Blessed Elena Guerra
She was beatified by Pope John XXIII and he called her ‘the apostle of the Holy Spirit.’ She was a 19 th Century Mystic who founded an Order in Italy, called the Oblates of the Holy Spirit. She shared with others her love for and promoted a devotion to the Holy Spirit in their everyday lives. She petitioned Pope Leo XIII many times, asking him to invite the whole Church to grow in this devotion. Moved by her passion he mandated that the entire Church pray the Novena to the Holy Spirit leading up to Pentecost. In one sense Jesus himself instituted this Novena when, at his Ascension he said to the disciples: “Stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:49. The apostles returned to the city and spent the whole time in prayer with Mary the Mother of Jesus. We all know what happened! Today is the 4 th day of this Novena which begins on the Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter. You can find t...