Category: love

In 9 more days: We will have a new President of the United States of America.

But on day 10:  Jesus is still King!

(Yippee!!)

9 more days…

A novena (from Latin: Novem, meaning Nine) is an act of religious pious devotion originating in ancient Christianity, often consisting of private or public prayers repeated for nine successive days in belief of obtaining special intercessory graces. Novenas are most often prayed by members of the Roman Catholic Church, as well as by communicants of the Anglican Church, Eastern Orthodox Church and Lutheran Church. In addition, novenas have also been used in an ecumenical Christian context.

The prayers are often derived from devotional prayer books, or consist of the recitation of the rosary (a “rosary novena”), or of short prayers through the day. Novena prayers are customarily printed in small booklets, and the novena is often dedicated to a specific angel, saint, a specific Marian title of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or it invokes one of the personages of the Holy Trinity.

The practice of saying novenas is derived from Holy Scripture:

It is believed that the time between the ascension of the Lord Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost was nine days. Acts 1:14 says that the disciples spent that time continuing “with one accord in prayer.”

And so it is for the next 9 days, no matter what side of the aisle you sit,  we shall pray for our Nation…

Election Novena Prayers

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Day 1: St. Jude, Patron of impossible causes, join us in praying for this election and these intentions: [State your intentions here.]

Day 2: St. Frances Cabrini, you who tirelessly built the Kingdom of God in America, join us in praying for this election and these intentions: [State your intentions here.]

Day 3: St. Thomas More, martyred for your uncompromising faith, join us in praying for this election and these intentions: [State your intentions here.]

Day 4: St. Jose Sanchez del Rio, martyred for your child-like, yet fearless faith in Christ the King, join us in praying for this election and these intentions: [State your intentions here.]

Day 5: St. Kateri Tekakwitha, who fled to Canada in order to freely practice your faith, join us in praying for this election and these intentions: [State your intentions here.]

Day 6: St. Damien de Veuster of Molokai, selfless servant of the lepers of Hawaii, join us in praying for this election and these intentions: [State your intentions here.]

Day 7: St. John Neumann, Founder of the diocesan Catholic school system in America, join us in praying for this election and these intentions: [State your intentions here.]

Day 8: St. Rita, Patroness of hopeless causes, join us in praying for this election and these intentions: [State your intentions here.]

Day 9: Mother Mary, Patroness of the Americas, join us in praying for this election and these intentions: [State your intentions here.]

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Nothing can overcome your greatness. But we are weak and need a deeper gift of hope as we face worldly governments.

Help us remember that political power can never replace the mission of the Church to preach the Gospel to all nations.

Lord, we give you permission to form our consciences according to the Gospel so that we may both vote and act for the Kingdom of God.

As we wrestle with the complexity of political life, never let us forget the poor, the weak, the unborn, the refugee, the migrant, all those affected by war, those struggling financially and all those suffering from the failings of the political systems of this world.

Give us the courage to always be detached from our political loyalties and be first a faithful follower of Jesus, the true King. And when it comes time for us to contribute to the political realm help us to cast our vote in a way that is pleasing to You.

For these elections in our nations, O God, please bless us with the best rulers possible, in this fallen world, at all levels of government.

Finally, just as You brought our salvation from the horrible death of Your Son, we pray that from the political campaigns of this world, You will bring about great good for Your people.

Amen.

I have faithfully voted in every election, since turning of legal voting age (18 years old.)

I have always voted as a proud American.

Am I proud of this year’s election shenanigans?

Nope.

And yet…

in 9 days I will still look forward to exercising my right to vote yet agian.

And this year, more than any other, I will be voting as a proud

Catholic American.

(I wonder if there’s a box I can check for that?)

Giggles.

“Jesus is still King, no matter who is President of the United States of America!“

Father Larry Richards

 

9 days filled with hugs n’ blessings (just for you,) as we take the time to pray together!

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” 

Joshua 1:9