Shalom

June 2020

NOVENA TO THE SACRED HEART

How to Pray the Novena

The novena to the Sacred Heart takes place from 11 to 19 June 2020.

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.

CLOSING PRAYER (to be said each day)

Lord Jesus, you have said, 'Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you'. I cometo 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. Amen.

Day 1 - Thursday June 11 - Bring Him Everything How to pray the Novena

Scripture:	Come to me all you who labour and are over-burdened, and I will give you rest (Mt. 11:28).
Reflection:	Jesus is looking forward to our company during these nine days. He wants to hear from us, how we are getting on. Are our dreams coming true? Have we blessings to thank him for? Are there things on our minds? Who are we concerned about? He loves to hear our secrets, the things we can only tell to him, especially if they are a burden for us. In his strong gentle hands, all is made good.
Prayer:	I have nine days, Lord. About ten minutes each day. I'm sure there will be lots of things to do that might make me want to take short cuts, to do this in a hurry. But before we even start, my first Novena intention is that you will help me to find a quiet place, and enough time, to spend with you each day. We have so much to talk about. And help me to be quiet enough to hear what you want to say to me. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
End:	Say the Novena Closing Prayer.

Day 2 - Friday June 12 - The Fisherman's Mother-in-law How to pray the Novena

Scripture:	The whole town came crowding round the door (Mk 1:33).
Reflection:	No wonder they did. Maybe Peter's wife had let it out that Jesus had cured her mother. Flat out on her bed she was, not a stir out of her. A high temperature, no appetite, and the house full of people. Jesus was barely in the door when they told him. In no time, he had her up and about, stirring pots, setting the table, serving up the dinner. They were barely finished when they heard the commotion outside. Peter drew the curtain. A glance, a word, and Jesus knew it was time to move.
Prayer:	I was watching Lord. I missed nothing. So many people eager to be near you. You were patient. You saw the longing in their eyes. Before a word was spoken you knew what to do. And yet you listened to the months and years of pain and distress. A word, a touch, a prayer to the Father, and they went home to a new life. Now they are gone, and it's just you and me. Have you got a few minutes? Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
End:	Say the Novena Closing Prayer.

Day 3 - Saturday June 13 - 'Put your whole heart into it' How to pray the Novena

Scripture:	Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a lonely place, where he prayed (Mk 1:35).
Reflection:	A woman who asked Blessed John Sullivan to say a prayer for her special intentions said to him 'and put your whole heart into it'. There was surely no need for those words, as Fr John held nothing back. Prayer was his life-support, his nourishment, his source of healing, his constant activity, the reason that he was so united with God, heart to heart.
Prayer:	Lord, you loved to spend time alone with your heavenly Father. How else could you have been who you were? 'I and the Father are one' you told us. How better to become one with another person than to spend time together? Two becoming one heart. I want to be united with you too. Like the psalmist in the Old Testament, I pray, 'a new heart create for me O God, put a steadfast spirit within me' (Ps 51:10). Help me to come to you, morning or evening, in a quiet place, and let me put my whole heart into it. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
End:	Say the Novena Closing Prayer.

Day 4 - Sunday June 14 -Can a Mother forget her baby? How to pray the Novena

Scripture:	His mother stored up all these things in her heart (Lk 2:51).
Reflection:	Jesus received his human heart from his mother Mary. From before his birth, she loved him 'with love beyond all telling'. Her loving heart formed his loving heart. He was always her child. She knew him as well as any mother could, and yet there were times when she did not understand him. The second chapter of St Luke's Gospel tells us beautifully about the early life of Jesus and her place in it. We know only a certain amount. The rest was stored in her heart.
Prayer:	Mary, you are our mother too. Sometimes you were so happy that your spirit rejoiced in God your Saviour. At other times a sword pierced your very soul. And yet you remained faithful. Your love for Jesus was unbreakable, but it also broke your heart. Help us to know your Son, and to know that whether we rejoice or are in distress, you and he are with us. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
End:	Say the Novena Closing Prayer.

Day 5 - Monday June 15 - Hard hearts, Compassionate heart How to pray the Novena

Scripture:	Jesus stood up and said to the woman, 'Where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?' 'No one, sir', she replied. 'Neither do I condemn you', said Jesus. 'Go away, and don't sin any more' (Jn 8:10-14).
Reflection:	Hearts as hard as the stones they want to throw at her. She trembles with fear, head down in shame. Are any of these righteous men free enough from sin and brave enough to cast the first stone? Now it is their turn to hang their heads as he writes in the sand. Jesus straightens up. Their eyes meet. She knows true love for the first time in her life. Even if he didn't say a word about sin, she knows that life will never be the same again.
Prayer:	You know what I'm like Lord. I wouldn't want you to write my sins in the sand in front of good people, never mind hard-hearted ones. There would be plenty to write about. It wouldn't make the headlines, but it does matter. Rather than wait to be dragged before you, why don't I come willingly? Are you ready? Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
End:	Say the Novena Closing Prayer.

Day 6 - Tuesday June 16 - A Human Heart How to pray the Novena

Scripture:	As soon as she saw him Mary threw herself at his feet, saying, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died'. In great distress, with a sigh that came straight from the heart, Jesus asked 'Where have you put him?' They said, 'Lord, come and see'. Jesus wept; and the Jews said, 'See how much he loved him' (Jn 11:32-35).
Reflection:	'Jesus wept', the shortest verse in the Bible. If we ever doubt the humanity of Jesus, we need look no further. Mary, Martha and Lazarus were dear friends of his. Their home was a refuge, away from the crowds. When he was tired, misunderstood, opposed, he loved to stay with them. He needed human company.
Prayer:	Lord, life gets too busy at times. Mary got it right when Martha was fussing in the kitchen. I'm sure Martha found time to talk to you eventually. We know nothing about what Lazarus did that day. But you wouldn't have wept with sighs from your heart if he didn't mean a lot to you. So you must have had good times together. Did you walk the fields? Admire the crops? Discuss the weather? I'd love to spend that kind of time with you too. We'd have lots to talk about. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
End:	Say the Novena Closing Prayer.

Day 7 - Wednesday June 17 - You Did It to Me How to pray the Novena

Scripture:	For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat (Mt 25:35).
Reflection:	'I sought myself and myself I could not find; I sought my God, and my God I could not find. I sought my brother and I found all three, my God, my brother and myself.' So goes a verse from some years ago, gender bias included. It echoes words of St John, that if we do not recognise God in people whom we can see, we will find it difficult to recognise the God whom we cannot see.
Prayer:	It's all too easy, Lord, to pass by on the other side. And yet, within each person on the edge of society, there beats a heart like yours and mine. The rough sleeper, the migrant, the addicted person, the prisoner, all shed their tears when nobody is looking. And we hurry along to the next 'important' appointment, or trudge along, worrying about our problems, wondering why you don't solve them or where you are. And all the time, you are hiding in plain sight, well disguised, poorly dressed, in need of a wash. Lord, that I may see. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
End:	Say the Novena Closing Prayer.

Day 8 - Thursday June 18 - The Weight of the World How to pray the Novena

Scripture:	Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping 'Could you not watch one hour with me?', he asked Peter (Mt 26:40-41).
Reflection:	After all the promises. 'Ready to go to prison and to death' (Lk 22:33). He was never so alone, his heart crushed with grief. Bent to the ground with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Was anybody there? Just to be there. Not to give advice or take away the pain. Ordinary human presence when he needed it most.
Prayer:	I'm not sure I would have stayed awake either. If I had been with you all that time; if I had seen you transform the lives of hundreds of people with a word or a touch; if I had felt my boat almost sink under the weight of hundreds of fish; if you had given me the best days of my life; and then if I saw you that night, weeping in despair and fear, I'm not sure I could have taken it. Help me not to give into the temptation to hide away when there is pain to be faced, whether it is my own or that of somebody else. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
End:	Say the Novena Closing Prayer.

Day 9 - Friday June 19 - Heart of the Eucharist How to pray the Novena

Scripture:	He made as if to go on, but they pressed him. 'Stay with us Lord, for it is evening, and the day is almost over.' So he went in to stay with them (Lk 24:29).
Reflection:	In a Jesuit community in Paris, there is a painting of this scene at Emmaus. The disciples who have walked with him are with Jesus. He holds bread in his hands. You look closely to see whether it is his heart or a piece of bread that he is giving to them. It is both. The heart of the Eucharist is the heart of Jesus, the heart of God, the heart of the Church, and the heart of the whole universe. He gives us everything.
Prayer:	We have walked these days with you Lord. We have opened our hearts to you and told you of our blessings. You listened to our hopes and dreams, our struggles and needs. And you made our hearts burn within us as you spoke. We began to understand. Now it is near the end. Stay with us. Talk to us. Break bread with us again. Thank you. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
End:	Say the Novena Closing Prayer.