Starting Sunday, October 20: Novena To Saint Jude

On Sunday, October 20, 2013 I will be praying a Novena To Saint Jude the Apostle, which will end on the feast day of Saint Jude and Saint Simon, on October 28.

Saint Jude is the patron of lost or desperate causes, and several reasons are given for this patronage. The first, is that early Christians often confused him with the traitor Judas, and as a result of the confusion between the names, never prayed to him, and devotion to him became something of a lost cause. The second comes from his Epistle where he stressed that the faithful should persevere in the harsh and desperate environment faced by Christians in those times. You can read more about Saint Jude in a post I made several years ago here.

Certainly all of us have faced or are facing desperate events in our lives, and many are facing desperate situations, be it of a personal nature, or a moral or political nature in our communities and nations.

During this novena the prayers for each day will be posted here on "Favorite Prayers and Scripture". Please join with me in praying this Novena to Saint Jude, Apostle, and relative of Joseph and Mary, and of Our Lord and Savior. You can go the comments area of this blog, and leave your intentions if you'd like.

USCCB: pray, fast for conscience rights : News Headlines

The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:

• The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is asking Catholics to pray, fast, and abstain from meat on Friday, October 11, “that everyone may recognize the importance of laws upholding conscience protection.”
• In a reflection published along with the announced intention, the USCCB cited Dignitatis Humanae in saying that “the foundation of the principle of religious freedom is rooted in the dignity of the human person, who is endowed with reason and free will.” The reflection observed that leaders of the US bishops’ conference have written to Congress to insist that “government cannot mandate the purchase of healthcare if it means violating one's conscience.”

Read more by clicking below:
USCCB: pray, fast for conscience rights : News Headlines

Saint Therese Novena -- Day Nine

Dearest Saint Therese of Lisieux, you said that you would spend your time in heaven doing good on earth.

Your trust in God was complete. Pray that He may increase my trust in His goodness and mercy as I ask for the following petitions…

(State your intentions)

Pray for me that I, like you, may have great and innocent confidence in the loving promises of our God. Pray that I may live my life in union with God’s plan for me, and one day see the Face of God whom you loved so deeply.

Saint Therese, you were faithful to God up until the moment of your death. Pray for me that I may be faithful to our loving God. May my life bring peace and love to the world through faithful endurance in love for God our savior.

Amen.

*        *        *        *        *        *        *

Loving God, St. Therese never doubted that her life had meaning. Help me to see how I can bless and love everyone in my life. Especially…

I love your people, Lord. Help me to love them more!
I reflect you to the world, Lord. Help me to reflect you more clearly!
I rely on you, Lord. Help me to rely on you more!
I accept your will, Lord. Help me to accept your will every day!
I try to forgive, Lord. Help me to forgive 70 times 7 times!
I am humble, Lord. Give me more humility!
I see you, Lord. Help me to see you more!
I trust you, Lord. Help me to trust you more!
I love you, Lord. Help me to love you more!

Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory Be…