All Saints Day Novena 2011 Day 9

Thanksgiving and Praise


2637 Thanksgiving characterizes the prayer of the Church which, in celebrating the Eucharist, reveals and becomes more fully what she is. Indeed, in the work of salvation, Christ sets creation free from sin and death to consecrate it anew and make it return to the Father, for his glory. The thanksgiving of the members of the Body participates in that of their Head.

2638 As in the prayer of petition, every event and need can become an offering of thanksgiving. The letters of St. Paul often begin and end with thanksgiving, and the Lord Jesus is always present in it: "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you"; "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving."120

2639 Praise is the form of prayer which recognizes most immediately that God is God. It lauds God for his own sake and gives him glory, quite beyond what he does, but simply because HE IS. It shares in the blessed happiness of the pure of heart who love God in faith before seeing him in glory. By praise, the Spirit is joined to our spirits to bear witness that we are children of God,121 testifying to the only Son in whom we are adopted and by whom we glorify the Father. Praise embraces the other forms of prayer and carries them toward him who is its source and goal: the "one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist."122

Reason Nine To offer thanksgiving and praise

Jesus teach us that our hearts should overflow with thanksgiving and praise. You have created all and redeemed all for our joy and for our benefit. There is nothing good in this world that does not come from your hand and you have given no less than everything that we might know you, love you and remain with you forever. We join with all the angels and saints in thanksgiving and praise.

All Saints Day Novena 2011 Day 9

All Saints Day Novena 2011 Day 8

Intercession


2634 Intercession is a prayer of petition which leads us to pray as Jesus did. He is the one intercessor with the Father on behalf of all men, especially sinners.112 He is "able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."113 The Holy Spirit "himself intercedes for us . . . and intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."114

2635 Since Abraham, intercession - asking on behalf of another has been characteristic of a heart attuned to God's mercy. In the age of the Church, Christian intercession participates in Christ's, as an expression of the communion of saints. In intercession, he who prays looks "not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others," even to the point of praying for those who do him harm.115

2636 The first Christian communities lived this form of fellowship intensely.116 Thus the Apostle Paul gives them a share in his ministry of preaching the Gospel117 but also intercedes for them.118 The intercession of Christians recognizes no boundaries: "for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions," for persecutors, for the salvation of those who reject the Gospel.119

Reason Eight to intercede for others

Dear Jesus remind me to constantly pray for others because we are all in such need of your love and healing

All Saints Day Novena 2011 Day 8

All Saints Day Novena 2011 Day 7

Petition


2631 The first movement of the prayer of petition is asking forgiveness, like the tax collector in the parable: "God, be merciful to me a sinner!"105 It is a prerequisite for righteous and pure prayer. A trusting humility brings us back into the light of communion between the Father and his Son Jesus Christ and with one another, so that "we receive from him whatever we ask."106 Asking forgiveness is the prerequisite for both the Eucharistic liturgy and personal prayer.

2632 Christian petition is centered on the desire and search for the Kingdom to come, in keeping with the teaching of Christ.107 There is a hierarchy in these petitions: we pray first for the Kingdom, then for what is necessary to welcome it and cooperate with its coming. This collaboration with the mission of Christ and the Holy Spirit, which is now that of the Church, is the object of the prayer of the apostolic community.108 It is the prayer of Paul, the apostle par excellence, which reveals to us how the divine solicitude for all the churches ought to inspire Christian prayer.109 By prayer every baptized person works for the coming of the Kingdom.

2633 When we share in God's saving love, we understand that every need can become the object of petition. Christ, who assumed all things in order to redeem all things, is glorified by what we ask the Father in his name.110 It is with this confidence that St. James and St. Paul exhort us to pray at all times.111

Reason Seven to ask for what I need. Jesus, help me to know that I can come to you to ask for the things that I need, first and foremost forgiveness for my sins, secondly for the coming of the kingdom and lastly for my daily needs knowing in confidence that You will grant what is best for me in accordance with Your will.

All Saints Day Novena 2011 Day 7

All Saints Day Novena 2011 Day 6

Adoration


2628 Adoration is the first attitude of man acknowledging that he is a creature before his Creator. It exalts the greatness of the Lord who made us99 and the almighty power of the Savior who sets us free from evil. Adoration is homage of the spirit to the "King of Glory,"100 respectful silence in the presence of the "ever greater" God.101 Adoration of the thrice-holy and sovereign God of love blends with humility and gives assurance to our supplications.

Reason Six to adore our creator and our savior

Dear King of Glory, teach me to adore you as I should, coming before you in humility

All Saints Day Novena 2011 Day 6

All Saints Day Novena 2011 Day 5

Mary Prays


2617 Mary's prayer is revealed to us at the dawning of the fullness of time. Before the incarnation of the Son of God, and before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, her prayer cooperates in a unique way with the Father's plan of loving kindness: at the Annunciation, for Christ's conception; at Pentecost, for the formation of the Church, his Body.88 In the faith of his humble handmaid, the Gift of God found the acceptance he had awaited from the beginning of time. She whom the Almighty made "full of grace" responds by offering her whole being: "Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be [done] to me according to your word." "Fiat": this is Christian prayer: to be wholly God's, because he is wholly ours.

Reason Five: Because Mary prayed. Mary, please show us as our completely human model of trust we must also follow your example of constant prayer, and teach us to treasure things in our heart as you did.   In doing so we will grow in faithfulness through your example.  Thank you for being such a model for us. 

All Saints Day Novena 2011 Day 5

All Saints Day Novena 2011 Day 4

Jesus Prays


2600 The Gospel according to St. Luke emphasizes the action of the Holy Spirit and the meaning of prayer in Christ's ministry. Jesus prays before the decisive moments of his mission: before his Father's witness to him during his baptism and Transfiguration, and before his own fulfillment of the Father's plan of love by his Passion.43 He also prays before the decisive moments involving the mission of his apostles: at his election and call of the Twelve, before Peter's confession of him as "the Christ of God," and again that the faith of the chief of the Apostles may not fail when tempted.44 Jesus' prayer before the events of salvation that the Father has asked him to fulfill is a humble and trusting commitment of his human will to the loving will of the Father.

Reason Four: Because Jesus Himself prays. Jesus please teach us that if You Yourself being God incarnate, prayed, then as your followers to both imitate and learn from you we must also pray

All Saints Day Novena 2011 Day 4

All Saints Novena 2011 Day 3

Day Three: Prayer is also our response in faith to God


2561 "You would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."9 Paradoxically our prayer of petition is a response to the plea of the living God: "They have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water!"10 Prayer is the response of faith to the free promise of salvation and also a response of love to the thirst of the only Son of God.11

Reason three to respond in faith and love to the infinite gift of salvation:

Jesus please help me to respond to the many gifts you have given me, most importantly to the gift of eternal life.

All Saints Novena 2011 Day 3

All Saints Novena 2011 Day 1-2

All Saints Day Novena 2011




Why Pray? This is Pro Sanctity’s theme for the year, and for our Novena we will be pondering this question through the writings in the Catechism



The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes prayer in the following way:

2558 "Great is the mystery of the faith!" The Church professes this mystery in the Apostles' Creed (Part One) and celebrates it in the sacramental liturgy (Part Two), so that the life of the faithful may be conformed to Christ in the Holy Spirit to the glory of God the Father (Part Three). This mystery, then, requires that the faithful believe in it, that they celebrate it, and that they live from it in a vital and personal relationship with the living and true God. This relationship is prayer.

I had never read this paragraph until I started preparing for this novena. The simplicity and the directness of it captures my heart. Prayer doesn’t seem so unattainable and far off when we think of it as “a vital and personal relationship”. From this description prayer should be as natural to us as relating to our closest friend.

Reason One To learn that prayer is a relationship and not a task: Jesus, please teach me that prayer is a relationship and not a duty. Please increase my desire to be close to you.

Prayer is God’s gift

2560 "If you knew the gift of God!"7 The wonder of prayer is revealed beside the well where we come seeking water: there, Christ comes to meet every human being. It is he who first seeks us and asks us for a drink. Jesus thirsts; his asking arises from the depths of God's desire for us. Whether we realize it or not, prayer is the encounter of God's thirst with ours. God thirsts that we may thirst for him.8

Reason Two, to more fully appreciate the gift of our relationship: Jesus please teach me that in the gift of this relationship the desire is mutual and in fact your desire is greater than my own. Help me to spend time today lost in the wonder of this thought.

All Saints Novena 2011 Day 1-2

Join us!

The Blue Team meeting will be on Friday, October 21^st for a Pot Luck Lunch meeting – 12:00 noon at the Pro Sanctity Retreat Center!

We are gathering cost quotes and planning notes for the North Hill outside the New Barn preparation and we need info of who wants to donate time, labor, plants, ect. for the hill, also a time line needs to be put together.

In addition, we also will plan a Camp Alumni Mother/ Daughter Spring Day of Prayer and Little Flowers for Our Lady…or something like that!

Our Lady’ Garden Hill and Camp Alumni Retreat will grow very well together!

Teresa and Team

PS – Come out to paint New Barn Rooms! Yes, we are at the painting stage today! Join us today, October 14, 2011 or tomorrow! Come anytime!

Join us!

Praise God - our Founder's desire is unfolding!

My Mother, My Confidence!
October 12, 2011

* We just had our first official Pro Sanctity School of Formation 2011
(we have two sessions, one in the evening at Cooperative, Daphne Patil's and
one in the morning at Cooperative, Kay Parlor's).

* At Daphne's there was a full house - such good representation of
ages attending, men and women, committed members and friends of the Movement
too. It was a delight to hear many of them voice their reason for coming was
to be more involved with Pro Sanctity and go deeper into what it means to be
a member. It was a divine experience!

* We started the evening with the sharing of graces which we have
discovered is one of the MOST important skill every member must learn how to
do, and every leader find ways to encourage - it literally changes the group
from a simple study group to a dynamic, Christ centered, Spirit led,
apostolic centered group! Participants listen more deeply and the leader
does not have to work so hard to keep the group going. The sharing of a
grace at the end of the day has become a daily habit for the Oblates in the
Bethany and Pro Sanctity Members in their homes, we have taught co-workers
in the Archdiocese of Omaha too, and we encouraging it in all our groups and
retreats, and at the level of the diocesan offices. What a tremendous growth
in communion and unity we are experiencing in our working together!

* The evening had a combination of teaching the tools of interiority,
this first session we used the tool of the Explosive Gospel (and will be
used every session) and introduced the method of contemplative study. Next
we deepened the Founder's first point of the creed. At the conclusion we
shared the encouragements for apostolic action, fruit of the Explosive
Gospel.

* Jessi Kary, our National Director did a great job and everyone
participated so well. Soon there will be more leaders as these sessions
continue; this is very obvious in the membership attending! Our Founder must
be pleased!!! We can't wait until we offer it in all our Centers. As you
know it is a 3 year program, in sessions of 6.

* We have a lovely binder that holds the outlines, writings of our
Founder, and the excerpts from the Church documents, along with material for
many of the means we use to assist the participants to receive the
information both in the head and the heart. The final goal is to point them
to apostolic action and resources on this too will be included.

* Thanks for the prayers, keep praying too! Tomorrow will start the
next group that will meet in the morning and then Jessi will go on to Sioux
Falls where she and her team along with two priest leaders (Fr. Scott and
Fr. Jeff) will carry on two more groups. California and New York will be
next!

Pure grace and a dream come true! It was fantastic, and of course we thank
our Lady for taking care of the details, and our Founder for his
intercession!

Blessings and peace, Teresa

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Thought for the day ... G. Giaquinta
There can only be a universal call to holiness in as much as there is an
individual call - a call of each person to holiness (Servant of God, Bishop
Giaquinta).

USA NATIONAL PRO SANCTITY CENTER
11002 N. 204th St. Elkhorn, NE 68022
psm@prosanctity.org or 402-289-2670

www.prosanctity.org <http://www.prosanctity.org/>

BLOG: http://prosanctity.blogspot.com/

Praise God - our Founder's desire is unfolding!