Shalom

June 2024

NOVENA TO THE SACRED HEART

How to Pray the Novena

This Novena begins on Thursday, 30th May and finishes on Friday, 7th June 2024, the Feast of the Sacred Heart.
You may pray the novena privately or in the family, in a religious community or with your neighbours or friends.
A Novena prepares us over a short period of time to receive the graces of God special to a feast.
In the Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the grace we pray is to know personally the love of God in the Heart of Christ.

Read the reflection and meditate slowly, pausing when something strikes you. A prayer takes up the theme of the day, and you end each day with this Novena Prayer on pg 186.

CLOSING PRAYER (to be said each day)

Lord Jesus, the needs of your people open your heart in love to each of us. You care for us when we are lost, sympathise with us in loneliness and comfort us in mourning; you are closest to us when we are weakest. You love us most when we love ourselves least; you forgive us most when we forgive ourselves least; you call us to spread your love in whatever way we can.

Lord Jesus, your heart is moved with compassion when we are suffering, when we need your help and when we pray for each other. I ask you to listen to my prayer during this novena, and grant what I ask (make your request silently). If what I ask is not for my own good and the good of others, grant me always what is best for me, that I may build up your kingdom of love in our world. Amen.

Day 1 Thu, May 30 - A Day with Jesus of Nazareth How to pray the Novena

Scripture:	'The two disciples said to Jesus, "Master, where do you live?" "Come and see," he replied, and they stayed with him the rest of that day' (Jn. 1:38).
Meditation:	Because prayer is a relationship of love, Jesus always leaves us free to respond. He asks each of us what it is we really want. To those who really want to find him, he says, 'Come, and meet me in real prayer, and open your hearts to me'.
Prayer:	Lord Jesus, your heart is spacious and full of love. Though you wanted to get away from the crowd to rest, you are saying to each of us, 'Come and see'. Help us to meet you truly in prayer, and to discover the joy of coming to know and love you. Teach us how to spend time with you every day. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
End:	Say the Novena Closing Prayer.

Day 2 Fri, May 31 - Jesus the compassionate friend How to pray the Novena

Scripture:	'Jesus said, "Come away to some lonely place, and rest yourselves for a while," for there were so many coming and going that they had no time even to eat' (Mk. 6:31)
Meditation:	If we are busy and we do not have even fifteen minutes each day to feed our spirit in prayer, then we do need to pause. Our human nature longs for the truth, beauty, and love that are in God, and for the joy and peace to be found in being with him.
Prayer:	Lord, help us to hear your invitation to take time out each day to turn aside and rest in your company. Teach us to speak to you in our own words, and teach us how to listen to you in our hearts. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
End:	Say the Novena Closing Prayer.

Day 3 Sat, June 1 - Jesus' Heart is moved by the crowd How to pray the Novena

Scripture:	When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. (Mk. 6:33-34)
Meditation:	How did the disciples feel when they found the crowd had run around the lake to meet them? Watch Jesus as he becomes aware of what the crowd has done. What is he thinking? Watch the compassion of his heart written on his face. How do you cope when someone's needs intrude on your plans?
Prayer:	Jesus, your heart is big and full of love. Though you wanted to get away from the crowd to rest, your heart expanded to include them when they showed up. Expand my heart too so that I can respond with love and compassion to those in great need. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
End:	Say the Novena Closing Prayer.

Day 4 Sun, June 2 - Jesus teaches at length How to pray the Novena

Scripture:	'For they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.' (Mk. 6:34)
Meditation:	We often have mixed feelings about our school days. Some of our teachers made us feel good about ourselves. Some made us feel bad. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and here the Good Teacher ... he wants to bring out the best in us, and teaches us how to live life to the full. Jesus is a teacher with a great heart. He loves each one in this large class. Remember a great teacher and how you grew in mind and heart while you were with him or her.
Prayer:	Lord, I thank you for the good teachers you have sent my way. You are the best teacher of all. Help me sit at your feet and listen to you with open heart, to enjoy your stories, to laugh at your jokes, and to put into practice what you teach. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
End:	Say the Novena Closing Prayer.

Day 5 Mon, June 3 - Jesus encourages the disciples How to pray the Novena

Scripture:	'This is a remote place,' his disciples said, 'and it's already very late. Send the people away to buy themselves something to eat.' But he answered, 'You give them something to eat.' (Mk. 6:35-37)
Meditation:	The disciples did not want to be left with the responsibility for feeding the crowd. Jesus sees their hearts and wants to give them a lesson in faith in God's goodness. He asks them to do the impossible, then works with them to move mountains in feeding the crowd.
Prayer:	Lord, with our small minds we often do not understand that you are a God of abundance, waiting to give us good things. Often we act out of fear of scarcity and do not rely on your promise of plenty to those who trust in you. Help us to rely on you and to trust your goodness in the concrete situations of our life. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
End:	Say the Novena Closing Prayer.

Day 6 Tue, June 4 - Jesus sends the disciples out to make a survey! How to pray the Novena

Scripture:	'How many loaves do you have?' he asked. 'Go and see.' (Mk. 6:38)
Meditation:	Jesus invites us to share what we have, both resources and gifts. We are often afraid to acknowledge our riches and gifts for fear we will be forced to share them. The disciples seem justified in doubting the Lord: 'Only five loaves and two fish! What is that among so many.' But Jesus can work with our smallness of spirit.
Prayer:	Lord, you created the world with enough provision for all. If we all were willing to share our gifts and resources, no one would need to go hungry. Fear of scarcity prevents me from sharing. Deepen my faith in your providence. Help me to pray 'Give us this day our daily bread' not just for myself but for everybody. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
End:	Say the Novena Closing Prayer.

Day 7 Wed, June 5 - Jesus divides up the crowd How to pray the Novena

Scripture:	Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. (Mk. 6:39-40)
Meditation:	Jesus involves his disciples in feeding the people. He breaks down the problem. He invites me today to be involved in feeding those in need and preserving their self-respect.
Prayer:	Lord, here you organise and delegate. Help us to use our hearts so that your people will have what they need. Help us to use our heads to find better ways to serve you and others. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
End:	Say the Novena Closing Prayer.

Day 8 Thu, June 6 - Jesus does the Eucharist How to pray the Novena

Scripture:	Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. (Mk. 6:41)
Meditation:	Notice that Jesus uses four verbs: took, blessed, broke and gave, the same four verbs used in the Eucharist when he gives himself to us in love. Here he gives himself to the Father and to us with bread and fish. The effect: we too are changed from being a selfish crowd into a community with heart, the Body of Christ.
Prayer:	Lord, you could really change our world if we could all work together for the good of all. Gathered together in one spirit with you we are one Body in the Eucharist. Give me now the grace to allow this big change of heart to happen in me and in us today. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
End:	Say the Novena Closing Prayer.

Day 9 Fri, June 7 - Jesus promises his heart to all How to pray the Novena

Scripture:	They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up 12 baskets full of broken pieces of bread and fish. (Mk 6:42-43)
Meditation:	During this novena, we have rested with Jesus, watched him have compassion, seen him teach, seen him feed the multitude. He invites us to do Eucharist with him in each situation. He now asks us to gather the fruits of these nine days, to store them up for the future.
Prayer:	Lord, you give each of us 12 baskets full, enough for each group in our lives. You ask us to have a heart for all so that no person and no group are left out. We know now that we are not alone as we go our way. Keep us mindful of your presence in our hearts. Help us to love with your Sacred Heart. Thank you, Lord, for this Novena. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
End:	Say the Novena Closing Prayer.