OBOB Novena Prayer Group

[Aaron-Aggie]

In a continued effort to share the wealth of Catholic Devotions with the Christian Forums Community I introduce the OBOB Novena Prayer Group.

What is a Novena?
Sort: A nine day prayer
Long: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11141b.htm

Who is invited to be part of this group?
Any one and everyone, catholic or none, that seeks to grow closer to God through Prayer.

How this group will work.

First we will post the novena that the group will pray for the next nine days. The initial post should provide a link to a online copy of the novena and describe the different parts.

Then each part of the Novena will be prayed and posted through out the day by different people as is currently done in the Holy Rosary thread. No assigned parts first come first serve

Once the different parts such as opening prayers and readings for the day have been posted every one is invited to pray and post the main Novena prayer. The more people that pray and post the prayer the better. Please also include personal intentions.

The next day the process repeats until the nine days are up then some one will choose the next Novena to pray.

Who picks the Novenas.

Any one. To get things started I will start the first.

To keep this thread easier for people to read and enjoy please post questions of discussion to http://www.christianforums.com/t76190

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

*****************************Current Novena *********************
http://www.christianforums.com/showthread.php?p=9497737&postcount=226
*********************************************************

Our First Novena: The Christmas Novena (Dec 16th to Dec 24th)

The Full text can be found at http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/novena/christmas.htm

It has Three parts per day:
A Daily Thought
A Daily Prayer
and




The following Novena prayer:

Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment

At which the Son of God was bornOf a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires
(mention request here).
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.

​

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

God's Love Revealed In His Becoming Man.

Thought:
Because our first parent Adam had rebelled against God, he was driven out of paradise and brought on himself and all his descendants the punishment of eternal death. But the son of God, seeing man thus lost and wishing to save him from death, offered to take upon Himself our human nature and to suffer death Himself, condemned as a criminal on a cross. "But, My Son," we may imagine the eternal Father saying to Him, "think of what a life of humiliations and sufferings Thou wilt have to lead on earth. Thou wilt have to be born in a cold stable and laid in a manger, the feeding trough of beasts.
While still an infant, Thou wilt have to flee into Egypt, to escape the hands of Herod. After Thy return from Egypt, Thou wilt have to live and work in a shop as a lowly servant, poor and despised. And finally, worn out with sufferings, Thou wilt have to give up Thy life on a cross, put to shame and abandoned by everyone." "Father," replies the Son, "all this matters not. I will gladly bear it all, if only I can save man."

What should we say if a prince, out of compassion for a dead worm, were to choose to become a worm himself and give his own life blood in order to restore the worm to life? But the eternal Word has done infinitely more than this for us. Though He is the sovereign Lord of the world, He chose to become like us, who are immeasurably more beneath Him than a worm is beneath a prince, and He was willing to die for us, in order to win back for us the life of divine grace that we had lost by sin.
When He saw that all the other gifts which He had bestowed on us were not sufficient to induce us to pray His love with love, He became man Himself and gave Himself all to us. "The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us;" "He loved us anddelivered Himself up for us."

 

[Cat59]

Prayer:
O Great Son of God, Thou hast become man in order to make Thyself loved by men. But where is the love that men give Thee in return?
Thou hast given Thy life blood to save our souls. Why then are we so unappreciative that, instead of repaying Thee with love, we spurn Thee with ingratitude? And I, Lord, I myself more than others have thus ill treated Thee.
But Thy Passion is my hope. For the sake of that love which led Thee to take upon Thyself human nature and to die for me on the cross, forgive me all the offenses I have committed against Thee.

I love Thee, O Word Incarnate; I love Thee, O infinite goodness. Out of love for Thee, that I could die of grief for these offenses. Give me, O Jesus, Thy love. Let me no longer live in ungrateful forgetfulness of the love Thou bearest me. I
wish to love Thee always. Grant that I may always preserve in this holy desire.

O Mary, Mother of God and my Mother, pray for me that thy Son may give me the grace to love Him always, unto death.
Amen.

 

[Cat59]

Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires
for my children to grow up loving and serving you
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.
​

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires
that as this special time of the year nears that we all hear the call of our Lord
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.

 

[marciadietrich]

Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires
... for grace and peace ...
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.

 

[ProCommunioneFacior]

Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires
that all will prepare their hearts to receive Jesus during this time of Advent
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.

 

[MariaRegina]

Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires
That there might be an increase of faith, hope, and love on this earth, especially for muslims that they may be converted to Christ,
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires
for Photini may the lord heal her and lead her through hard times
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.

 

[MariaRegina]

Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires
That Jennifer may be healed and saved
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

God's Love Revealed In His Being Born An Infant.

Thought:
When the Son of God became man for our sake, He could have come on earth as an adult man from the first moment of of His human existence, as Adam did when he was created. But since the sight of little children draws us with an especial attraction to love them, Jesus chose to make His first appearance on earth as a little infant, and indeed as the poorest and most pitiful infant that was ever born. "God wished to be born as a little babe," wrote Saint Peter Chrysologus, "in order that He might teach us to love and not to fear Him." The prophet Isaias had long before foretold that the Son of God was to be born as an infant and thus give Himself to us on account of the love He bore us: "A child is born to us, a son is given to us."

My Jesus, supreme and true God! What has drawn Thee from heaven to be born in a cold stable, if not the love which Thou bearest us men? What has allured Thee from the bosom of Thy Father, to place Thee in a hard manger? What has brought Thee from Thy throne above the stars, to lay Thee down on a little straw? What has led Thee from the midst of the nine choirs of angels, to set Thee between two animals? Thou, who inflamest the seraphim with holy fire, art now shivering with cold in this stable! Thou, who settest the stars in the sky in motion, canst not now move unless others carry Thee in their arms! Thou, who givest men and beasts their food, has need now a little milk to sustain Thy life! Thou, who art the joy of heaven, dost now whimper and cry in suffering! Tell me, who has reduced Thee to such misery? "Love has done it," says Saint Bernard. The love which Thou bearest us men has brought all this on Thee.

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

Prayer:
O Dearest Infant! Tell me, what hast Thou come on earth to do? Tell me, whom art Thou seeking? Yes, I already know. Thou has come to die for me, in order to save me from hell. Thou hast come to seek me, the lost sheep, so that, instead of fleeing from Thee any more, I may rest in Thy loving arms.
Ah my Jesus, my treasure, my life, my love and my all! Whom will I love, if not Thee? Where can I find a father, a friend, a spouse more loving and lovable than Thou art?

I love Thee, my dear God; I love Thee, my only good. I regret the many years when I have not loved Thee, but rather spurned and offended Thee. Forgive me, O my beloved Redeemer; for I am sorry that I have thus treated Thee, and I regret it with all my heart. Pardon me, and give me the grace never more to withdraw from Thee, but constantly to love Thee in all the years that still lie before me in this life. My love, I give myself entirely to Thee; accept me, and do not reject me as I deserve.
O Mary, thou art my advocate. By thy prayers thou dost obtain whatever thou wilt from thy Son. Pray Him then to forgive me, and to grant me holy perseverance until death. Amen.

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires
That your will be done through us
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.

 

[Cat59]

Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires
for a peaceful Christmas for all our families
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.

 

[MariaRegina]

Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires
For the blessed and eternal repose of my Aunt Isabel
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires
That Wolseley might find a publisher for his book
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.

 

[MariaRegina]

Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires
For the health and salvation of Photini
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.

 

[marciadietrich]

Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires
... for the conversion of souls ...
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.

 

[Cat59]

Third Day-18th December

​

The Life Of Poverty Which Jesus Led From His Birth.

Thought:
God so ordained that, at the time when His Son was to be born on this earth, the Roman emperor should issue a decree ordering everyone to go to the place of his origin and there be registered in the census. Thus it came about that, in obedience to this decree, Joseph went to Bethlehem together with his virgin wife when she was soon to have her Child.
Finding no lodging either in the poor inn or in the other houses of the town, they were forced to spend the night in a cave that was used as a stable for animals, and it was here that Mary gave birth to the King of heaven. If Jesus had been born in Nazareth, He would also, it is true, have been born in poverty; but there He would at least have had a dry room, a little fire, warm clothes and a more comfortable cradle. Yet He chose to be born in this cold, damp cave, and to have a manger for a cradle, with prickly straw for a mattress, in order that He might suffer for us.

Let us enter in spirit into this cave of Bethlehem, but let us enter in a spirit of lively faith. If we go there without faith, we shall see nothing but a poor infant, and the sight of this lovely child shivering and crying on his rough bed of straw may indeed move us to pity. But if we enter with faith and consider that this Babe is the very Son, God, who for love of us has come down on earth and suffers so much to pay the penalty for our sins, how can we help thanking and loving Him in return?