Category: NOVENAS

Posted in NOVENAS, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Novena to St Anne – Day Five – 21 July

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to St Anne – Day Five – 21 July

Reflections by:
  By Fr Daniel A Lord, SJ

FIFTH DAY:

Joachim and Anne were coming into late middle age.   The hope that they would have children seemed almost past.   Longingly had they prayed for a child.   Now they hardly dared hope any longer.

And then the wonder. Anne conceived and the happy pair knew that they would be parents.

If there had been peace in the house before, now there was deepest joy.   God had answered their petitions.   God had blessed them with parenthood.

If Anne had hitherto done gladly the simple work of her household, she now did it with new purpose and high happiness.   The house must be even more spotless for the coming child. Little dresses must be made, quilts and pillows sewed.

Each Sabbath in the synagogue Anne upon her knees thanked God, who had blessed her.

Each morning and each night, she prayed the Father in heaven, to bless with the fullness of grace and the richness of a life devoted to His service, the child she was to bear.

And Mary, the loveliest infant that the world had ever seen until that day, was born. Anne smiled into the happy eyes of Joachim.   Together they loved the little Mary, their gift from God.

To the happy mother of Mary, we pray:

Daily Prayer:

O glorious St Anne,
you are filled with compassion
for those who invoke you
and with love for those who suffer!
Heavily burdened with the weight of my troubles,
I cast myself at your feet and humbly beg of you
to take the present intention
which I recommend to you in your special care.
…………………(make your intention)
Please recommend it to your daughter,
the Blessed Virgin Mary
and place it before the throne of Jesus,
so that He may bring it to a happy issue.
Continue to intercede for me until my request is granted.
But, above all, obtain for me the grace, one day,
to see my God face to face
and with you and Mary and all the saints,
to praise and bless Him for all eternity.
Amen

Our Father . . . Hail Mary . . . Glory Be . . .

O Jesus, Holy Mary, St Anne, help me now and at the hour of my death.

Good St Anne, intercede for me.

FIFTH DAY

Hail, all-powerful Lady.
By God’s special favour,
grant consolation to those who invoke you.
Procure for them the eternal riches of heaven
and like a good mother,
success in their temporal affairs as well.
Good St Anne,
obtain my deliverance from the punishment which my sins deserve.
Obtain for me success in my temporal affairs,
especially see to the salvation of my soul.
St Anne, by your influence with Mary’s son Jesus,
you have won the gift of conversion for many sinners.
Will you then abandon me,
who have chosen you as my mother?
No, St Ann.
Your name alone, which signifies grace,
assures me of the help of your prayers
and these prayers, will surely procure pardon
and mercy from Jesus.
Please pray for me now
and at the hour of my death.
AmenDAY FUIVE NOVENA TO ST ANNE - 21 JULY 2019

Posted in JESUIT SJ, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, NOVENAS, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Novena to St Anne – Day Four – 20 July

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to St Anne – Day Four – 20 July

Reflections by:
By Fr Daniel A Lord, SJ

FOURTH DAY:

Hope is a beautiful virtue.

Hope without prayer is a wasted thing. It is groundless optimism without root in faith.

We hope because we know that God, in His love, will do what is best for us. We pray so that He may know our desires and that if they are for our good, He may fulfil them.

In the long days of patient waiting before the coming of Mary, Anne prayed from a humble and a loving heart. Her life was a long simple prayer committing her to God’s Holy will.

Of a Sabbath, she and her husband, Joachim, went together to the synagogue to pray with the other faithful Jews, who cried aloud for the long-delayed Saviour.

At daybreak she offered to God in heaven everything that she would do throughout the day.

Before and after meals, she thanked the creator of the universe for the gifts of His Fatherly goodness. At night she looked back upon the day and presented it as a gift to God.

And always, underlying her prayer, was the hope that the Saviour would soon be born and that God would send her a child – perhaps the child who would be nurse to the Messias.

To this model of prayer we pray:

Daily Prayer:

O glorious St Anne,
you are filled with compassion
for those who invoke you
and with love for those who suffer!
Heavily burdened with the weight of my troubles,
I cast myself at your feet and humbly beg of you
to take the present intention
which I recommend to you in your special care.
…………………(make your intention)
Please recommend it to your daughter,
the Blessed Virgin Mary
and place it before the throne of Jesus,
so that He may bring it to a happy issue.
Continue to intercede for me until my request is granted.
But, above all, obtain for me the grace, one day,
to see my God face to face
and with you and Mary and all the saints,
to praise and bless Him for all eternity.
Amen

Our Father . . . Hail Mary . . . Glory Be . . .

O Jesus, Holy Mary, St Anne, help me now and at the hour of my death.

Good St Anne, intercede for me.

FOURTH DAY:

Good St Anne,
you offered your prayer with hope and love
and our Holy and loving Father
answered them by granting you the Mother of His Son,
as your daughter.
By the happiness which then filled your heart,
I beg you to present me to your Grandson Jesus.
Offered by you, I will be agreeable in His sight.
Kind St. Ann, take me forever under your protection.
Deliver me from the temptations, which continually assail me.
Above all, attend me in my last hour.
As I lie on my deathbed, be present with your daughter
to console and strengthen me.
Holy Mary and good St Anne,
show yourselves to be mothers indeed,
by obtaining for me the grace of a good death.
When my soul goes forth,
lead it to God’s tribunal so that,
by your powerful help and intercession,
it may obtain a favourable judgement.
Amenday four st anne novena 20 july 2019.jpg

Posted in JESUIT SJ, NOVENAS, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Novena to St Anne – Day Three – 19 July

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to St Anne – Day Three – 19 July

Reflections by:
By Fr Daniel A Lord, SJ

THIRD DAY:

Like all Jewish women of her day Anne dreamed of the promised Saviour.   Surely the Messias was sorely needed in her day when the plight of her people was so unhappy.

Never for a moment did she think that such an honour would come to her-but perhaps from her line, the noble line of David, there would come a woman worthy to be the Mother of the Messias.

To Anne was not given the beautiful privilege of motherhood.
She prayed that God would send her and Joachim a son or a daughter.

Neighbours pitied her, as the Jews always pitied a childless woman. Around her grew up a flock of nieces and nephews.   But no child of her own came to rest in her arms. She prayed for a child and in the same breath she added: ‘. . . . . if it be thy will, my Father.

No impatience with God. No envy of more fortunate relatives. No self-pity. But a hope that never faded.   And faith in God, who would do for her what was for His honour and her happiness.

No wonder that to Anne there was born at length in her old age the beautiful little girl who was Mary, fairest flower of womankind.

To this model of hope we pray:

Daily Prayer:

O glorious St Anne,
you are filled with compassion
for those who invoke you
and with love for those who suffer!
Heavily burdened with the weight of my troubles,
I cast myself at your feet and humbly beg of you
to take the present intention
which I recommend to you in your special care.
…………………(make your intention)
Please recommend it to your daughter,
the Blessed Virgin Mary
and place it before the throne of Jesus,
so that He may bring it to a happy issue.
Continue to intercede for me until my request is granted.
But, above all, obtain for me the grace, one day,
to see my God face to face
and with you and Mary and all the saints,
to praise and bless Him for all eternity.
Amen

Our Father . . . Hail Mary . . . Glory Be . . .

O Jesus, Holy Mary, St Anne, help me now and at the hour of my death.

Good St Anne, intercede for me.

THIRD DAY

Hail, good St Anne,
who first responded to the needs of Mary,
Mother of our Saviour and Queen of Angels.
Hail to you and to your husband St Joachim,
who watched over her infancy,
presented her to the Lord in the temple and,
according to your promise,
consecrated her to the service of God.
Hail St Anne, good mother!
I rejoice in the marvels you continually perform,
because they encourage all to seek your intercession.
Good St Ann, by the great power that God has given you,
show yourself my mother, my consoler, my advocate.
Reconcile me to the God I have so deeply offended.
Console me in my trials,
strengthen me in my struggles.
Deliver me from danger in my time of need.
Help me at the hour of death
and open to me the gates of paradise.
Amenday three st anne novena day three - 19 july 2019.jpg

Posted in JESUIT SJ, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, NOVENAS, PRAYERS to the SAINTS

Novena to St Anne – Day Two – 18 July

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to St Anne – Day Two – 18 July

Reflections by:
By Fr Daniel A Lord, SJ

SECOND DAY:

It was in the peaceful little house of Anne and Joachim that Mary, the Mother of God, spent her girlhood.   There Mary knew the example of a woman who lived the simple ways of wife and mother.

Unknown, save in the limited circle of Nazareth, Anne prepared the meals for her family, made and mended their plain garments and filled the house with the perfume of her devoted service.   She was a model of a wife’s diligence and a mother’s solicitude.

The young Mary watched this model of the simple domestic virtues.   This obedient daughter saw perfection in her mother, the perfection of small tasks done out of love for God and devotion to family.

Each day had a time for prayer.

Each day was filled with deeds of neighbourliness and acts of charity quietly and happily performed.

Mary saw in her mother how a woman can be simple yet great, how the deeds that God asks of us – however unnoticed or unimportant, these maybe – are, the deeds that win His gratitude and make us saints before Him and benefactors before the world.

To this model of the simple domestic virtues we pray:

Daily Prayer:

O glorious St Anne,
you are filled with compassion
for those who invoke you
and with love for those who suffer!
Heavily burdened with the weight of my troubles,
I cast myself at your feet and humbly beg of you
to take the present intention
which I recommend to you in your special care.
…………………(make your intention)
Please recommend it to your daughter,
the Blessed Virgin Mary
and place it before the throne of Jesus,
so that He may bring it to a happy issue.
Continue to intercede for me until my request is granted.
But, above all, obtain for me the grace, one day,
to see my God face to face
and with you and Mary and all the saints,
to praise and bless Him for all eternity.
Amen

Our Father . . . Hail Mary . . . Glory Be . . .

O Jesus, Holy Mary, St Anne, help me now and at the hour of my death.

Good St Anne, intercede for me.

SECOND DAY:

From the depths of my heart, good St Anne,
I offer you my homage this day
and ask you to shelter me under the mantle of your motherly care.
You know, good mother, how much I love you,
how gladly I serve you,
how happy I am to praise you,
how eager I am to call on you in time of distress.
Good St Anne,
be pleased to extend your helping hand in all my wants.
Listen to my prayers, for I place my trust in your gracious bounty.
Make all my thoughts and desires worthy and righteous.
Jesus my God, I thank You for all the graces
which in Your infinite goodness, You have lavished upon St Anne,
for having chosen her, among all women,
to be Your grandmother on earth
and exalted her in heaven with such great and miraculous powers.
In the name of her merits,
I humbly recommend myself to Your infinite mercy.
AmenDAY TWO ST ANNE NOVENA 18 july 2019.jpg

Posted in JESUIT SJ, NOVENAS, PRAYERS to the SAINTS

Novena to St Anne – Day One – 17 July

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Novena to St Anne – Day One – 17 July

Reflections by:
By Fr Daniel A Lord, SJ

FIRST DAY:

‘Who shall find a valiant woman?

This was the cry of Solomon long before the time of the noble women who watched for Christ’s coming to earth.   The valiant woman . . . strong in her stainless virtue.

The valiant woman. . . . keeping the laws and traditions of her people.

The valiant woman. . . . fighting the quiet. battle of purity and decency.

The valiant woman . . . protecting her home, the strength of her husband, the future of her children.   The valiant woman. . . . whom God loves and whom the powers of evil dread as their relentless enemy.   The valiant woman . . . like glorious Saint Anne, mother of Mary.

To Saint Anne the Catholic world has looked in admiration, has reached out in confidence – from her have come protection and generous love.

To the grandmother of Christ we pray:

Daily Prayer:

O glorious St Anne,
you are filled with compassion
for those who invoke you
and with love for those who suffer!
Heavily burdened with the weight of my troubles,
I cast myself at your feet and humbly beg of you
to take the present intention
which I recommend to you in your special care.
…………………(make your intention)
Please recommend it to your daughter,
the Blessed Virgin Mary
and place it before the throne of Jesus,
so that He may bring it to a happy issue.
Continue to intercede for me until my request is granted.
But, above all, obtain for me the grace, one day,
to see my God face to face
and with you and Mary and all the saints,
to praise and bless Him for all eternity.
Amen

Our Father . . . Hail Mary . . . Glory Be . . .

O Jesus, Holy Mary, St Anne, help me now and at the hour of my death.

Good St Anne, intercede for me.

FIRST DAY

Dear St Anne,
though I am but a prodigal child,
I appeal to you
and place myself under your great motherly care.
Please listen to my prayers and grant my requests.

See my contrite heart
and show me your unfailing goodness.

Deign to be my advocate and recommend me to God’s infinite mercy.
Obtain for me forgiveness of my sins
and the strength to begin a new life that will last forever.

Blessed St Anne, I also beg of you the grace to love,
to serve and to honour your daughter,
the most holy Virgin Mary.
Please recommend me to her and pray to her for me.
She refuses none your requests
but welcomes with loving kindness all those for whom you intercede.

Good Jesus, be merciful to the faithful servants
of Your grandmother St Anne.
AmenDAY ONE NOVENA ST ANNE 17 july 2019.jpg

Posted in NOVENAS, PRAYERS to the SAINTS

Announcing a Novena to St Anne – Begins Wednesday 17 July

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Announcing a Novena to St Anne – Begins Wednesday 17 July

We begin the Nine Day Novena to St Anne, mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus Christ, on Wednesday this week.

The Feasts of St Anne and her husband St Joachim are celebrated on 26 July.    St Anne is the patron of childless couples, homemakers, mothers and grandparents.   She is invoked for safe and healthy childbirth and against sterility.   But her patronages are manifold and include children, housewives, lost articles, moving house, poverty, child-care providers and more.   I think most importantly, as the mother of our most beloved Mother Mary and the Grandmother of Jesus, her intercession and influence, on our behalf, extends to whatever needs we may bring to her.

So let us pray!

st anne novena begins 17 july - made 15 july 2019

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, NOVENAS, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS

Novena in honour of the Sacred Heart – Day Nine – 27 June

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Novena to the Sacred Heart
Day Nine – 27 June

Ninth Day – Thank you, Jesus!

Today’s Scripture
Then Jesus asked, ‘Were not ten made clean?   But the other nine, where are they?   Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’…Luke 17: 17-18

Today’s Reflection

Did you know that in the Old Testament the word ‘praise’ has only one object – God!   In the psalms, to praise is to live, not praising is the same as not living, not living the life which is God’s gift, to be returned in praise.   A Jewish rabbi has written, ‘It is difficult to feel depressed when you remember fairly constantly that life is a gift.   Faith teaches us to make a blessing over life.   Making a blessing over life is the best way of turning life into a blessing.’

Today’s Prayer
I want to say ‘thank You, Jesus’
for these nine days of prayer,
of talking and listening to You
more closely than usual.
Thank You,
especially for all the things in my life
that I just take for granted everyday,
forgetting that they are pure gift.
Amen

Daily Invocation
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Novena Prayer
Lord Jesus, the needs of Your people,
open Your Sacred Heart in love for each of us.
You care for us when we are lost,
sympathise with us in loneliness
and comfort us in mourning.
You are closest to us when we are weakest.
You love us most, when we love ourselves least,
You forgive us most, when we forgive ourselves least
and You call us to spread Your love
in whatever way we can.
Lord Jesus, Your Sacred Heart
is moved with compassion
when we are suffering,
when we need Your help
and when we pray for each other.
I ask You to listen to my prayer during this Novena
and grant what I ask.
—————————-
(Mention your intention silently.)
If what I ask is not for my own good
and the good of others,
grant me what is best,
that I may build up Your kingdom
of love in our world.
AmenDAY NINE - NOVENA SACRED HEART - 27 june 2019.jpg

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, NOVENAS, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, The WORD, Thomas a Kempis

Novena in honour of the Sacred Heart – Day Eight – 26 June

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to the Sacred Heart
Day Eight – 26 June

Eighth Day – Peace be with you!

Today’s Scripture
While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’   They were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost.   He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?   Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself.   Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.’…Luke 24: 36-39

Reflection for the Eighth Day
Peace; Look; Listen;  Go!   Jesus greets the apostles with that soothing word, ‘Shalom’ (Peace) – it means I wish you the fullness of well-being of mind and body and soul.   He then invites them to look at His hands and side.   He encourages them to listen to what the scriptures say about Him and then to go and preach the Good News that He is Risen!

Today’s Prayer
Lord, You see my poverty
and still You love me better than
I can love myself.
Supply my wants with Yourself,
according to Your mercy.
Help me to accept Your will
without seeking
to understand disappointments.
Help me to resign myself entirely
and absolutely to You.
Amen

Daily Invocation
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Novena Prayer
Lord Jesus, the needs of Your people,
open Your Sacred Heart in love for each of us.
You care for us when we are lost,
sympathise with us in loneliness
and comfort us in mourning.
You are closest to us, when we are weakest.
You love us most, when we love ourselves least,
You forgive us most, when we forgive ourselves least
and You call us to spread Your love
in whatever way we can.
Lord Jesus, Your Sacred Heart
is moved with compassion
when we are suffering,
when we need Your help
and when we pray for each other.
I ask You to listen to my prayer during this Novena
and grant what I ask.
—————————-
(Mention your intention silently.)
If what I ask is not for my own good
and the good of others,
grant me what is best,
that I may build up Your kingdom
of love in our world.
AmenDAY EIGHT- NOVENA SACRED HEART - 26 june 2019.jpg

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, NOVENAS

Novena in honour of the Sacred Heart – Day Seven – 25 June

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Novena to the Sacred Heart
Day Seven – 25 June

Seventh Day – What strange friends you have, Lord!

Today’s Scripture
‘But I say to you listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you….Luke 6: 27-28

Reflection for the Seventh Day
You know the old saying, ‘Show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are’ ? Well, Jesus had the strangest set of friends Levi (a hated tax-collector) Simon the Zealot (a revolutionary), women in prostitution and other ‘public sinners’.   Maybe I’m not such bad company for Jesus, after all!

Today’s Prayer
Jesus, You once said,
‘I’ve come not to call the virtuous
but sinners to repentance.’
During Your mission,
You sat and ate with sinners.
This practice of Yours
gives me great hope
that Your love will bid me welcome too!
Amen

Daily Invocation
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Novena Prayer
Lord Jesus, the needs of Your people,
open Your Sacred Heart in love for each of us.
You care for us when we are lost,
sympathise with us in loneliness
and comfort us in mourning.
You are closest to us when we are weakest.
You love us most, when we love ourselves least,
You forgive us most, when we forgive ourselves least
and You call us to spread Your love
in whatever way we can.
Lord Jesus, Your Sacred Heart
is moved with compassion
when we are suffering,
when we need Your help
and when we pray for each other.
I ask You to listen to my prayer during this Novena
and grant what I ask.
—————————-
(Mention your intention silently.)
If what I ask is not for my own good
and the good of others,
grant me what is best,
that I may build up Your kingdom
of love in our world.
AmenDAY SEVEN - NOVENA SACRED HEART - 25 june 2019.jpg

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, NOVENAS, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, The WORD

Novena in honour of the Sacred Heart – Day Six – 24 June

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to the Sacred Heart
Day Six – 24 June

Sixth Day – Honesty in prayer

Today’s Scripture
When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them about their brother.   When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home.   Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.   But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’   Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’...John 11:17-24

Reflection for the Sixth Day
St Ignatius Loyola said that we should always speak to Jesus in prayer just as one close friend would speak to another. Don’t be afraid to express your real feelings to Jesus – anger, hurt, joy, sorrow, etc. When you’ve made your complaint or expressed your joy, don’t forget one thing Listen for God’s response! It may come in surprising ways.

Today’s Prayer
Jesus, I have to be honest
and tell You that there’ve been times
when I’ve been angry with You
and I feel that You’ve let me down.
Help me to trust that You really do have
a loving plan for me and for everyone,
a plan that most times
I find hard to fathom.
For Your ways are not ours
and that makes it difficult for us.
But total trust, as a child trusts it’s parents,
is what I ask of You.

Daily Invocation
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Novena Prayer
Lord Jesus, the needs of Your people,
open Your Sacred Heart in love for each of us.
You care for us when we are lost,
sympathise with us in loneliness
and comfort us in mourning.
You are closest to us when we are weakest.
You love us most, when we love ourselves least,
You forgive us most, when we forgive ourselves least
and You call us to spread Your love
in whatever way we can.
Lord Jesus, Your Sacred Heart
is moved with compassion
when we are suffering,
when we need Your help
and when we pray for each other.
I ask You to listen to my prayer during this Novena
and grant what I ask.
—————————-
(Mention your intention silently.)
If what I ask is not for my own good
and the good of others,
grant me what is best,
that I may build up Your kingdom
of love in our world.
AmenDAY SIX- 24 JUNE 2019- SACRED HEART NOVENA

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, NOVENAS, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, The WORD

Novena in honour of the Sacred Heart Day Five – 23 June

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Novena to the Sacred Heart
Day Five – 23 June

Fifth Day – Has no one condemned you?

Today’s Scripture
Jesus straightened up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, sir.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.’...John 8: 10-11

Reflection for the Fifth Day
I read something recently which went like this: ‘You do not have to be good before God will love you; you do not have to repent before you will be absolved by God. It is all the other way around. If you are good, it is because God’s love has already made you so; if you want to be forgiven, that is because God is forgiving you.’

Today’s Prayer
Jesus, as I reflect upon Your Sacred Heart,
help me to have a deep felt knowledge
that You have already forgiven
the sins of which I have repented
and asked Your forgiveness.
Help me to examine my conscience each day,
for I know You long to forgive all my sins,
where Your Sacred Heart
is love made visible.

Daily Invocation
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Novena Prayer
Lord Jesus, the needs of Your people,
open Your Sacred Heart in love for each of us.
You care for us when we are lost,
sympathise with us in loneliness
and comfort us in mourning.
You are closest to us when we are weakest.
You love us most, when we love ourselves least,
You forgive us most, when we forgive ourselves least
and You call us to spread Your love
in whatever way we can.
Lord Jesus, Your Sacred Heart
is moved with compassion
when we are suffering,
when we need Your help
and when we pray for each other.
I ask You to listen to my prayer during this Novena
and grant what I ask.
—————————-
(Mention your intention silently.)
If what I ask is not for my own good
and the good of others,
grant me what is best,
that I may build up Your kingdom
of love in our world.
Amenday-five-novena-to-the-sacred-heart 23 june 2019.jpg

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, NOVENAS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on LOVE, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, The WORD

Novena in honour of the Sacred Heart Day Three – 21 June

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to the Sacred Heart
Day Three – 21 June

Third Day – When I find prayer difficult

Today’s Scripture
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.   And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.   We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose….Romans 8: 26-28

Reflection for the Third Day
St Thérèse of Lisieux (1873-1897) once said, that love was her vocation in life.   Never was this vocation tested more than in the last nine months of her life as she lay dying with tuberculosis.   She wrote a note to her sister Céline:  ‘Here is great love, to love Jesus without feeling the sweetness of His love – that is love pushed to the point of heroism.’

Today’s Prayer
Jesus, I believe.   Help my unbelief!
Jesus, You are the real bedrock of my hope.
Help me always to rely on You,
especially in times of doubt and trouble.

Daily Invocation
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Novena Prayer
Lord Jesus, the needs of Your people,
open Your Sacred Heart in love for each of us.
You care for us when we are lost,
sympathise with us in loneliness
and comfort us in mourning.
You are closest to us when we are weakest.
You love us most, when we love ourselves least,
You forgive us most, when we forgive ourselves least
and You call us to spread Your love
in whatever way we can.
Lord Jesus, Your Sacred Heart
is moved with compassion
when we are suffering,
when we need Your help
and when we pray for each other.
I ask You to listen to my prayer during this Novena
and grant what I ask.
—————————-
(Mention your intention silently.)
If what I ask, is not for my own good
and the good of others,
grant me what is best,
that I may build up Your kingdom
of love in our world.
AmenDAY THREE NOVENA SACRED HEART - 21 june 2019.jpg

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, NOVENAS, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS

Novena in honour of the Sacred Heart – Day Two – 20 June

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to the Sacred Heart
Day Two – 20 June

Second Day – What does God desire?

Today’s Scripture
‘So I say to you, ask and it will be given to you;  search, and you will find;  knock, and the door will be opened for you.   For everyone who asks, receives and everyone who searches, finds and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.’…Luke 11:9-10

Reflection for the Second Day
St Augustine said, ‘For yourself you have made us, O Lord and our hearts are restless until they rest in you’.   I love a change a modern theologian has made in those lines – he writes, ‘Your heart is restless until we rest in You’.   Our God is vulnerable to our free response.   He cannot resist our call to Him and He wants us to call Him, constantly!

Today’s Prayer
Lord, I come to You full of needs.   But my deepest need, is to become more convinced of Your love for me.   Help me to believe that You are with me today, tomorrow and always, that You are listening to my voice, as long as I work hard to keep Your commandments and to follow Your will and not my own.    Amen.

Daily Invocation
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You.

Novena Prayer
Lord Jesus, the needs of Your people,
open Your Sacred Heart in love for each of us.
You care for us when we are lost,
sympathise with us in loneliness
and comfort us in mourning.
You are closest to us when we are weakest.
You love us most, when we love ourselves least,
You forgive us most, when we forgive ourselves least
and You call us to spread Your love,
in whatever way we can.
Lord Jesus, Your Sacred Heart
is moved with compassion
when we are suffering,
when we need Your help
and when we pray for each other.
I ask You to listen to my prayer during this Novena
and grant what I ask.
—————————-
(Mention your intention silently.)
If what I ask is not for my own good
and the good of others,
grant me what is best,
that I may build up Your kingdom
of love in our world.
AmenDAY Two- NOVENA SACRED HEART 20 JUNE 2019.jpg

Posted in NOVENAS, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS

Novena in Honour of the Sacred Heart Day One – 19 June

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to the Sacred Heart
Day One – 19 June

First Day – What do you desire?

Today’s Scripture
The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’   The two disciples heard him say this and they followed Jesus.  Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” …John 1: 35-38

Reflection for the First Day
Jesus addresses the same question to you at the beginning of this novena
‘What do you want?’   St Augustine said that all our desires are really a longing for God in disguise – where there is real desire, there is prayer.   So, be at peace in your desire, you are already praying!

Today’s Prayer
Lord, I come to You at the start of this Novena with a muddle of desires.   Give me courage, to listen to what You want to say to me about these desires and give me the strength to accept Your loving desires for me and for my loved ones.

Daily Invocation
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Novena Prayer
Lord Jesus, the needs of Your people,
open Your Sacred Heart in love for each of us.
You care for us when we are lost,
sympathise with us in loneliness
and comfort us in mourning.
You are closest to us when we are weakest.
You love us most, when we love ourselves least,
You forgive us most, when we forgive ourselves least
and You call us to spread Your love
in whatever way we can.
Lord Jesus, Your Sacred Heart
is moved with compassion
when we are suffering,
when we need Your help
and when we pray for each other.
I ask You to listen to my prayer during this Novena
and grant what I ask.
—————————-
(Mention your intention silently.)
If what I ask is not for my own good
and the good of others,
grant me what is best,
that I may build up Your kingdom
of love in our world.
AmenDAY ONE - NOVENA SACRED HEART - 19 june 2019.jpg

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, NOVENAS, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, Ven Servant of God John A Hardon

Announcing the NOVENA to the SACRED HEART BEGINS Wednesday, 19 June

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Announcing the NOVENA to the SACRED HEART
BEGINS Wednesday, 19 Juneannouncing-the-novena-to-the-sacred-heart-19-june-to-begin.jpg

Devotion to the Sacred Heart
By Ven Servant of God John A Hardon SJ (1914-2000)

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is as old as Christianity.   When the side of Christ was pierced on Calvary, there immediately flowed out blood and water.   The Church has interpreted this to mean, the outpouring of grace through the Church, which began the moment that Christ expired on the Cross.
Over the centuries, the gratitude of the faithful for this manifestation of divine love has centred on the physical Heart of Jesus as the symbol of God’s love for man.   We may, therefore, say, that devotion to the Sacred Heart is really devotion to the love of God as revealed in the person of Jesus Christ.
When God became man, it was God – who is love – who became man. In the languages of all nations, the heart is identified with love.   Consequently, our devotion to the Heart of Jesus is directed to the love of Jesus in different ways.
We love Him as our God, who has loved us from all eternity and out of selfless love brought us into existence and destined us to possess Him for all eternity.
We love Him as our God Incarnate, who loved us so much that He assumed our human nature and by His bodily death redeemed us from the eternal death we deserved for our sins.
We love Him as our Redeemer who rose from the dead and ascended into heaven where He is preparing a place for us.   Where He is, our God united with His human body and soul, we hope to be in His blessed company.
We love Him as our Eucharistic Lord who is on earth in His humanity, in the Blessed Sacrament.   He offers Himself in the Mass through which He now communicates the graces He won for us on the Cross.   By His Real Presence, He invites us to offer Him our adoring love and ask Him to work the miracles He performed during His visible stay in Palestine.
To be emphasised is the unique character of devotion to the Sacred Heart.   It is nothing less than a synthesis of Catholic Christianity in its loving response to the unspeakable love of God for the sons and daughters of the human family.

For the sake of convenience, we may divide the terms “Sacred Heart” and “Devotion” into two parts:
Sacred Heart stands for the love of God, which means the love that is God, the love that God has shown for us from the dawn of creation until now and the love that God will continue to pour out on us into the endless reaches of eternity.
Devotion stands for our grateful return of love for love, which is shown in loving sacrifice by the total surrender of our wills to the mysterious and demanding will of God, in loving imitation of Jesus Christ, whose virtues as man, are so many manifestations of His divine attributes as God, in loving worship of Mary’s Son, who is present with His living, pulsating human Heart in the Blessed Sacrament, in loving petition for the graces that we and others, need to serve Him faithfully, here on earth and enjoy Him in the life that will never end.
A simple but very effective way of growing in devotion to the Sacred Heart, is to recite daily the very old morning offering, used for centuries within the Catholic heart:

O Jesus,
through the Most Pure Heart of Mary
and in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
throughout the world today,
I offer You all my prayers,
works, joys and sufferings of this day,
for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart,
I offer them for
the salvation of souls,
the reparation of sins,
the intentions of all our bishops, priests,
apostles of prayer
and our Holy Father, the Pope.
Amenmorning offering - 1 june 2019.jpg

Among the promises made by our Lord to St Margaret Mary, was the assurance that, “Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in my Heart, never to be blotted out.”

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, NOVENAS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The HOLY GHOST

Pentecost Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Nine – 8 June

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Nine – 8 June

“I believe in the Holy Spirit”

The Church, a communion living in the faith of the apostles
which she transmits, is the place where we know the Holy Spirit:
– in the Scriptures He inspired;
– in the Tradition, to which the Church Fathers are always timely witnesses;
– in the Church’s Magisterium, which He assists;
– in the sacramental liturgy, through its words and symbols,
in which the Holy Spirit puts us into communion with Christ;
– in prayer, wherein He intercedes for us;
– in the charisms and ministries, by which the Church is built up;
– in the signs of apostolic and missionary life;
– in the witness of saints, through whom
He manifests His holiness
and continues the work of salvation.

Catechism of the Catholic Church
Section Two – Article 8 “I believe in the Holy Spirit” #688

++++++++++++++++++++

“We receive the Spirit of truth
so that we can know the things of God.
In order to grasp this,
consider how useless the faculties of the human body would becom,
if they were denied their exercise.
Our eyes cannot fulfil their task without light, either natural or artificial,
our ears cannot react without sound vibrations
and in the absence of any odour, our nostrils are ignorant of their function.
Not that these senses would lose their own nature, if they were not used. rather, they demand objects of experience in order to function.
It is the same with the human soul.
Unless it absorbs the gift of the Spirit through faith,
the mind has the ability to know God
but lacks the light necessary for that knowledge.”

St Hilary of Poitiers (315-368)
Father & Doctor of the Church

we receive the spirit of truth so that we can know the things of god - st hilary of poitiers 8 june 2019.jpg

For the Traditional Novena, here with the Act of Consecration: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/05/11/pentecost-novena-to-the-holy-spirit-for-the-seven-gifts-day-one-11-may-2018/

Begin by reciting the following prayer…

O Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler!
I adore You as my True God.
I offer You my whole heart
and I render You heartfelt thanks
for all the benefits You have bestowed upon the world.
You are the author of all supernatural gifts
and enriched the Blessed Virgin Mary,
the Mother of God,
with all favours,
I ask You to visit me by Your grace and Your love,
and grant me the favour
I so earnestly seek…
…………………………………. State your request here…
O Holy Spirit,
spirit of truth, come into our hearts.

Let us Pray:

O Lord, Holy Spirit,
grant me sight to see the wondrous promise of divine love,
insight to see my own weakness,
delight in Your divine presence in my soul
which You have made Your temple, through sanctifying grace.
I pray, O Holy Spirit,
that I may be not doubting;
that I be spared the pain of being alone
without trust or hope in Christ,
that my prayer may always be “My Lord and my God!”
I pray that I may acquire a sense of retreat
to prayer and recollection at various times in my daily life,
for prayer is the bond that joins us to Christ.
I pray that I may be aware of the physical needs of the poor
and that I may share what I can with them
in the charitable works of the Church.
I pray, O Holy Spirit,
that You will, in Your mercy
grant me the favour, I have sought in this novena.

Come, O Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of Your faithful,
and kindle in them the fire of Your love.

Amenday-nine-pentecost-novena-19-may-2018-somehow-i-made-two

Posted in NOVENAS, The HOLY GHOST, The WORD

Pentecost Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Seven – 6 June

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Seven – 6 June

“But it is God,

who establishes us, with you in Christ

and has anointed us,

by putting his seal on us

and giving us his Spirit in our heart,

as a first instalment.”

St Paul

2 Corinthians 1:21

2 cor 1 21 - but it is god who establishes us - 6 june 2019.jpg

For the Traditional Novena, here with the Act of Consecration: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/05/11/pentecost-novena-to-the-holy-spirit-for-the-seven-gifts-day-one-11-may-2018/

Begin by reciting the following prayer…

O Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler!
I adore You as my True God.
I offer You my whole heart,
and I render You heartfelt thanks
for all the benefits You have bestowed upon the world.
You are the author of all supernatural gifts
and enriched the Blessed Virgin Mary,
the Mother of God,
with all favours,
I ask You to visit me by Your grace and Your love,
and grant me the favour
I so earnestly seek…
…………………………………. State your request here…
O Holy Spirit,
spirit of truth, come into our hearts.

Let us Pray:

Come, Holy Spirit,
creator of all things:
come visit our hearts with Your power.
Fill with grace, friendly guest,
the hearts which You have created.
You are called the Consoler,
gift from the hand of God,
source of life,
light, love and flame, highest good.
You are the pledge of sevenfold grace,
finger of the Father’s hand,
promised us by Him,
and You make our tongues speak the truth.
Cast light on our senses,
pour love into our hearts.
Grant our weak bodies strength
that they may never grow weary of doing good
and grant me the favour I so earnestly seek in this novena…
Keep the enemy far from us,
give us peace always,
let us willingly follow in Your footsteps
that we may be far removed from sin.
Grant that through You
we may grow in knowledge
of the Father and of the Son
and that we may ever strongly believe in You,
the Spirit of both.
Praise and honour be forever
to the Father on the highest throne,
in the risen Son of God,
in the Consoler.

Come, O Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of Your faithful,
and kindle in them the fire of Your love.
Amenday-seven-pentecost-novena-17-may-2018

Posted in NOVENAS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The HOLY GHOST

Pentecost Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Five – 4 June

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Five – 4 June

“The Holy Spirit leads us like a mother.

He leads His child by the hand…

as a sighted person leads a blind person.”

St John Vianney (1786-1859

the holy spirit is like a mother - st john vianney - 4 june 2019 no 2.jpg

 

For the Traditional Novena, here with the Act of Consecration: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/05/11/pentecost-novena-to-the-holy-spirit-for-the-seven-gifts-day-one-11-may-2018/

DAY FIVE

Begin by reciting the following prayer…

O Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler!
I adore You as my True God.
I offer You my whole heart
and I render You heartfelt thanks
for all the benefits You have bestowed upon the world.
You are the author of all supernatural gifts
and enriched the Blessed Virgin Mary,
the Mother of God,
with all favours,
I ask You to visit me by Your grace and Your love
and grant me the favour
I so earnestly seek…
…………………………………. State your request here…
O Holy Spirit,
spirit of truth, come into our hearts.

Let us Pray:

Come, O Spirit of sanctity,
from the glory of heaven
and send forth the radiance of Your light.
Father of all the poor,
light and peace of all hearts,
come with Your countless gifts.
Consoler in desolation,
refreshment full of loveliness,
come dear friend of my soul.
In weariness send repose,
breath gently cool refreshing breeze,
console the desolate who weep alone.
Light of Beatitude,
make our hearts ready,
come enter our souls.
Without Your grace,
man stands alone;
he cannot be good or sure.
Cleanse what is soiled,
heal what is wounded,
moisten what is arid.
Bend the stubborn will,
warm the cold heart,
guide the wandering footstep.
O Holy Spirit,
we beg You to give us grace through Your seven-fold power
and grant me the favour I so earnestly seek in this novena…
Give us merit for the present
and one day beatitude, when we have finished our earthly journey.

Come, O Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of Your faithful,
and kindle in them the fire of Your love.
Amenday-five-pentecost-novena-15-may-2018

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, NOVENAS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The HOLY GHOST

Pentecost Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Four – 3 June

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Four – 3 June

“O Holy Spirit, descend plentifully into my heart.

Enlighten the dark corners of this neglected dwelling

and scatter there Your cheerful beams.”

St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor of Grace

o holy spirit descend plentifully - st augustine - 3 june 2019.jpg

For the Traditional Novena, here with the Act of Consecration: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/05/11/pentecost-novena-to-the-holy-spirit-for-the-seven-gifts-day-one-11-may-2018/

DAY FOUR
Begin by reciting the following prayer…

O Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler!
I adore You as my True God.
I offer You my whole heart
and I render You heartfelt thanks
for all the benefits You have bestowed upon the world.
You are the author of all supernatural gifts
and enriched the Blessed Virgin Mary,
the Mother of God,
with all favours,
I ask You to visit me by Your grace and Your love
and grant me the favour
I so earnestly seek…
…………………………………. State your request here…
O Holy Spirit,
spirit of truth, come into our hearts.

Let us Pray:

O God,
Who today, by the light of the Holy Spirit
did instruct the hearts of the faithful,
give us, by the light of the same Holy Spirit,
a love for what is right and just
and a constant enjoyment of His comforts.
Pray Holy Spirit,
that I may strive to learn more of my faith;
that I may ever be conscious
that reason, in all its human magnificence,
is capable of grasping but a glimpse of the reality that is God.
Pray that I may accept as the motto of my life:

“All for the greater glory of God”

and grant me the favour I so earnestly seek in this novena…

Come, O Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of Your faithful,
and kindle in them
the fire of Your love.
Amenday-four-pentecost-novena-14-may-2018.jpg

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, NOVENAS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The HOLY GHOST

Pentecost Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Three – 2 June

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Three – 2 June

“As the soul
is the life of the body,
so the Holy Spirit
is the life of our souls.”

St Peter Damian (1007-1072)
Doctor of the Church

as the soul is the life of the body so the holy spirit is the life of the soul - st peter damian 2 june 2019.jpg

DAY THREE
Begin by reciting the following prayer…

O Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler!
I adore You as my True God.
I offer You my whole heart,
and I render You heartfelt thanks
for all the benefits You have bestowed upon the world.
You are the author of all supernatural gifts
and enriched the Blessed Virgin Mary,
the Mother of God,
with all favours,
I ask You to visit me by Your grace and Your love,
and grant me the favour
I so earnestly seek…
…………………………………. State your request here…
O Holy Spirit,
spirit of truth, come into our hearts.

Let us Pray:

Heavenly Father,
You have called me to be a member
of the mystical body of Your Son, Jesus Christ,
and to be a temple of the Holy Spirit.
I ask You to give me these gifts of the Holy Spirit –
wisdom, that I may understand the follies of this world;
understanding, that I may grasp more fully
the meaning of my existence
and the purpose of all things in the world;
counsel, that I may always choose the proper way;
fortitude, that I may remain faithful to You
under the pressure of temptatio.;
piety, that I may revere You in all I do, think or say;
fear of the Lord, that should the motive of love fail me,
I may quickly be awakened to the eternal consequences of my deeds.
Visit me by Your grace
and Your love
and grant me the favour I so earnestly seek in this novena…

Come, O Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of Your faithful,
and kindle in them the fire of Your love.
Amenday-three-pentecost-novena-13-may-2018.jpg

Posted in 7 GIFTS of the HOLY GHOST: Wisdom, Understanding, Prudence, Strength, Knowledge, Piety, Fear, CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, NOVENAS, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, The HOLY GHOST

Pentecost Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Two – 1 June

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Two – 1 June

“Enrich your soul in the great goodness of God –
The Father is your table,
the Son is your food
and the Holy Spirit waits on you
and then makes His dwelling in you.”

St Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)
Doctor of the Church

the father is the table the son is the food and the holy spirit waits on you st c of siena 1 june 2019

For the Traditional Novena, Day One here with the Act of Consecration: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/05/11/pentecost-novena-to-the-holy-spirit-for-the-seven-gifts-day-one-11-may-2018/

DAY TWO

Begin by reciting the following prayer…

O Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler!
I adore You as my True God.
I offer You my whole heart
and I render You heartfelt thanks
for all the benefits You have bestowed upon the world.
You are the author of all supernatural gifts
and enriched the Blessed Virgin Mary,
the Mother of God,
with all favours.
I ask You to visit me by Your grace and Your love,
and grant me the favour
I so earnestly seek…
…………………………………. State your request here…
O Holy Spirit,
spirit of truth, come into our hearts.

Let us Pray:

O Holy Spirit,
make me faithful in every thought,
and grant that I may always listen to Your voice
and watch for Your light
and follow Your gracious inspirations.
I cling to You
and give myself to You
and ask You, by Your compassion,
to watch over me in my weakness.
Holding the pierced feet of Jesus,
looking at His Five Wounds,
trusting in His Precious Blood,
adoring His opened side and stricken heart,
I implore You adorable Spirit,
helper of my infirmity,
to keep me in Your grace,
now and always,
and grant us the favour me ask in this novena…

Come, O Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of Your faithful,
and kindle in them the fire of Your love.
Amenday-two-pentecost-novena-12-may-2018.jpg

Posted in 7 GIFTS of the HOLY GHOST: Wisdom, Understanding, Prudence, Strength, Knowledge, Piety, Fear, NOVENAS, The HOLY GHOST

Pentecost Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day one – 31 May

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day one – 31 May

“We ought to pray and invoke the Holy Spirit, for each one of us greatly needs His protection and His help.   The more we are lacking in wisdom, weak in strength, burdened with trouble, prone to sin, the more we should turn to Him, Who is the never-ceasing fount of light, strength, consolation and holiness.”

Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903)

we ought to pray and invoke the holy spirit - pope leo xiii - 31 may 2019.jpg

The novena in honour of the Holy Spirit is the oldest of all novenas since it was first made at the direction of Our Lord Himself when He sent His apostles back to Jerusalem to await the coming of the Holy Ghost on the first Pentecost.   It is still the only novena officially prescribed by the Church.   Addressed to the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, it is a powerful plea for the light and strength and love so sorely needed by every Christian.  Whilst this is often called the Pentecost Novena, it can be said at any time you wish.
For the Traditional Novena, Day One here with the Act of Consecration: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/05/11/pentecost-novena-to-the-holy-spirit-for-the-seven-gifts-day-one-11-may-2018/

Day One

Begin by reciting the following prayer…

O Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler!
I adore You as my True God.
I offer You my whole heart,
and I render You heartfelt thanks
for all the benefits You have bestowed upon the world.
You are the author of all supernatural gifts
and enriched the Blessed Virgin Mary,
the Mother of God,
with all favours,
I ask You to visit me by Your grace and Your love,
and grant me the favour
I so earnestly seek…
…………………………………. State your request here…
O Holy Spirit,
spirit of truth, come into our hearts.

Let us Pray:

O Holy Spirit,
bestow upon us Your seven holy gifts.
Enlighten our understanding, that we may know You.
Give us wisdom, that Your will may be clear to us
and that we may accept it.
Grant us the gift of counsel,
that we may always perceive what is right.
Fortify us, that we may always be capable
of fulfilling Your Divine Will.
Inspire us, with the spirit of learning
that we may be able to penetrate more deeply,
into the truths that You have revealed.
Let our hearts be steeped in the spirit of childlikeness
that we may bring You joy.
Let us have proper fear of God
that we may never grieve You,
or wander from the path of goodness.
Give us the fullness of Your gifts,
that we may glorify You.
Look with compassion upon us,
O Holy Spirit,
and grant us the favour we seek in this novena…
if it be in accordance with Your Holy Will.

Come, O Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of Your faithful,
and kindle in them the fire of Your love.
Amenday-one-pentecost-novena-11-may-2018.jpg

Posted in NOTES to Followers, NOVENAS, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, The HOLY GHOST

I’ll be back……and Announcing the Pentecost Novena

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Apologies for my hasty exodus.

I think I am superwoman but have now realised I am not!   I am so sorry but I have an imminent deadline for original work I am doing for my Diocese.   It needs to be ready by Pentecost and I have done absolutely nothing as yet!

So no posts for a few weeks.   I will be back as soon as I have made some progress and prepared at least 3 months of the 12 month-long programme.

I will be praying for you all!   Please pray for me and keep on keeping on.

For those who would like to read about today’s Saints:

St Bede the Venerable:  https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/05/25/saint-of-the-day-25-may-st-bede-the-venerable-o-s-b/

St Pope Gregory VII:  https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/05/25/saint-of-the-day-25-may-st-pope-gregory-vii-c-1015-1085/

I will also be posting the Pentecost Novena,

which begins on Friday 31 May.

announcing-the-pentecost-novena-begins-friday-31-may-posted-25-may-2019.jpg

Posted in CONSECRATION Prayers, NOVENAS, St JOSEPH

Novena to St Joseph – Day Nine & Consecration – 19 March

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to St Joseph – Day Nine & Consecration
By Fr Michael Gaitley, MIC

Day Nine

St Joseph, Who Died So Beautifully
Patron of a Holy Death

Dear St Joseph,

I know I am going to die.   When I do, I trust that you will be there to greet me with Jesus and Mary in a special way.   Will you please promise me this?   I trust you.   I believe that you will be there for me.   For my part, I will try not to be afraid of my death and I will live my life in preparation for it.   I will maybe even look forward to it as the time when I will get to meet my Lord, my Mother and you face to face.

Prepare me for my death, whenever it may be.   If it is sudden, please make sure that my soul is prepared and please make sure I will not be lost!

Dear St Joseph, obtain this grace for me as I consecrate myself to your fatherly care. I will then be fully yours.   Probably someday after that, I will die and I give you permission to take me home to my Father’s house when that day comes.

Saint Joseph, who died so beautifully, please prepare my soul for death.   Amenday nine novena to st joseph 19 march 2019.jpg

Day of Consecration to St Joseph

Dear St Joseph,

On this day, before God and your Immaculate Spouse, Mary,
I ___________________ choose you as my spiritual father forever.
I formally entrust myself to your fatherly care.
I love you and I trust in your prayers.
As your spiritual child,
I give you full permission
(and in fact, I’m begging you)
to please act in my life,
especially in these concerns:
………………………………
Praying for me constantly in a special way,
Bringing me even deeper into the Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
Providing for me and all my loved ones,
Guarding and protecting me from bodily and spiritual evil,
Guiding me to always do God’s most perfect will,
Helping me to suffer with love and without complaint,
Giving me purity of body and of soul,
Forming me into a person of peace and joy,
Preparing me for a beautiful and happy death.

From this day forward, St Joseph,
you are my spiritual father
and I am your child.
I trust you and love you
and I look forward to meeting you someday in heaven.
I ask all of this through Jesus Christ our Lord
and for the glory of God,
who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amenconsecration to st joseph - 19 march 2019.jpg

Posted in NOVENAS, St JOSEPH

Novena to St Joseph – Day Eight – 18 March

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to St Joseph – Day Eight
By Fr Michael Gaitley, MIC

Day Eight

St Joseph, Man of Peace and Joy

Dear St Joseph,

I know the Bible doesn’t speak directly of your joy but how could you not have been full of joy?   I’m sure you were.   You lived in the presence of Jesus and Mary.    Well, St Joseph, please pray for me that I will also find my joy by also living in their presence. And having yourself lived in their presence, you must have been a man of such peace.  St Joseph, please pray for me that I keep my joy and not give in to sadness, laziness, or discouragement.   Also, pray that I keep my peace of soul and not hold on to anger and bitterness in my heart.   Help me to be merciful to everyone by offering forgiveness, that I might also, like you, be a person of true peace and joy.

Saint Joseph, Man of Peace and Joy, please put me at peace and help me find joy.   Amenday eight - novena to st joseph 18 march.jpg

Posted in NOVENAS, St JOSEPH

Novena to St Joseph – Day Seven- 17 March

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to St Joseph – Day Seven
By Fr Michael Gaitley, MIC

Day Seven

St Joseph, Pure of Heart

Dear St Joseph,

I said I want to be a saint and saints need to be pure not only of body but of soul. Regarding purity of body, St Joseph, guard me, protect me and defend me from temptations against purity.

I rely on you, St Joseph.   Don’t let me fall.   Don’t let my eyes or thoughts wander. If they do, please bring them back to Jesus. I trust in you, St. Joseph.   You lived purely with Mary in the midst of her beauty.   Help me to see the beauty of others with your own pure vision.   If I fall, help me to find God’s mercy and free me from any bondage to such sin. Regarding purity of intentions, help me do everything not to please myself or others but to please God alone.   Give me this grace as my dear spiritual father.   I trust in you, St. Joseph.

Saint Joseph, Pure of Heart, please lend me your own purity of heart. Amen.day seven novena to st joseph 17 march 2019.jpg

Posted in NOVENAS, St JOSEPH

Novena to St Joseph – Day Six – 16 March

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to St Joseph
By Fr Michael Gaitley, MIC

Day Six

St Joseph, Who Suffered with Love

Dear St Joseph,

As the day draws closer when I will fully consecrate myself to you, as I draw closer to you, I can’t help but notice the scars on your heart, how you suffered with love.   You suffered darkness and confusion when Mary was found with child.   You suffered the sacrifice of your flesh as you lovingly offered up the absence of bodily intimacy in marriage.   You suffered a sword in your heart, with Mary, when Simeon foretold the passion of your Son.   You suffered stress and uncertainty when you had to escape with your family to Egypt and live as an immigrant.   You suffered crushing anxiety when your 12-year-old Son was lost for three days.   You daily suffered fatigue and bodily aches from your manual labour.   Worst of all, your fatherly heart, grieved, at knowing that you could not be there for Jesus and Mary when their darkest hour would one day come.

Saint Joseph, thank you for what you suffered in God’s service, in union with your Son, for my salvation.   I love you, St Joseph.   Thank you for your yes.   Now, please help me to suffer with love as you did.   When I suffer, help me not to complain.   Help me not to forget love.   Help me not to forget others.   Dear St Joseph, through my suffering, watch over my poor heart, may it not harden but rather become more merciful.   Help me to remember all God’s children who are suffering in the world and help me, to offer my suffering for them and for the good of the Church.   I am counting on you, St Joseph. I know you will be with me, helping me to suffer with love.

Saint Joseph, who suffered with love, please help me also to suffer with a love like yours.   Amenday six noivena to st joseph who suffered with love 16 march 2019.jpg

Posted in NOVENAS, St JOSEPH

Novena to St Joseph – Day Five – 15 March

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to St Joseph
By Fr Michael Gaitley, MIC

Day Five
St Joseph, Who Did God’s Will

Dear St Joseph,

You did God’s will.   Dare I say, you did it perfectly?   Saint Joseph, I want to also do God’s most perfect will.   But on my own, I will fail.   I need your help.   I trust that with you as my spiritual father, you will guide me to always do God’s most perfect will.   Truly, St. Joseph, I want to reach the degree of glory that God has prepared for me in heaven.   I want to bear fruit that will last.   I don’t want to let God down.   I want to be a saint.   Help me, St Joseph.   You see how weak and sinful I am.   But teach me, good father.   Help me to follow the commandments and please make my heart sensitive to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit.

I know that as I entrust myself to your care, you will guide me and show me how to always do God’s will.   I give you permission to redirect the stream of my life if it ever departs from God’s most perfect will.

Saint Joseph, who did God’s will, please always keep me in God’s most perfect will.  Amenday five - novena to st joseph - who did god's will - 15 march 2019.jpg

Posted in NOVENAS, St JOSEPH

Novena to St Joseph, Day Four – 14 March

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to St Joseph
By Fr Michael Gaitley, MIC

Day Four

St Joseph, Strong Guardian

Dear St Joseph,

When I think that God gave me my guardian angel and St Michael to daily watch over me and defend me, I’m not afraid.   But then, when I think that you, you who are even more powerful before God, are my spiritual father, when I think that you are the “Terror of Demons,” when I think of how you protected the Baby Jesus from Herod, then I am completely at peace (or, at least I know I should be).

Saint Joseph, please pray that I will have the peace that comes from trusting in your fatherly protection.   Saint Joseph, I believe that you will protect me from my enemies, seen and unseen. I believe that you will protect me from bodily and spiritual harm.   I trust in your fatherly care.   Saint Joseph, I will do my best not to give into fear, knowing that you are praying for me in a special way as a child who has formally consecrated himself to your fatherly care.

Saint Joseph, Strong Guardian, please defend me with your prayers. Amenday four - novena to st joseph strong guardian 14 march 2019.jpg

Posted in NOVENAS, St JOSEPH

13 March – Novena to St Joseph – Day Three

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to St Joseph
By Fr Michael Gaitley, MIC

Day Three
St Joseph, Good Provider

Dear St Joseph,

As the foster father of Jesus, you provided for His human needs.   Through the work of your hands, he had food to strengthen Him, a house to give Him shelter and clothes to keep Him warm.

Now, from heaven, you’re still working, St Joseph.   Indeed, the loving labour of your prayers provide for all the members of the Body of your Son.   But as I’m preparing to consecrate myself completely to you, I ask you to please provide for me and for my loved ones in a special way.   Through your prayers, please make sure that we always have food to eat, a roof over our heads and clothes to wear.   Also, please pray for us that in times of abundance, we will never forget God.   Pray for us that we will always be grateful for God’s gifts and that we will never be a slave to things like food or money, pleasure or power.   Finally, help us always to remember and be generous with the poor.

Saint Joseph, with you as my spiritual father, I will do my best not to give in to useless anxiety about my job, money, or material things.   I believe you will always make sure I have what I need and as a good father, I ask that you indulge me a bit by even providing for my material wants, provided they don’t take me away from Jesus.

Saint Joseph, Good Provider, please provide for my needs through your powerful prayers.   Amendy three novena to st joseph - good provider - 13 march 2019.jpg