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Veni Sancte
SpirituS
Life Teen’s 2011 Theme
Life nighT ouTLine
catechiSm reference
# 683-701
# 731-741
# 26070-2672
Scripture
John 14:25-31
John 16:12-15
Acts 2:1-41
Romans 8:26-27
1 Corinthians 12:1-3
Key conceptS
• “Veni sancte spiritus” is Latin for
“Come holy spirit.” This is Life Teen’s
theme for 2011.
• We cannot earn the holy spirit; it is
freely given in Baptism. Through the
gift of god’s spirit, god dwells within
us.
• Although we have the spirit, we
recognize our complete need for
god’s presence in our lives and, in this
simple prayer, we ask god to unleash
his power in our lives.
Goal
The goal of this night is to introduce Life Teen’s annual theme to the teens of the
parish. in this Life night, the teens will gain a deeper understanding of the role
of the holy spirit, how we are to pray to and with the spirit of god, and how he
works within our lives.
about thiS niGht
This Life night introduces Life Teen’s annual theme for 2011: Veni sancte spiritus.
This is the fifth year Life Teen has chosen an annual theme; each theme helps
guide and direct the content of our events and resources throughout the year.
it is our hope that these themes can also provide a framework for parish youth
ministry programs as well. This year is all about the holy spirit. At pentecost, god
freely gave us his spirit, and it is given to each person at Baptism. The Catechism
describes the holy spirit as “the interior Master of Christian prayer” (CCC 2672).
This Life night will begin with icebreaker games involving pig Latin. The talk will
explain the Latin theme and what it means to call on the holy spirit for wisdom,
guidance and courage. The Break for the night is a time of personal reflection and
prayer. The Life night ends with praying the simple, yet powerful prayer, “Come
holy spirit,” and inviting the holy spirit to move in the lives of the teens.
L i f e T e e n s p o T L i g h T

enVironment
What does the holy spirit look like? even though we can’t see him, we do have a
lot of visuals to help us understand the holy spirit. The environment for this Life
night will utilize all of these images (see CCC 694-701) in an exaggerated way. for
wind, have several (the more the better) high-power fans going. for fire, create a
large, fake bonfire in the center of the room. for doves, have bird sounds playing
(loudly) as the teens enter. for the hand and finger, give each of the Core Members
a foam finger (as seen at sporting events). for light, have several large spotlights
and/or flashlights. have fun with this. The room should be somewhat chaotic as
the teens enter.
media SuGGeStionS
Video: “2011 Theme introduction” by Mark hart (Life Teen Video Support 12)
Video: “The story of pentecost” by Dan stevers (www.danstevers.com/work)
song: “Come holy spirit” by Tom Booth (Captured) spiritandsong.com
song: “holy spirit, have Your Way” by Leeland (Love Is On The Move)
Gather 15 Minutes
Welcome and introductionS (5 min)
The youth minister gathers all the teens together and
welcomes them to the Life night. The twist is that the entire
welcome and introduction should be spoken in pig Latin (i.e.
elcom-way ooh-tay ife-lay ight-nay). This should thoroughly
confuse the teens, but keep going with it until one of
the Core Members steps forward as the official “pig Latin
Translator.”
piG latin challenGeS (10 min)
The youth minister (still speaking pig Latin) and the
“translator” will introduce the pig Latin challenges. Below is a
list of possible challenges; use as many as time allows:
• ursery-nay hyme-ray. Choose one competitor from each
grade level. They will each be given a short nursery
rhyme (i.e. Mary had a Little Lamb, Little Bo peep, Twinkle
Twinkle Little star, etc.). They have to say the entire nursery
rhyme in pig Latin. The first one to do it correctly, without
stumbling, wins the competition.
• name that Verse. The youth minister will read a Bible verse
in pig Latin. The first person to come forward and correctly
say the verse in english wins. You can play several rounds of
this game. some examples:
“or-fay od-gay oh-say uhved-lay eh-thay orld-way, at-thay
ee-hay ayve-gay is-hay only-ay egotten-bay uhn-say,
at-thay oosoever-whay elieveth-bay in-ay im-hay ould-shay
ot-nay erish-pay, ut-bay ave-hay everlasting-ay ife-lay.” –
John 3:16
noteS
“o-say od-gay eated-cray an-may in-ay is-hay own-ay
image-ay, in-ay uh-thay image-ay of-ay od-gay ee-hay
eated-cray im-hay; ale-may and-ay emale-fay ee-hay
eated-cray em-thay.” – genesis 1:27
• Last Man standing. have the teens get into pairs. one
teen will ask questions (in english) and the other has to
answer in pig Latin. once the answering teen responds in
english instead of pig Latin, the roles switch. Keep track of
how many questions are answered in a row. The goal is to
remain the “answerer” as long as possible.
proclaim 20 Minutes
“Veni Sancte SpirituS
introduction” Video (5 min)
This short video by Mark hart can be found on Life Teen Video
support 12. use it as a transition into the teaching
“Veni Sancte SpirituS”
teachinG (10 min)
Below is an outline for this teaching. It should be a short,
engaging teaching about the role of the Holy Spirit and how we
engage the Spirit in prayer.
fire, Wind and doves – oh my!
(use the environment to help illustrate this point) What
does the holy spirit look like? We have a lot of images in
here – birds, wind, fire, fingers, light, etc – but how would you
describe the third person of the Trinity? it’s not easy, because
the spirit is not something we see with our eyes. That is why
our Church gives us so many images to help us understand
L i f e T e e n s p o T L i g h T 9

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who the holy spirit is (CCC 694-701). What do these symbols
tell us about the spirit? fire, wind, light – all can be very
powerful and impact everything around it. same with the
holy spirit; he is god and when god moves, things change.
The spirit is the love between the father and the son, a love
so real and perfect that it is another Divine person of the
Trinity. from the beginning of creation, god has desired to
be with us. This is why Jesus came as a man. This is also why
god sent us his holy spirit after Jesus ascended (Acts 2:1-41).
Just as god gave the Apostles the holy spirit at pentecost,
he gives each one of us the holy spirit at our Baptism.
Through this sacrament (actually through all the sacraments),
god freely gives his spirit to us. Think about it – the spirit
that hovered over the waters at creation, that allowed the
Apostles to speak in different languages, that sustains the
Catholic Church – that same holy spirit dwells in you.
What’s with the latin?
(use the gather game to help illustrate this point) Did you
ever wonder why the Church loves Latin so much? it is
considered the language of the Church. often, parts of the
Mass (sometimes even the entire Mass) are said in Latin. There
is something beautiful and mysterious about prayers in Lain.
it brings the entire universal (Catholic) Church into a common
language and unites us further as one body.
This year (2011), Life Teen’s annual theme is Veni sancte
spiritus. it is a Latin phrase that means “Come holy spirit.”
These three words form a powerful prayer calling out for the
spirit’s assistance. But wait … didn’t we just say that god
has given us his holy spirit in Baptism? We did. Then why do
we need to ask for the holy spirit to come? isn’t he already
here? Yes, he is. But this ancient prayer (found throughout
the Mass) recognizes our need for god. We cry out and ask for
an unleashing of the holy spirit (already freely given in the
sacraments) in our lives. scripture tells us that we don’t know
how to pray, but the spirit of god is constantly interceding
on our behalf (Romans 8:26-27). The spirit is at work in you
even when you don’t acknowledge him. But in this prayer, we
acknowledge the spirit and invite him to move in our lives in
powerful ways.
the holy Spirit and you.
Throughout the year, the entire Life Teen family is going to
be crying out to the holy spirit and asking for his wisdom,
guidance and strength. The question for you is: where do
you need the holy spirit, god’s own life, right now? The holy
spirit is more than a bird in a stained glass window or an oily
spot on your forehead during Confirmation. The holy spirit
is real. The holy spirit is here. The holy spirit is powerful. god
waits for you to give the invitation. he waits for you to open a
door to him. The spirit within you waits for the opportunity to
change, transform and renew you.
L i f e T e e n s p o T L i g h T
perSonal teStimony (5 min)
follow the teaching with a short testimony from a Core
Member or older teen about a time when they recognized
their need for god’s spirit and cried out for him. This
testimony should help set up the Break of the Life night.
breaK 20 Minutes
perSonal reflection (20 min)
This Life night is a little different than the usual routine.
instead of small groups, the teens will be asked to take some
time in personal reflection and prayer. hand each of the teens
the “Veni sancte spiritus” handout and a pen. The goal of this
time is to have the teens pray and reflect on the areas in their
lives where they need the power of the holy spirit.
Depending on your group dynamics, you can have the teens
gather in small groups before sending them out on their
own. if possible, bring the teens into the church or chapel
before explaining the reflection. This will allow for an easier
transition into the send.
The handout can be found on page 12.
Send 20 Minutes
impoSition of handS (20 min)
Bring the teens back together from their personal reflection
time. The youth minister should give a short recap of the
night and transition into a time of prayer. have the Core
Members come to the front of the room, sanctuary or chapel
(wherever the group is). invite the teens to come to one of
the Core Members for prayer. explain that the imposition of
hands is an ancient form of prayer and a sign of the anointing
of the holy spirit. When a teen approaches a Core Member,
encourage them to share one area in which they need the
holy spirit’s power. The Core Member will pray with the
teen: “Come holy spirit.” The Core Member can use his/her
own words, or pray the traditional “Come holy spirit” prayer
(below). if possible, give the teens a copy of the prayer to take
home. Challenge the teens to make this simple prayer a part
of their daily prayer routine.
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.

After everyone has had a chance to be prayed over by Core
Members, finish the night by asking the intercession of Mary,
the spouse of the spirit. pray together the hail Mary and Ave
Maria.
Laminated copies of the “Veni sancte spiritus” prayer card can
be purchased at store.lifeteen.com
adaptinG thiS niGht
• for larger youth groups, have the teens get into small
groups before the Break. pass out the reflection sheets and
pens within the small groups and then give them time to
pray and reflect individually. for the send, have the teens
get back into small groups and have that Core Member
pray over the teens in his/her small group.
• for smaller youth groups, pray over the teens one-by-one.
encourage the rest of the teens to pray for the person
being prayed over. This will help make it a more communal
time of prayer.
GoinG deeper
• have something throughout the year that reminds the
teens of the annual theme. This can be a sign or a banner
with the annual theme logo. incorporate the theme into
the parish teen retreat or other annual events.
• Make the “Come holy spirit” prayer part of the close of
every Life night for 2011.
L i f e T e e n s p o T L i g h T 11

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Veni Sancte SpirituS
come Holy Spirit
Take time to read and reflect on the following questions:
What situation have you been trying to control that you need to surrender to god?
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What decision have you been trying to make?
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What person do you struggle with the most right now?
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Where do you need the holy spirit in your life right now?
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Scripture tells us that it is the Holy Spirit in us that recognizes God and our need for Him.
“No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit”
– 1 Corinthians 12:3
We are weak, but God is strong; He sends us His Spirit, who changes, transforms, and renews us. We have been given the
gift to be able to call upon the Spirit for wisdom, guidance, and courage. When God moves, things change.
“In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we
ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.”
– Romans 8:26
The Church reminds us to cry out to God and ask for an unleashing of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Holy Spirit is the
agent of change and holiness in us.
“To be sure, there are as many paths of prayer as there are persons to pray, but it is the same Spirit acting
in all and with all.” – CCC 2672
Now the question is: where do you need the Holy Spirit, God’s own life, to come into and transform your life? Take time
to invite the Holy Spirit into those areas of your life you identified before. Make this a moment of honest and genuine
prayer. If you don’t know what to say… just repeat the phrase “Come Holy Spirit.”
L i f e T e e n s p o T L i g h T