# Adsumus: an ancient prayer to the Holy Spirit
*2015-11-05*

> Bill Young reflects on the life of Venerable Solanus Casey and the power of the Sermon on the Mount before leading an ancient prayer to the Holy Spirit.

## The Example of Venerable Solanus Casey

Today is Thursday, November 5th, and our Saint of the Day is Venerable Solanus Casey. Father Casey was a very interesting priest. Because of his background, he was not considered highly educated by the standards of the time, and it was felt that he did not know the religious structure well enough to preach the Gospel formally or to hear confessions. Yet, he gave great spiritual talks—talks he probably never would have given if he had been granted all the formal graces and permissions. This shows us that God gives you the specific gifts you need to believe in Him, talk about Him, and reach His people.

## The Power of the Sermon on the Mount

Yesterday, I read what I consider the greatest sermon ever told and written: the Sermon on the Mount by Jesus Christ. While we have all heard different parts of it, the complete sermon is mind-boggling. You really have to read or listen to it as a whole, which you can find in Matthew chapters 5 through 7. I keep playing it over and over again. It is the most powerful sermon ever given, and I encourage you to listen to it several times to truly realize the depth of its contents.

## The Adsumus Prayer

Today, we are praying an ancient prayer to the Holy Spirit called the Adsumus. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

We are here before you, O Holy Spirit. We feel the burden of our weaknesses. But come, together in your name. Come to us. Assist us. Come down into our hearts. Teach us what we must do. Show us the path to follow. May you yourself accomplish what you ask of us. May you alone be the one to inspire and guide our decisions, because only you, together with God the Father and His Son, have a holy and glorious name.

You who love order and peace, do not let righteousness be harmed by us. May ignorance not cause us to stray from the right path. May affection for others not give rise to favoritism on our part. May neither titles nor people influence us. Keep us close to you through the gift of your grace so that we may be one in you and may not draw away from the truth in any matter. Grant that, gathering together in the holy name, we may be able to combine goodness with firmness so as to do all things in harmony with you. In hope, we shall earn through the faithful fulfillment of our duties eternal happiness in the future. Amen.

*God provides the specific gifts we need to reach others, and we can find guidance and harmony by inviting the Holy Spirit to lead our decisions.*