A Novena of Meditations on the Holy Spirit

First Day - Luke 3:21-22

Second Day - John 3:1-8

Third Day - John 7:37-39

Fourth Day - John 14:12-17

Fifth Day - John 14:25-31

Sixth Day - John 15:18-27

Seventh Day - John 16:1-15

Eighth Day - Acts 2:1-13

Ninth Day - Romans 8:1-30


"When you send forth your Spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the earth."  (Psalm 104:30)

A Novena of Meditations on God's Mercy

Though we are sinners, God still loves us and seeks us out.

First Day - Psalm 51

Second Day - Psalm 130

Third Day - Matthew 6:7-15

Fourth Day - Matthew 9:9-13

Fifth Day - Matthew 18:23-35

Sixth Day - Luke 15:1-10

Seventh Day - Luke 15:11-32

Eighth Day - John 8:2-11

Ninth Day - Romans 5:1-11

"The Son of man came to seek and to save the lost." (Luke 19:10)

In addition, the Bible has its own prayers of asking God for His mercy, known as the penitential psalms.  Including Psalms 51 and 130 above, they are Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, and 143.  These psalms convey an intense spirit of repentance.

A Novena of Meditations on the Resurrection

First Day - Matthew 28:1-10

Second Day - John 20:1-18

Third Day - Luke 24:13-49

Fourth Day - Mark 16:9-18

Fifth Day - John 20:19-29

Sixth Day - Acts 2:22-32

Seventh Day - Romans 6:1-11

Eighth Day - 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Ninth Day - 1 Corinthians 15:12-28


"I am the Resurrection and the Life."  (John 11:25)

Glorious Mysteries

The Resurrection

Our Father

1- Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdelene and the other Mary went to see the sepulchre. (Mt 28:1) Hail Mary

2- And they found the stone rolled back from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. (Lk 24:3) Hail Mary

3- Behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel and…said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” (Lk 24:5) Hail Mary

4- They departed from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Hail!” (Mt 28:8-9) Hail Mary

5- And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. (Mt 28:9) Hail Mary

6- After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking in the country. (Mk 16:12) Hail Mary

7- When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him. (Lk 24:30-31) Hail Mary

8- On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (Jn 20:19) Hail Mary

9- He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.” (Jn 20:27) Hail Mary

10- Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” (Jn 20:28) Hail Mary

Glory be


The Ascension

Our Father

1- Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. (Mt 28:16) Hail Mary

2- Jesus came and said to them, “…Go…and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Mt 28:18,19) Hail Mary

3- “It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Holy Spirit will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” (Jn 16:7) Hail Mary

4- “Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49) Hail Mary

5- And lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was taken up into heaven. (Lk 24:50, 51) Hail Mary

6- As they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. (Acts 1:9) Hail Mary
 

7- The Lord Jesus…was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. (Mk 16:19) Hail Mary

8- Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (Col 3:1) Hail Mary

9- “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” (Jn 14:2) Hail Mary

10- And while they were gazing up into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “…This Jesus, who was taken up into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:10, 11) Hail Mary

Glory be


The Descent of the Holy Spirit

Our Father

1- They returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet…All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. (Acts 1:12, 14) Hail Mary

2- When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. (Acts 2:1) Hail Mary

3- And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. (Acts 2:2) Hail Mary

4- And there appeared tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. (Acts 2:3) Hail Mary

5- And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:4) Hail Mary

6- And [they] began to speak in tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:4) Hail Mary

7- Now there were in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound they came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. (Acts 2:5-6) Hail Mary

8- And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38) Hail Mary

9- So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:41) Hail Mary

10- And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Acts 2:42) Hail Mary

Glory be


The Assumption

Our Father

1- She is a reflection of eternal light, a spotless mirror of the working of God, and an image of his goodness. (Wis 7:26) Hail Mary

2- “When I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (Jn 14:3) Hail Mary

3- Arise, O Lord, and go to thy resting place, thou and the ark of thy might. (Ps 132:8) Hail Mary

4- My beloved speaks and says to me, “Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for lo, the winter is past, and the rain is over and gone.” (Song 2:10) Hail Mary

5- The woman was given two wings of the great eagle that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to a place where she is to be nourished. (Rev 12:14) Hail Mary

6- Draw me after you. Let us make haste. The king has brought me into his chambers. (Song 1:4) Hail Mary

7- Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem…The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst. (Zeph 3:14, 15) Hail Mary

8- “O daughter, you are blessed by the Most High above all women on earth.” (Jud 13:18) Hail Mary

9- “Behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.” (Lk 1:48) Hail Mary

10- “For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” (Lk 1:49) Hail Mary

Glory be

 

The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth

Our Father

1- The Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory. (Ps 149:4) Hail Mary

2- He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness. (Is 61:10) Hail Mary

3- Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award me. (2 Tim 4:8) Hail Mary

4- Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you. (Zech 9:9) Hail Mary

5- A great portent appeared in the heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet. (Rev 12:1) Hail Mary

6- And on her head a crown of twelve stars (Rev 12:1) Hail Mary

7- The king rose to meet her, and bowed down to her; then he sat on his throne, and had a seat brought for the king's mother; and she sat on his right. (1 Kg 2:19) Hail Mary

8- You are the exaltation of Jerusalem, you are the great glory of Israel, you are the greatest pride of our nation! (Jud 15:9) Hail Mary

9- Who is this that looks forth like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army with banners? (Song 6:10) Hail Mary

10- I am the mother of beautiful love, of fear, of knowledge, and of holy hope. (Sir 24:18) Hail Mary

Glory be

A Novena of Meditations on Fasting

I thought I might re-post this old post on fasting for Lent. Enjoy!

Reinvigorate fasting in your spiritual life by meditating for nine days on the following Scripture passages about the practice. While you're at it, read Pope Benedict XVI's Message for Lent (from 2009) on the same topic.

First Day - Genesis 2:4-17

Second Day - Isaiah 58:1-9

Third Day - Jonah 3

Fourth Day - Matthew 4:1-11

Fifth Day - Matthew 6:14-21

Sixth Day - Mark 2:18-22

Seventh Day - Mark 9:14-29

Eighth Day - Luke 16:19-31

Ninth Day - John 4:31-38


"My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work." (John 4:34)

A Novena of Meditations on the Priesthood

First Day - Luke 22:14-20

Second Day - John 20:19-23

Third Day - Acts 20:16-32

Fourth Day - Romans 15:14-21

Fifth Day - 1 Corinthians 4:1-16

Sixth Day - 2 Corinthians 5:11-20

Seventh Day - Colossians 1:24-29

Eighth Day - 1 Timothy 4:4-16

Ninth Day - 1 Peter 5:1-11


Other related passages: 1 Corinthians 9:13-23, 2 Corinthians 4:1-6, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-11, 2 Timothy 2:1-13, 2 Timothy 4:1-8,  Hebrews 7:11-28, James 5:14-15

"Even if I am poured out as a libation upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all."  Philippians 2:17

Old Testament Saints

Here is a list of Old Testament figures who are listed as Saints by the Roman Martyrology, along with their feast days and links to the entries in the Roman Martyrology in which they are mentioned.

Abraham, Patriarch - October 9

Moses, Lawgiver and Prophet - September 4

Aaron, Priest of the Levitical Order- July 1

Joshua (Josue) - September 1

Gideon (Gedeon) - September 1

Samuel, Prophet - August 20

David, King and Prophet - December 29

Esdras, Prophet - July 13

Job, Prophet - May 10

Isaiah (Isaias), Prophet and Martyr - July 6

Jeremiah (Jeremias), Prophet and Martyr - May 1

Ezekiel (Ezechiel), Prophet and Martyr - April 10

Daniel, Prophet - July 21

Hosea (Osee), Prophet - July 4

Joel, Prophet - July 13

Amos, Prophet and Martyr - March 31

Obadiah (Abdias), Prophet - November 19

Jonah (Jonas), Prophet - September 21

Micah (Michaes), Prophet - January 15

Nahum, Prophet - December 1

Habakkuk (Habacuc), Prophet - January 15

Zephaniah (Sophonias), Prophet - December 3

Haggai (Aggaeus), Prophet - July 4

Zechariah (Zacharias, Zachary) - September 6

Malachi (Malachias, Malachy), Prophet - January 14

Maccabees (Machabees) and their mother, Martyrs - August 1