We always love to invite God into our life and family. The feast of Pentecost can inspire us to invite the Holy Spirit into our daily lives.
Here are some ways which can be adapted for receiving Holy Spirit to our family.
1. PRAY “COME, HOLY SPIRIT”
This is an easy prayer that can be done by everyone. Just start praying this prayer together as a family in the evening or at the beginning of the day. You’ll be amazed at how, over time, this ancient prayer opens up your family’s understanding of the Holy Spirit.
“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. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, through Christ Our Lord, Amen.”
2. MEMORIZE THE 7 GIFTS AND THE 12 FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We should have the knowledge of the 7 gifts and 12 fruits given by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit—through baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, and our life of prayer—desires to help us, intercede for us, and bless us with His gifts and fruits. Take time as a family to (re)memorize them, study them, and weave them into your conversations. Gifts: fear of the Lord, piety, fortitude, counsel, knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. Fruits: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity (CCC 1832).
3. DOUBLE YOUR QUALITY FAMILY TIME FROM 37 TO 74 MINUTES PER DAY
You may have heard this description of the Holy Trinity before: the Father is the lover, the Son is beloved, and the Holy Spirit is the love that bonds them and goes forth from them.
In the “little Trinity” of your family, the quality time you spend together is when you deepen the bonds of love. One Google search reveals dozens of studies that state the obvious: distracted parents are spending less and less time with their children (an average of 37 minutes per day). Invite the Holy Spirit into this deficit in your family, and you’ll see a change.