The current economic situation has found many people struggling to meet their needs and obligations. They struggle to feed their families, to keep their homes, and to pay their bills. Many have seen their jobs disappear, not just for a time, but gone for good.
The politicians in this country, and around the world have shown repeatedly that they do not know how to handle this economic mess they have gotten us in to. They have done more to create it, than they have to alleviate it. They seem only capable of digging us into a deeper hole. A hole in which we are in danger of not being able to climb out of for a long time.
The politicans for all their bravado and endlessly empty rhetoric (how they love to talk, especially in front of the television cameras and all those microphones) are either incapable or unwilling to fix the problems they have created.
They may not be able to do anything, but you and I know someone who can.
God.
God alone is in charge, and everything is under His control, and His control alone. No president, no earthly king, no earthly prince, no chairman, no bank, no one of this world can help us, can save us, can give us true salvation, and true freedom in these times and for all eternity, like God can. Our so-called leaders may think they are in charge, may believe they are in charge, and no doubt have people who have faith in them, when we all know that the only One we should have faith in, and believe in, to do all things is God.
Therefore, I ask the readers of "Faith of the Fathers" blogs, and the readers and owners of other Catholic blogs, to join us in praying to God for the spiritual and economic salvation of our country and for the whole world.
Let us begin this period of prayers to our most merciful and loving Heavenly Father, with a Novena to Saint Jude the Apostle, the patron saint of desperate situations. I ask all of you, to include your prayer intentions in this novena.
For non-catholics who visit these blogs, a novena is defined as follows : "Nine days of public or private prayer for some special occasion or intention. Its origin goes back to the nine days that the Disciples and Mary spent together in prayer between Ascension and Pentecost Sunday. Over the centuries many novenas have been highly indulgenced by the Church. In modern times the one before Pentecost was prescribed for parochial churches." (Etym. Latin novem, nine.) (From The Pocket Catholic Dictionary, by Father John A. Hardon, S.J., page 287)
The novena is below.
Your brother in Christ,
Steve Smith
* * * * * * *
Novena to Saint Jude
Come to my aid, O God.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Almighty God, Father of mercies
and giver of all good gifts,
I come before you to honor you in your saints,
and ask their help in my many needs.
You promised that those who ask, would receive,
those who seek, would find, those who knock,
would have doors opened to them.
Hear the prayers of your church, grant my requests,
and pardon my sins.
Amen
Good St. Jude, chose by Jesus as a messenger of His kingdom,
and bearer of God's power,
I entrust myself to your care
and place in your hands this request of mine (make your request)
You are a witness that nothing is impossible with God and
that all will be well by God's grace.
Pray that I may have a simple faith
and strong hope to believe and trust in God,
my Master, who makes all things possible
and brings all things to good.
Amen
Day 1
Lord Jesus Christ,
you promised that mountains would move for someone with faith
the size of a mustard seed. Plant the seed of faith in my
heart and help me believe in the power of your promises.
Amen
Day 2
Lord Jesus Christ,
You taught that God who cares for the lilies of the field
and the birds of the air, also cares for those of little faith.
Lord, come and care for me.
Amen
Day 3
Lord Jesus Christ,
In the storm at sea you told your disciples not to fear
but to believe in your power to calm the winds and the sea.
Speak to my troubled spirit, and calm my fears.
Amen
Day 4
Lord Jesus Christ,
no one comes to you, even those desperate and poor,
whom you do not welcome and refresh,
I come tired and burdened, make my spirit light.
Amen
Day 5
Lord Jesus Christ,
you listen to our prayers, and grant what we ask.
Hear my prayers and listen to my voice,
for I am in need.
Amen
Day 6
Lord Jesus Christ,
in the Garden of Gethsemane you prayed in fear and sorrow.
Turn to me when I am afraid, and give me strength to bear
my cross.
Amen
Day 7
Lord Jesus Christ,
when you died on the cross, all seemed lost and gone,
yet you came to life again.
When all seems lost for me, bring me life again,
O Lord.
Amen
Day 8
Lord Jesus Christ,
you rose from the dead and brought life to all creation.
I hope in your promise of life.
Bring me the joy of your resurrection.
Amen
Day 9
Lord Jesus Christ,
you prepare a place for us in your heavenly kingdom.
Grant me a place at your side and bring us all safely home.
Amen
To conclude this novena, say one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.
Our Father
Our Father
Who art in Heaven
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done.
On earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
Amen
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of Grace
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women
And Blessed is the Fruit of thy Womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now, and at the hour of our death
Amen
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
And ever shall be.
World without end.
Amen
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