10 DAYS IN THE UPPER ROOM

A Holy Spirit Encounter

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“The Holy Spirit comes where He is loved, where He is invited, where He is expected.”
— Saint Bonaventure

Joan de Joanes (Valencia, c. 1505 - Bocairent, 1579), Pentecost, Oil on serge.

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10 Days of Prayer

We are about to embark on a 10-day journey: A 9-day novena leading up to Pentecost, ending with a closing day of celebration on Pentecost Sunday itself — just as the apostles waited, prayed, and then experienced the Holy Spirit's descent.

The word novena comes from the Latin word novem, which means nine. Novenas consist of nine days of consecutive prayer for a specific intention or request.

Many of us are used to praying novenas, but did you know that the original novena, the one that started them all, was prayed by Jesus’ apostles and His mother, Mary, along with other women in the Upper Room? (Acts 1:13-14). They were obeying Jesus’ command, which He gave right before He ascended into heaven, to “wait for the promise of the Father,” and that in a few days they would be “baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4-5).

And did you also know that in 1897, in the midst of receiving letters from an Italian nun urging him to pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Pope Leo XIII decreed that the whole Catholic Church should pray a Pentecost Novena every year? The nun’s name was Sister Elena Guerra, now Saint Elena Guerra. As she prayed for a new coming of the Holy Spirit, Saint Elena Guerra asked, "Who is hungry enough? Who is thirsty enough? Who is humble enough? Who is zealous enough?" If your heart stirs at these questions, we invite you to join us on a journey in the Upper Room.

This invitation is for all Christians! May we all come together in unity and pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit!

Why These 10 Days of Prayer Matter

In the words of Saint Elena Guerra:

"The mystery of Pentecost is a permanent mystery. The Spirit continues to come to all souls who truly desire Him... If they only want Him... if they only invoke Him... if they only prepare a place for Him in their hearts."

This isn't just a history lesson. It's an invitation to experience what the apostles experienced in the Upper Room - to wait, to pray, and to call down revival by the same Spirit who has been moving since the beginning of the Church. This invitation is for all Christians to come together in unity and pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

What Comes Next?

If you’re longing to keep living in the fullness of the Holy Spirit, you don’t have to do it alone.

After these ten days of prayer, we want to offer a few ways to stay connected and supported in Spirit-filled communities. Here are few ways to do that!