A New Year Prayer of Petition (St Bonaventura) 

We, therefore, pray to the most-kind Father through you, his only-begotten Son, who for us became man, was crucified and glorified, that he send us out of his treasures the Spirit of sevenfold grace who rested upon you in all fullness: 

The Spirit, I say, of Wisdom, that we may taste the life-giving flavours of the fruit of the tree of life, which you truly are; 

The gift also of Understanding, by which the intentions of our mind are illumined; 

The gift of Counsel, by which we may follow in your footsteps on the right paths; 

The gift of Fortitude, by which we may be able to weaken the violence 
of our enemies’ attacks; 

The gift of Knowledge, by which we may be filled with the brilliant light of your sacred teaching to distinguish good and evil; 

The gift of Piety, by which we may acquire a merciful heart; 

The gift of Fear, by which we may draw away from all evil and be set at peace by submitting in awe to your eternal majesty. for you have wished that we ask for these things in that sacred prayer which you have taught us; 

And now we ask to obtain them, through your cross, for the praise of your most Holy Name to you, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be honour and glory, thanksgiving, beauty and power, forever and ever. 

Amen. 

From Prayer “To Obtain the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit” included at the closing The Tree of Life 
Bonaventure, The Soul's Journey into God / The Tree of Life / The Life of St. Francis