Shalom

June 2017

NOVENA TO THE SACRED HEART

How to Pray the Novena

The novena to the Sacred Heart takes place from 15-23 June 2017.

You may pray the Novena privately, in your 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 with the Novena Prayer (see page 200).

NOVENA PRAYER (to be said each day)

Lord Jesus Christ, you have said, 'Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you'. I come to you in faith and trust, in love and hope. Let me know your closeness to me and your care of me and for all who are dear to me.

My intention for this Novena is dear to me and I know that what is important to me is important to you. Hear my prayer (mention your intention); grant what I ask, and may I always trust that in all that happens in life, you will be close to me as my friend, guide and saviour. And so, Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You.

Day 1 - Thursday June 15 - Jesus the patient friend How to pray the Novena

Scripture:	'Behold I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to them and eat with them, and they with me' (Rev. 3:20).
Meditation:	Jesus has been standing, knocking at the door of our hearts, and he will do so until the end of our lives with infinite patience. But it is never too late to open that door and invite him into our lives.
Prayer:	Lord, we do not understand why you love us so much and why you are so patient with us. It can only be because you are love itself. Help us to hear that persistent knocking and to open ourselves to you. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
End:	Say the Novena Prayer.

Day 2 - Friday June 16 - A day with Jesus of Nazareth How to pray the Novena

Scripture:	The two disciples said to Jesus, 'Master, where do you live?' Jesus said, 'Come and see' and they stayed with him that day (Jn. 1:38).
Meditation:	Because it is a relationship of love, Jesus always leaves us free to respond or not. To those who want to find him, he says, 'Come, and meet me in real prayer and open your hearts to me'. This is how we come to know him personally, and it leads us to loving him and following him.
Prayer:	Lord Jesus, you are telling each of us to come and see, help us to truly meet you in prayer and to discover the joy of coming to know and love you. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
End:	Say the Novena Prayer.

Day 3 - Saturday June 17 - The humble Jesus How to pray the Novena

Scripture:	'Come to me all you who labour and are burdened and I will give you rest … learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart' (Mt. 11:28).
Meditation:	We can learn much about what kind of person Jesus was by looking at how he lived and how he interacted with all those he met. He met and dined with people who were treated as outcasts in society and brought them peace. He healed those who were sick.
Prayer:	Lord Jesus, you know what it is like to live our human life. Help us to remember that you love everyone and see the good in each person, and help us to love them as sisters and brothers. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
End:	Say the Novena Prayer.

Day 4 - Sunday June 18 - Jesus the compassionate friend How to pray the Novena

Scripture:	And a leper came to him, beseeching him, 'Lord, if you will, you can make me clean'. Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him saying, 'I will, be clean'(Mk. 1:40-42). And immediately the leprosy left him.
Meditation:	In his day, Jesus met much human suffering and it affected him deeply. Here, on meeting this leper, he looks into his eyes and reaches out and touches the untouchable.
Prayer:	Lord, you always looked on everyone with deep compassion, and just being in your presence brings a healing of body and mind. Help us in our day to be your eyes, which look with compassion on others. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
End:	Say the Novena Prayer.

Day 5 - Monday June 19 - The call to follow Jesus as Christians How to pray the Novena

Scripture:	'My sheep hear my voice; I know them and they follow me' (Jn 10:27).
Meditation:	Jesus came among us to bring about the kingdom of his father on earth. He always knew that he would need followers to come after him and bring his message of love and peace to distant people. By our baptism we are all called to witness to Christ by how we live our Christian lives.
Prayer:	Lord Jesus, help us to hear your call in all the different experiences of our human lives. Give us the grace to respond with generosity and fidelity, knowing that you are always walking with us. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
End:	Say the Novena Prayer.

Day 6 - Tuesday June 20 - The call to trust How to pray the Novena

Scripture:	When Peter saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to feel sick, he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?" (Mt. 14:29-31).
Meditation:	When Peter paid more attention to the storm than to Jesus he began to sink. Jesus is always there to reach out and hold us and bring us help. If only we could learn to trust him more.
Prayer:	Lord, give us the courage and faith to carry on, knowing that you never stop loving us. Help us to see that with you, we can do everything that your call asks of us. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
End:	Say the Novena Prayer.

Day 7 - Wednesday June 21 - The God who lives within us How to pray the Novena

Scripture:	'If anyone loves me, he/she will keep my word, and my father will love them, and we will come to them, and make our home with them.' (Jn. 14:23).
Meditation:	How very different our lives would be if we could only come to believe Jesus' words. By being faithful to him in daily prayer we will come to learn that he dwells within us with his Father and the Holy Spirit.
Prayer:	Lord Jesus, help us to truly believe in your words. While on earth your greatest happiness was to encounter real faith. Teach us in prayer how to recognize your presence within us and how to let our prayer influence our daily lives. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
End:	Say the Novena Prayer.

Day 8 - Thursday June 22 - Accompany Jesus in his passion and death How to pray the Novena

Scripture:	Then he said to all, 'If anyone wishes to come after me, they must deny themselves, take up their cross daily and follow me' (Lk. 9:23).
Meditation:	True friends do not desert one another when life gets difficult. In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asked his disciples to stay and keep watch with him. By carrying our crosses in life, we can enter more deeply into his life and become more like him.
Prayer:	Lord, you are especially close to us when we suffer. Help us to unite our sufferings with yours for the salvation of the world. And help us to pray often on your passion and death. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
End:	Say the Novena Prayer.

Day 9 - Friday June 23 - To be with Jesus when he calls How to pray the Novena

Scripture:	'Father, I want those also whom you have given me, to be with me where I am, so that they may see the glory which you have given me' (Jn. 17:24).
Meditation:	Jesus has told us that we cannot even imagine what great joy and happiness he has in store for those who love him and who follow him faithfully in their Christian lives.
Prayer:	Lord Jesus, give us the grace never to turn back from our decision to answer your call to follow you as true Christians. You went the whole way in giving your life for us. Help us to be faithful to you until we hear your call to be with you forever in heaven. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
End:	Say the Novena Prayer.