago or so, I was listening to a podcast, with some frequency. There is a respectable priest in the podcast, who is an excellent thinker and writer, he is about middle age. He said that he is not longer listening to music. I understand that if see and listening all those explicit vices in songs, which if one sees to the artists, actually the more straight or deeper thinking artists and song writers, are the ones who last longer, that the spikes of chaos and fame. I see that point. Still it is good to listen, or try to be up to date to the music, which clearly represents the current culture. I understand that it can also be a digression of focus, particularly in times of high demand and productivity. I find plenty of joy and beauty on listening music, discovering new bands, or catching up with what is there. I had my own small digression now, with a bit of point on the stomach mouth. Several things are in the meaning until understand it. But it is good to be cautious about the content, particularly about the promotion or standardization of drugs and/or vices. As many things, it is good to face them. Pause, notice, delight, or think critically as needed. The presence of politics in music is good. But definitely, and same as fire, music, the drum beats, a guitar, a beautiful voice, or just the joy of the activity bring the people together and usually or more than often lift us our spirits.
Day 3. May 19. 3:44 am. How have I disconnected this much? What was that? Probably was about the writing. OK to take challenges as long I can back them up. I over did it, and disconnected from a few things. But I had a miss though. In terms of transparency, by being sincere it is good to care about other folks, so it is ok to ask about them. I skipped that part today. And probably I skipped other parts as well, when I recognized someone, and I plausible recall she was introduced to me about 6 months ago or so. I should have brought that up. The timing sometimes is the issue.
“During the first half of the 3rd century, Tertullian and Origen were already speaking of Pentecost as a Feast that followed the Ascension. As the pilgrim Egeria attest, Pentecost was a Feast that was already celebrated in Jerusalem in the 4th century” [1]
Day 4. May 20. 4:52 PM. I am behind in the novena, as in several things. When I add an additional variable, it creates a bit of deviation. Why do I write those novenas in here? I have received support on doing it. But still, as many other aspects, the key question is why? One is not suppose to pray shutting down the door in one’s cell. Definitely the purpose is not to show off. But is it a prayer? Might it is a self reflection, while learning about a Saint or to the Holy Spirit in this case. I have learned quite a bit about the saints. And despite writing a prayer in here, which might be ok to share the prayer. I would also need to ask deeply with my whole heart for their intersession during my prayer. Intercession to the to the Lord.
Back to the feast and the reference, this feast “proposed the theme of the renewal that the coming of the Spirt works in the hearts of men and women”. [1]
Day 5. May 21. 1:58 AM. “Pentecost has its roots in the Feast of the Weeks celebrated by the Jewish people. This was an annual agricultural festival surrounding the first fruits of the spring harvest and celebrated the year’s harvest.” [1]
Day 6. May 22. 2:30 AM. “Later, it was connected with the revelation of God to Moses, the Ten Commandments. Then, for Christians, it would become the moment in which Christ, having returned to the glory of the Father, would make himself present in the hearts of men and women through His Spirit, the law given by God written in their hearts: … [1]
Day 7. May 23. 3:34 AM. The Holly Spirit will teach you everything and remind you of what I told you. Antiphon to yesterday Gospel. Help me to learn my Lord.
“The new and definitive Covenant is no longer founded on a law that is written on two stone tables, but on the action of the Spirit of God which makes all things new and is etched on hearts of flesh” (Pope Francis, General Audience, 19 June 2019). WIth Pentecost, the Church was born and her evangelizing mission began.
Day 8. May 24. 2:14 AM. There is a saying in Ecuador regarding talking pavadas or huevadas, or nonsense or bullshit. Still hope to always be connected with the real source. Meaning, that I understand what I say. Sometimes I can see in a few of the writings that I confused a word day, but I wanted to say year. I need to be more careful on processing what i say. I understand that errors are normal but I also need to mean each word that I say.
Who knows?
It is good to take responsibility. But in the main topic, I pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance and wisdom.
While I did not finished transcribed the prayer below. On this eight day of the novena, which is actually the feast. I will see if I log in and write something later.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit by Saint Augustine:
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, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.
Amen.
Prayer
Come, Holy Spirt, come!
And from your celestial home
Shed a ray of light divine!
Come, Father of the poor!
Come, source of all our store!
Come, within our bosoms shine.
You, of comforters the best;
You, the souls most welcome guest;
Sweet refreshment here below;
In our labor, rest most sweet;
Grateful coolness in the heat
Solace in the midst of woe.
O most blessed Light divine,
Whine within these hearts of your,
And our inmost being fill!... [1]
References
[1] https://www.vaticannews.va/en/liturgical-holidays/pentecost.html
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