Day 8 – The Archangels – St. Michael and the Holy Angels Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

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Day 8 – The Celestial Choir of Archangels – St. Michael and the Holy Angels Novena

V/. O God, + come to my assistance
R/. O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory Be

Day 8 – The Celestial Choir of Archangels

The ARCHANGELS primary duty, as is clear from their appearances in Scripture, is to carry out the will of God as it relates directly to humanity. They bring to the world the prayerful blessings of the Lord and the special concern of God for each and every human life. It is for that reason that the archangels—like their close counterparts the Angels—are said to intervene so regularly in the affairs of men and women, be it on a battlefield, in an impending disaster, or in the private anguish and sorrow of the living. In each case they impart a portion of their immense compassion and love, giving comfort, solace, or fortitude at the darkest of moments.

Bunson, Matthew. Angels A to Z (Kindle Locations 517-522). Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale. Kindle Edition.

By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Archangels, may the Lord give us perseverance in faith and in all good works, in order that we gain the glory of Paradise. Amen

Our Father …Hail Mary

O GLORIOUS Prince St. Michael, chief and commander of the heavenly hosts, guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits, servant in the house of the Divine King, and our admirable conductor, thou who dost shine with excellence and superhuman virtue, vouchsafe to deliver us from all evil, who turn to thee with confidence, and enable us by thy gracious protection to serve God more and more faithfully every day.

V/. Pray for us, O glorious St. Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ.
R/. That we may be made worthy of His promises.

Almighty and Everlasting God, Who by a prodigy of goodness and a merciful desire for the salvation of all men, hast appointed the most glorious Archangel, St. Michael, Prince of Thy Church, make us worthy, we beseech Thee, to be delivered from all our enemies that none of them may harass us at the hour of death, but that we may be conducted by him into the august presence of Thy Divine Majesty. This we beg through the merits of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Visit here for the entire 9-Day Novena to St. Michael and the Holy Angels

Visit here for the Chaplet of St. Michael – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast

Day 3 – St. Francis of Assisi Novena for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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Day 3 – St. Francis of Assisi Novena for the Discerning Heart with Msgr. John Esseff

Day 3: Humility

St. Francis, you embraced the profound humility of Christ, who “emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7). You considered yourself the least of all and sought not your own glory, but the glory of God. You saw in humility the path to holiness and the surest way to imitate Our Lord, who came “not to be served, but to serve” (Matthew 20:28). In a world that exalts pride and self-promotion, your example calls us to embrace the hidden life, seeking only the will of God and the salvation of souls.

Let us pray:
O humble St. Francis, obtain for me the grace to recognize my own lowliness and to rely completely on God’s mercy. Help me to imitate your example by putting aside my pride and seeking only to do the will of the Father. Teach me to serve others with humility and love, following the example of Christ, who humbled Himself even to death on the Cross. Through your intercession, may I grow in the virtue of humility, so that God may be glorified in all that I do.

Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

St. Francis, pray for us.

For the entire 9-Day St. Francis of Assisi Novena for the Discerning Hearts with Msgr. John Esseff tap here

St. Thérèse of Lisieux Novena – Day Five – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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St. Thérèse of Lisieux Novena – Day Five

St. Therese you have said:

“I know now that true charity consists in bearing all our neighbors’ defects–not being surprised at their weakness, but edified at their smallest virtues.”

Saint Therese, flower of Carmel,
you said you would spend your heaven
doing good upon the earth.
Your trust in God was complete.

Listen to my prayer;
bring before God my special intention…
Pray for me that I may have something of your 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 who you so ardently loved.

Saint Therese,
you kept your word to love God
and to trust the world to that loving providence.
Pray for us that we may be faithful to our commitment to love.
May our lives, like yours,
be able to touch the world and bring it to peace.

Amen

Day 2 – St. Francis of Assisi Novena for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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Day 2 – St. Francis of Assisi Novena for the Discerning Heart with Msgr. John Esseff

Day 2: Peace

St. Francis, you were a true instrument of peace, not only in your actions but in your entire way of life. You lived out the peace of Christ, which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7), reconciling enemies, healing divisions, and spreading the message of the Gospel. You understood that true peace begins in the heart, with repentance and conversion, and is nourished through prayer and the Sacraments. You remind us that we must first be reconciled to God before we can become channels of His peace to others.

Let us pray:
Blessed St. Francis, through your intercession, help me to cultivate peace in my heart by drawing closer to Christ through the Sacraments, especially Confession and the Holy Eucharist. Teach me to foster peace in my relationships, to forgive those who have wronged me, and to live as a true disciple of the Prince of Peace. May I follow your example by being a peacemaker in my family, community, and the world.

Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

St. Francis, pray for us.

For the entire 9-Day St. Francis of Assisi Novena for the Discerning Hearts with Msgr. John Esseff tap here

Day 7 – The Principalities – St. Michael and the Holy Angels Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

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Day 7 – The Celestial Choir of Principalities – St. Michael and the Holy Angels Novena

V/. O God, + come to my assistance
R/. O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory Be

Day 7 – The Celestial Choir of Principalities

The PRINCIPALITIES are the first of the choirs most concerned with the earth and are traditionally declared to have the roles of caretakers over every nation, province, county, district, city, town, village, and house, working with the guardian angels, who also are assigned to every spot and person. Two other areas of concern for the principalities are religion and politics. The former they encourage to spread by prayer and spiritual encouragement; the latter they seek to regulate for the good of humanity by guiding the thoughts and especially the ethics of what Dionysius termed the “leaders of people” all over the world.

Bunson, Matthew. Angels A to Z (Kindle Locations 4096-4110). Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale. Kindle Edition.

By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Principalities, may God fill our souls with a true spirit of obedience. Amen.

Our Father …Hail Mary

V/. Pray for us, O glorious St. Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ.
R/. That we may be made worthy of His promises.

Visit here for the entire 9-Day Novena to St. Michael and the Holy Angels

Visit here for the Chaplet of St. Michael – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast

St. Thérèse of Lisieux Novena – Day Four – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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St. Thérèse of Lisieux Novena – Day Four

St. Therese you have said:

“I am convinced that one should tell one’s spiritual director if one has a great desire for communion, for our Lord does not come from heaven every day to stay in a golden ciborium; He comes to find another heaven, the heaven of our soul in which He loves to dwell.”

Saint Therese, flower of Carmel,
you said you would spend your heaven
doing good upon the earth.
Your trust in God was complete.

Amen

Day 6 – The Powers – St. Michael and the Holy Angels Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

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Day 6 – The Celestial Choir of Powers – St. Michael and the Holy Angels Novena

V/. O God, + come to my assistance
R/. O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory Be

Day 6 – The Celestial Choir of Powers

The POWERS have the task of defeating the efforts of the demons in overthrowing the world and are declared the awesome defenders of the cosmos against all evil and the maintainers of all cosmic order and equilibrium. They are the guardians of the heavenly paths, policing the routes to and from heaven to the earth, which means that they concern themselves as well with all humanity. The great harmonizers, they assist each soul to overcome the temptations placed before it to do evil and to lean instead toward the proper action, which is to love and worship God.

Bunson, Matthew. Angels A to Z (Kindle Locations 3988-3999). Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale. Kindle Edition.

By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Powers, may the Lord vouchsafe to protect our souls against the snares and temptations of the devil. Amen.

Our Father …Hail Mary

V/. Pray for us, O glorious St. Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ.
R/. That we may be made worthy of His promises.

Visit here for the entire 9-Day Novena to St. Michael and the Holy Angels

Visit here for the Chaplet of St. Michael – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast

Day 1 – St. Francis of Assisi Novena for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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Day 1 – St. Francis of Assisi Novena for the Discerning Heart with Msgr. John Esseff

Day 1: Simplicity

St. Francis, you gave up everything to follow Our Lord more perfectly. In embracing holy poverty, you lived the Gospel in its most radical form, imitating the poverty of Christ Himself. You found in simplicity the freedom to love God with an undivided heart, rejecting the fleeting pleasures of this world for the eternal joy of Heaven. In a society distracted by material wealth, your life is a beacon that points us to the true treasure—union with Christ.

Let us pray:
O holy St. Francis, obtain for me the grace to embrace the virtue of simplicity. Help me detach from material possessions and worldly concerns, so that I may live with a heart free to love and serve God above all things. Teach me to imitate your spirit of poverty, finding joy in possessing nothing but Christ. Through your intercession, may I grow in trust in Divine Providence, confident that God will supply all my needs.

Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

St. Francis, pray for us.

For the entire 9-Day St. Francis of Assisi Novena for the Discerning Hearts with Msgr. John Esseff tap here

St. Thérèse of Lisieux Novena – Day Three – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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St. Thérèse of Lisieux Novena – Day Three

St. Therese you have said:

“Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.”

Saint Therese, flower of Carmel,
you said you would spend your heaven
doing good upon the earth.
Your trust in God was complete.

Amen

Day 5 – The Virtues – St. Michael and the Holy Angels Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

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Day 5 – The Celestial Choir of Virtues – St. Michael and the Holy Angels Novena

V/. O God, + come to my assistance
R/. O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory Be

Day 5 – The Celestial Choir of Virtues

The VIRTUES specifically preside over the elements of the world and the process of celestial life. Thus all heavenly bodies—from the stars and planets to the galaxies themselves—are kept in their divinely appointed routes and progress. On earth the Virtues maintain a watch over nature, marking and guiding every facet of natural life: rain, wind, snow, etc. St. Thomas Aquinas, in his Summa Theologica, noted that Virtues are in charge of miracles. As if these duties were not enough, the Virtues also assist humanity by bestowing grace and valor within the mortal heart. They give encouragement to the human to turn always to the good and help bolster the person’s will to endure hardship and suffering and to have the personal strength to turn ever toward God. As the angels in charge of miracles, they receive their orders from the powers, but they also are connected closely to the saints.

Bunson, Matthew. Angels A to Z (Kindle Locations 5051-5060). Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale. Kindle Edition.

By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Virtues, may the Lord preserve us from evil and suffer us not to fall into temptation. Amen.

Our Father …Hail Mary

V/. Pray for us, O glorious St. Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ.
R/. That we may be made worthy of His promises.