A little-noticed novena for the nation is scheduled to begin
on September 29th, this Saturday.
A novena is nine days of prayer, focused on a particular topic, asking
for God’s intervention and blessings.
This novena, a Novena to the Mother of God for the Nation, was promoted
in the recent edition of the National Catholic Register newspaper. A cover letter, written by Rev Frederick L.
Miller, Professor of Systematic Theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in
Emmitsburg, Maryland, notes the following:
“Many of the values that shaped our country from the
beginning seem to be at risk. Our Holy
Father, Pope Benedict XVI, and the American bishops have noted the erosion of
religious freedom in the United States, the first value guaranteed by the
Constitution. Other fundamental truths
are also in danger: the God-given right to life of every unborn child, the
value of virginity until marriage for our young people and the virtue of
chastity for everyone, the very definition of marriage as the indissoluble bond
between a man and a woman who are open to receive new life from God, and the
responsibility of all to care for the disabled and the elderly until God calls
them to himself.
It has rightly been said that there is more love in Mary’s
heart than evil in the world. This is
the meaning of the angel Gabriel’s greeting: ‘Rejoice, Full of Grace.” Mary is the woman chosen by God to be his
mother and ours, but also to be the chief human enemy – the nemesis – of the
evil one (Gn 3:15, Rv 12). From her place
in heaven, the Blessed Mother is eager to help her children in their
struggles. The bishops at Vatican
Council II expressed this consoling truth:
Taken up to heaven,
the Blessed Virgin did not lay aside her salvific duty, but by her constant
intercession continued to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation. By her maternal charity, she cares for the
brethren of her Son, who still journey on earth surrounded by dangers and
difficulties, until they are led into the happiness of their true home.
This ‘Novena to the Mother of God for the Nation’ will
remind us of some of the central truths of the faith, in particular, the
incarnation, passion, death and resurrection of the Lord and Mary’s unique role
in our salvation. It will be, in a way,
a catechism lesson that challenges us to a deeper conversion to Christ and a
more generous life of charity. With
these intentions in mind, we shall turn to Mary and meditate on the graces of
her life.
Everyone who joins in these nine days of prayer has his or
her own needs. Each person should
remember to pray for the intentions of all.
We await a powerful outpouring of the graces of heaven through Mary’s
hands.
You can find the full novena, additional suggestions of
prayers and actions and information on EWTN’s coverage of the novena, at
ReligiousLiberties.org/novena/.”
For me, this shall be the start of prayers and other actions
during this year declared by the Church as The Year of Faith. More on this later.
Thank you so much for popping over to my blog! I have enjoyed your comments:) This sounds like a perfect novena and who better to call upon than the Patroness of our country and great Mother of God! I'll be joining you in prayer. Have a blessed week!
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, lady, that you comment here. Yours is one of about a dozen or so that I bookmark and visit, usually once a week or so. I glanced at your follower list and saw I wasn't there and went to add myself, but then it asked for my Facebook account (don't have one). I guess that's why I didn't follow in the past --- but I dropped way down your page and found a site for following on Google. That works.
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you and yours, always.
Tom, thanks for the heads up on the Novena for our religious liberties. I will be praying with you.
ReplyDeleteAt this time, Maryellen, I don't think there can be too many of us praying.
ReplyDeleteTom I re-posted this post of yours onto my blog. I hope that's okay with you. Knowing your generous heart, I was sure it would be alright.
ReplyDelete