Novena Archives

Day 2 – St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

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St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Day 2 – For the Grace of Holy Zeal

St. Gertrude the Great is held in the highest regard for her unwavering love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus and her profound compassion for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Esteemed by many of her fellow saints, including St. Teresa of Avila, St. Gertrude’s spiritual insights have long inspired the faithful. With reverence, we invoke her patronage and beseech her to intercede for us that we may receive the graces most suited to our spiritual growth and needs (mention personal intention). May she also intercede for the intention we bring to this novena.

We join St. Gertrude in a prayer she composed for the Holy Souls in Purgatory:

Eternal Father,
I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son,
Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today,
for all the holy Souls in Purgatory,
for sinners everywhere,
for sinners in the Universal Church,
those in my own home and within my family.
Amen.

St. Gertrude the Great, pray for us

For the entire novena visit: A Novena to St. Gertrude the Great – Discerning Hearts Podcast

Day 1 – St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

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St. Gertrude the Great Novena – Day 1 – For the Grace of Self-Knowledge and Holy Understanding

As we begin our novena on this day, we reflect upon the providential beginnings of St. Gertrude, born on the Feast of the Epiphany in 1256. At the tender age of five, she was entrusted to the care of the holy St. Mechtilde at the Benedictine monastery, which became her lifelong spiritual home. Gertrude acknowledged that had she not been nurtured in such sanctity from her youth; she might have strayed far from her spiritual calling. Let us seek the intercession of St. Gertrude that we may have the grace to acknowledge our own sins of commission and omission. Let us pray together for the knowledge to recognize our missteps and the grace to pursue perfect contrition for our sins. May she also intercede in the intention we bring to this novena.

We join St. Gertrude in a prayer she composed for the Holy Souls in Purgatory:

Eternal Father,
I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son,
Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today,
for all the holy Souls in Purgatory,
for sinners everywhere,
for sinners in the Universal Church,
those in my own home and within my family.
Amen.

St. Gertrude the Great, pray for us

For the entire novena visit: A Novena to St. Gertrude the Great – Discerning Hearts Podcast

Day 9 – Novena in Honor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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Lord Jesus Christ, You have destroyed the power of death and given the hope of eternal life in body and soul.

You granted your Mother a special place in your glory, and did not allow decay to touch her body.

As we rejoice in the Assumption of Mary, give to us a renewed confidence in the victory of life over death.

You live and reign forever and ever.

Amen

Day 9

O Blessed Mother Assumed into Heaven, after years of heroic martyrdom on earth, we rejoice that you have at last been taken to the throne prepared for you in Heaven by the Holy Trinity.

Lift our hearts with you in the glory of your Assumption above the dreadful touch of sin and impurity.

Teach us how small earth becomes when viewed from heaven. Make us realize that death is the triumphant gate through which we shall pass to your Son and that someday our bodies shall rejoin our souls in the unending bliss of heaven.

From this earth, over which we tread as pilgrims, we look to you for help.

In honor of your Assumption into Heaven we ask for this favor.

(mention your request)

When our hour of death has come, lead us safely to the presence of Jesus to enjoy the vision of God for all eternity together with you.

Pray for us O Queen Assumed into Heaven, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Amen.

Day 9 – Novena to St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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A Novena to St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) – Day 9

St. Teresa Benedicta you have said:

The title of Mary as our mother is not merely symbolic. Mary is our mother in the most real and lofty sense, a sense which surpasses that of earthly maternity. She begot our life of grace for us because she offered up her entire being, body and soul, as the Mother of God. That is why an intimate bond exists between Mary and ourselves. She loves us, she knows us, she exerts herself to bring each one of us into the closest possible relationship with the Lord – that which we are above all supposed to be.

Prayer of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross:

“O my God, fill my soul with holy joy, courage and strength to serve You. Enkindle Your love in me and then walk with me along the next stretch of road before me. I do not see very far ahead, but when I have arrived where the horizon now closes down, a new prospect will open before me and I shall meet with peace.”

All-powerful, ever-living God,
you gave Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
the courage to witness to the gospel of Christ
even to the point of giving her life for it.
By her prayers, help us to endure all suffering for love of you
and to seek you with all our hearts,
for you alone are the source of life.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

For the entire 9-Day St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross Novena visit here

Day 8 – Novena to St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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A Novena to St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) – Day 8

St. Teresa Benedicta you have said:

To suffer and to be happy although suffering, to have one’s feet on the earth, to walk on the dirty and rough paths of this earth and yet to be enthroned with Christ at the Father’s right hand, to laugh and cry with the children of this world and ceaselessly to sing the praises of God with the choirs of angels this is the life of the Christian until the morning of eternity breaks forth.

Prayer of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross:

“O my God, fill my soul with holy joy, courage and strength to serve You. Enkindle Your love in me and then walk with me along the next stretch of road before me. I do not see very far ahead, but when I have arrived where the horizon now closes down, a new prospect will open before me and I shall meet with peace.”

For the entire 9-Day St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross Novena visit here

Day 2 – Novena in Honor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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Lord Jesus Christ, You have destroyed the power of death and given the hope of eternal life in body and soul.

You granted your Mother a special place in your glory, and did not allow decay to touch her body.

As we rejoice in the Assumption of Mary, give to us a renewed confidence in the victory of
life over death.

You live and reign forever and ever.

Amen.

Day 2

Mary, Assumed into Heaven, we venerate you as the Queen of Heaven and earth. As you tasted the bitterness of pain and sorrow with your Son on earth, you now enjoy eternal bliss with Him in Heaven.

Loving Queen, intercede for us in our needs.

(mention your request)

We praise Jesus for giving us such a loving mother.

O Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us.

Amen.

Day 7 – Novena to St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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A Novena to St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) – Day 7

St. Teresa Benedicta you have said:

The soul may take dryness and darkness as fortunate symptoms: symptoms that God is freeing her from herself. He is disentangling her from the activity of her faculties. Probably she would have been able to acquire much through this, her own activity, but never as completely, perfectly, and securely as she does now since God takes her by the hand. He is leading her in the darkness… by ways that she herself, in the happiest of wanderings while using her own eyes and feet, would never have succeeded in finding.

Prayer of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross:

“O my God, fill my soul with holy joy, courage and strength to serve You. Enkindle Your love in me and then walk with me along the next stretch of road before me. I do not see very far ahead, but when I have arrived where the horizon now closes down, a new prospect will open before me and I shall meet with peace.”

For the entire 9-Day St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross Novena visit here

Day 1 – Novena in Honor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

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Lord Jesus Christ, You have destroyed the power of death and given the hope of eternal life in body and soul.
You granted your Mother a special place in your glory, and did not allow decay to touch her body.
As we rejoice in the Assumption of Mary, give to us a renewed confidence in the victory of life over death.
You live and reign forever and ever.
Amen.

Day 1

Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, we believe in your triumphant assumption into heaven where the angels and saints acclaim you as Queen of Heaven and earth.
We join them in praising you and bless the Lord who raised you above all creatures. With them we honor you.
We are confident that you watch over our daily lives and we ask that you intercede for us now.

(mention your request)

We are comforted by our faith in the coming Resurrection and we look to you for prayers and comfort.
After this earthly life, show us Jesus, the blest fruit of your womb, O kind, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
O Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us.
Amen.

Day 6 – Novena to St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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A Novena to St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) – Day 6

St. Teresa Benedicta you have said:

In the Passion and death of Christ our sins were consumed by fire. If we accept that in faith, and if we accept the whole Christ in faith-filled surrender, which means, however, that we choose and walk the path of the imitation of Christ, then he will lead us “through his Passion and cross to the glory of his Resurrection.” This is exactly what is experienced in contemplation: passing through the expiatory flames to the bliss of the union of love. This explains its twofold character. It is death and resurrection.

Prayer of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross:

“O my God, fill my soul with holy joy, courage and strength to serve You. Enkindle Your love in me and then walk with me along the next stretch of road before me. I do not see very far ahead, but when I have arrived where the horizon now closes down, a new prospect will open before me and I shall meet with peace.”

For the entire 9-Day St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross Novena visit here

Day 5 – Novena to St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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A Novena to St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) – Day 5

St. Teresa Benedicta you have said:

Whatever did not fit in with my plan did lie within the plan of God. I have an even deeper and firmer belief that nothing is merely an accident when seen in the light of God, that my whole life down to the smallest details has been marked out for me in the plan of Divine Providence and has a completely coherent meaning in God’s all-seeing eyes. And so I am beginning to rejoice in the light of glory wherein this meaning will be unveiled to me.

Prayer of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross:

“O my God, fill my soul with holy joy, courage and strength to serve You. Enkindle Your love in me and then walk with me along the next stretch of road before me. I do not see very far ahead, but when I have arrived where the horizon now closes down, a new prospect will open before me and I shall meet with peace.”