What Is A Novena?

What Is A Novena?
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Most families have traditions--cherished customs and practices handed on from one generation to another. A novena is like that--a Catholic "family tradition," a type of prayer that is one of the ways our family of faith has prayed for centuries.
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The Catholic tradition of praying novenas comes from the earliest days of the Church. After the ascension of Jesus, the Acts of the Apostles tells us that the Apostles and Mary gathered together and "devoted themselves single-mindedly to prayer" (Acts 1:14). And on the day of Pentecost, the Spirit of the Lord came to them. Based on this, Christians have always prayed for various needs, trusting that God both hears and answers prayer. Over time, the custom of praying for nine consecutive days for a particular need came to be called praying "a novena," since novena means nine.
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There are many different kinds of novenas, but their purpose is the same: we call to mind our needs and we ask God's help and protection while remembering how much God loves us. And as we pray, we also ask for a greater understanding and acceptance of God's mysterious workings in our life and the lives of those we love.
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"But," we might wonder, "doesn't God know our needs before we even ask; isn't praying once for something enough?" Although we believe in God's love for us, sometimes we need to remind ourselves of this. Although we know we are held in God's hands and that God will not let go, sometimes we need reassurance. In times of darkness, we need something to hold on to; in times of joy, we want to keep rejoicing! What may appear to be mere repetition in a novena is really a continual act of faith and hope in our loving God.
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Like the rosary, the Stations of the Cross, the Liturgy of the Hours, or meal prayers, novenas are one small part of our Catholic faith. The greatest prayer of all is the Eucharistic Celebration. The Eucharist is central to Catholic living; from this great source flows the answer to all our human longings. Through praying with Scripture in this novena, may we draw near our Eucharistic God with confidence, "to receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).
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Booklet: Scripture Novenas: Novena of Hope in Suffering
Pauline Books & Media - Boston
The Daughters of St. Paul - http://www.pauline.org/
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Acts 1:14
They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women
and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
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Hebrews 4:16
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we
may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
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Holy Bible (NIV) New International Version
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EWTN-Novena Prayers
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Started 9/14/05 - 1:28AM

Divine Mercy Novena
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I fly to Your Mercy, Compassionate God,
Who alone are good.
Although my misery is great and my offenses are many,
I trust in Your Mercy because You are the God of all Mercy,
and it has never been heard of in all ages,
nor do Heaven or Earth remember,
that a soul trusting in Your Mercy has been disappointed.
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(State your intentions)
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Jesus, Friend of a lonely heart,
You are my haven.
You are my peace.
You are my salvation.
You are my serenity in moments of struggle
and amidst an ocean of doubts.
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Amen
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Read more on The DIVINE MERCY Devotion, click here

Hail Mary
Full of Grace
The Lord is with thee
Blessed are you amongst women
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus
Holy Mary
Mother of God
Pray for us sinners
Now and and the hour of our death or trial.
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Amen.

Oh my Jesus,
Save us from the fires of hell and the powers of darkness
Lead all souls to Heaven
Or to a place better than where they might be
Expecially those in most need of thy mercy.
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Amen.

The Angelus

(This prayer should be recited morning, noon and
evening.)

The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary,
Full Of Grace,
The Lord Is With Thee;
Blessed Art Thou Among Women,
And Blessed Is The Fruit Of Thy Womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
Pray For Us Sinners,
Now And At The Hour Of Our Death Or Trial.

Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
Be it done unto me according to thy word.

Hail Mary,
Full Of Grace,
The Lord Is With Thee;
Blessed Art Thou Amongst Women,
And Blessed Is The Fruit Of Thy Womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother Of God,
Pray For Us Sinners,
Now And At The Time Of Our Death Or Trial.

Amen.

And the Word was made flesh.
And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary,
Full Of Grace,
The Lord Is With Thee;
Blessed Are You Amongst Women,
And Blessed Is The Fruit of Thy Womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother Of God,
Pray For Us Sinners,
Now And At The Time Of Our Death Or Trial.

Amen.

Pray for Us, O Holy Mother Of God,
That we may be made worthy of the
promises of Christ.

Let Us Pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy
grace into our hearts that, as we have known
the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, by the
message of an angel, so by His Passion and
Cross we may be brought to the glory of His
Resurrection. Through the same Christ Our
Lord.

Amen.


The Angelus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kttt76wNipI

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- Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Lk 1:28)

28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that
art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou
among women. Luke 1:28

- "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit
of your womb"(Lk 1:42).

42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed
art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
Luke 1:42

Our Father
Who art in Heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Thy Kingdom come
Thy will be done
On Earth as it is in Heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory
Now and forever.

Amen.

Dear Lord,
I thank you for this day,
for all that I have,
for how you have blessed me,
for hearing my prayers,
and answering them,
my home, husband and my family,
my garden,
my online sites and my few online friends,
my now DVR, VCR, computer and music,
for guiding me and my family through
the difficult times we have had,
for my friends,
for my good health and
prosperity,
for my work,
for where I live,
for my good neighbors,
for my ministry,
and for my community and Nation,

And for being there all the time,

I am truly blessed.

In Jesus name I pray,
and with Jesus in mind as well I pray,

Amen.

Naughty or Nice? 2009

Naughty or Nice? 2009

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- American Family Association:

AFA's 2009 listing of top retailers and how they recognize Christmas
http://action.afa.net/Detail.aspx?id=2147486887

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- Liberty Counsel

"Friend or Foe" Christmas Campaign
http://www.lc.org/index.cfm?PID=15259

The Compassionate Friends - Worldwide Candle Lighting

Worldwide Candle Lighting Video

Worldwide Candle Lighting

The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting unites family and friends around the globe in lighting candles for one hour to honor and remember children who have died at any age from any cause. As candles are lit at 7 p.m. local time, creating a virtual wave of light, hundreds of thousands of persons commemorate and honor children in a way that transcends all ethnic, cultural, religious, and political boundaries.

The Compassionate Friends - Home

The Messages Of Medjugorje

The Messages of Medjugorje
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Monthly Message

August 25, 2009

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"Dear children! Today I call you anew to conversion. Little children, you are not holy enough and you do not radiate holiness to others, therefore pray, pray, pray and work on your personal conversion, so that you may be a sign of God's love to others. I am with you and am leading you towards eternity, for which every heart must yearn. Thank you for having responded to my call. "

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http://www.maryourmother.org/medjugorje/messages/index.html
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Mary Our Mother Foundation

http://www.maryourmother.org/

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Medjugorje Web
http://www.medjugorjeweb.com/
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http://www.medjugorje.org/olmpage.htm
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http://www.medjugorjeusa.org/

Father Mychal F. Judge OFM - "The Fireman's Friar"

Father Mychal F. Judge, OFM

Chaplain to the New York City Fire Department

[born Robert Emmet Judge on May 11, 1933; died September 11, 2001]

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Died in the Lord's Service.

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"God Grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change…
the Courage to change the things that I can …
And the Wisdom to know the difference."
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On the other side was a prayer that Judge had written.
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"Lord, take me where You want me to go
Let me meet who You want me to meet
And keep me out of Your way."
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- Father Mychal Judge, OFM
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Father Mychal F. Judge, OFM was a busy Franciscan priest who dedicated his life to serving God's people. He is known for his work with the homeless, recovering addicts, AIDS patients, and his work as chaplain to the New York City Fire Department.
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On September 11, 2001, Father Mychal rushed from the friary at Saint Francis of Assisi Church to the scene of the World Trade Center attacks.
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After administering last rites to a firefighter, Father Mychal was hit by debris and killed. He became the first officially recorded fatality following the attack.
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During his life, Father Mychal spent much of his time ministering to the homeless on the Breadline at St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York City. This is one of the many places where he found God - in the hurting, the broken, the suffering, and the poor.
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His dedication to homeless men, women and children has become a calling to us that manifests itself as Mychal's Message.
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FOR THREE CLERGYMEN: THE ULTIMATE TEST OF FAITH
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http://www.mychalsmessage.org/index.htm
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mychal_F._Judge
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. Film: Saint of 9/11
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. The Serenity Prayer

YouTube Video: The Church's one foundation

The Church's one foundation