BIG C CATHOLICS

October 21, 2017 Today we remember all those who are seeking employment. Let us pray for the unemployed or underemployed that God will provide for them and, through the intercession of Saint Jude, they will find purpose and meaning in their labors. Saint Jude Novena - Day 3 Most holy St. Jude, apostle, martyr and friend of Jesus, pray for me and my intentions. Intercede for me before the throne of God and plead for His favor. (State your intentions here) You are the patron of the impossible. Pray for my intentions St. Jude, that God’s grace and mercy will answer them. Pray for the impossible if it is God’s will. Pray that I may have the grace to accept God’s holy will even if it is difficult. St. Jude, you labored for years, pray that I may have patience in my struggles. O St. Jude, pray for me that I may grow in faith, hope and love and in the grace of Jesus Christ. Pray for these intentions, but most of all pray that I may join you in heaven together with God, se

October 20, 2017 Today, we remember those who are suffering whether mentally, physically or emotionally. Let us pray for a restoration to health of the unwell, and especially for those whose cases seem hopeless. Saint Jude, intercede on our behalf, that illnesses and catastrophic diseases that afflict mankind be cured or alleviated. Saint Jude Novena - Day 2 Most holy St. Jude, apostle, martyr and friend of Jesus, pray for me and my intentions. Intercede for me before the throne of God and plead for His favor. (State your intentions here) You are the patron of the impossible. Pray for my intentions St. Jude, that God’s grace and mercy will answer them. Pray for the impossible if it is God’s will. Pray that I may have the grace to accept God’s holy will even if it is difficult. St. Jude, pray that I may have your zeal to preach the Gospel. O St. Jude, pray for me that I may grow in faith, hope and love and in the grace of Jesus Christ. Pray for these intentions, but

October 19, 2017 This novena is dedicated to impossible causes or difficult situation which seem hopeless or extremely gave, as Saint Jude is the patron saint of desperate and lost causes. Today we pray for our personal intentions confident that all things are possible for God. St. Jude, help us to be steadfast in our faith as you were. Saint Jude Novena - Day 1 Most holy St. Jude, apostle, martyr and friend of Jesus, pray for me and my intentions. Intercede for me before the throne of God and plead for His favor. (State your intentions here) You are the patron of the impossible. Pray for my intentions St. Jude, that God’s grace and mercy will answer them. Pray for the impossible if it is God’s will. Pray that I may have the grace to accept God’s holy will even if it is difficult. St. Jude, you loved our Lord, help me to love Him more. O St. Jude, pray for me that I may grow in faith, hope and love and in the grace of Jesus Christ. Pray for these intentions, but mo

Saint Jude (not to be confused with Judas Iscariot) is one of the twelve Apostles named by Jesus. He is also referred to as Thaddeus, (meaning sweetness and gentleness of character) in addition to Jude Thaddaeus, Judas Thaddaeus or Lebbaeus. He is the patron of impossible causes. His feast day is October 28th. Jude followed Our Lord faithfully until Christ's crucifixion. He then preached the Gospel in Judea, Samaria, Idumaea, Syria, Mesopotamia and Libya. Jude spoke both Greek and Aramaic, and was a farmer by trade. His New Testament letter stresses the importance of being faithful and persevering despite difficulties and harsh circumstances. Jude died a martyr around the year 65 AD. Tradition holds he was killed with arrows when he refused to disavow his faith in Jesus Christ. After his martyrdom, pilgrims came to his grave to pray. Many benefited from his powerful intercession, hence the designation, "The Saint for the Hopeless and the Despaired". St. Bridget of

September 30, 2017 Today let us pray for selflessness. St. Thérèse gave of herself to her Carmelite sisters in love. We ask God for the grace to love others unconditionally. Through St. Thérèse's intercession, may we love those we find difficult to love. Also, we remember those who work selflessly for their families, and those in need of work. ____________________________________________ Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, you said that you would spend your time in heaven doing good on earth. Your trust in God was complete. Pray that He may increase my trust in His goodness and mercy as I ask for the following petitions… (State your intentions) Pray for me that I, like you, may have great and innocent confidence in the loving promises of our God. Pray that I may live my life in union with God’s plan for me, and one day see the Face of God whom you loved so deeply. Saint Thérèse, you were faithful to God even unto the moment of your death. Pray for me that I may be

September 29, 2017 Today let us pray for a greater dependence on God. Our culture is constantly pushing us to rely only on ourselves, to be totally self-sufficient. But, we are not, we belong to God. We must rely on Him for everything just like Saint Thérèse. ____________________________________________ Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, you said that you would spend your time in heaven doing good on earth. Your trust in God was complete. Pray that He may increase my trust in His goodness and mercy as I ask for the following petitions… (State your intentions) Pray for me that I, like you, may have great and innocent confidence in the loving promises of our God. Pray that I may live my life in union with God’s plan for me, and one day see the Face of God whom you loved so deeply. Saint Thérèse, you were faithful to God even unto the moment of your death. Pray for me that I may be faithful to our loving God. May my life bring peace and love to the world through faithful e

September 28, 2017 Today we ask for an emptying out of ourselves in order that we may be Christ to others. We pray for the realization that our lives are the only Gospel some people will ever read. Let us continue on with our daily activities and responsibilities as St. Thérèse would; doing small things with tremendous love for the Glory of God. ____________________________________________ Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, you said that you would spend your time in heaven doing good on earth. Your trust in God was complete. Pray that He may increase my trust in His goodness and mercy as I ask for the following petitions… (State your intentions) Pray for me that I, like you, may have great and innocent confidence in the loving promises of our God. Pray that I may live my life in union with God’s plan for me, and one day see the Face of God whom you loved so deeply. Saint Thérèse, you were faithful to God even unto the moment of your death. Pray for me that I may be faithf

September 27, 2017 Despite immense suffering during her life, Saint Thérèse of Lisieux still trusted in God. She lost her mother when she was four. She was bullied at school. She lost her stepmother, and her older sister Pauline, when the later entered the convent. As a consequence of these events, Thérèse endured a period of deep depression. St. Thérèse also suffered from tuberculosis for over a year. It was this illness that claimed her life. Yet, for all this, she resisted the temptation to fall into despair, and instead, united her heart to Christ. Today let us pray for the same trust and strength whenever we face difficulties, struggles and temptations in our lives. ____________________________________________ Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, you said that you would spend your time in heaven doing good on earth. Your trust in God was complete. Pray that He may increase my trust in His goodness and mercy as I ask for the following petitions… (State your intentions)

September 26, 2017 As we continue this powerful novena to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux we pray in a special way for spiritual motherhood. Religious sisters are called to be spiritual mothers to those they encounter. We pray for them today, and for all women, that they exhibit the spiritual nurturing, selflessness and love of the saints. ____________________________________________ Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, you said that you would spend your time in heaven doing good on earth. Your trust in God was complete. Pray that He may increase my trust in His goodness and mercy as I ask for the following petitions… (State your intentions) Pray for me that I, like you, may have great and innocent confidence in the loving promises of our God. Pray that I may live my life in union with God’s plan for me, and one day see the Face of God whom you loved so deeply. Saint Thérèse, you were faithful to God even unto the moment of your death. Pray for me that I may be faithful to our lovin

September 25, 2017 Saint Thérèse of Lisieux was born into a pious and loving Catholic family. She was one of nine children, though only five would survive into adulthood. Each of the remaining five children including St. Thérèse, eventually answered God's call to the religious life and joined a convent. Today we pray that more women answer that divine summons and consecrate their lives to God in service to the world. ____________________________________________ Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, you said that you would spend your time in heaven doing good on earth. Your trust in God was complete. Pray that He may increase my trust in His goodness and mercy as I ask for the following petitions… (State your intentions) Pray for me that I, like you, may have great and innocent confidence in the loving promises of our God. Pray that I may live my life in union with God’s plan for me, and one day see the Face of God whom you loved so deeply. Saint Thérèse, you were faithful to

September 24, 2017 For Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, prayer united us to God immediately and personally. And it can be like this for us all. Even in prayer, St. Therese teaches simplicity -- talking to God in direct, personal and heartfelt ways. She prayed from her heart as a child speaks to a loving parent they trust. In this she, imitated Our Savior. Communication is the foundation of trust, honesty and love. Today we pray for open communication within our lives. May it manifest itself in our relationship with the Lord as well as in our conversations with others we encounter in life. ____________________________________________ Saint Therese of Lisieux, you said that you would spend your time in heaven doing good on earth. Your trust in God was complete. Pray that He may increase my trust in His goodness and mercy as I ask for the following petitions… (State your intentions) Pray for me that I, like you, may have great and innocent confidence in the loving promises of o

September 23, 2017 Saint Therese is known for her "little way," which is simply the idea of seeking holiness in the ordinariness of our everyday lives. She teaches us to do the ordinary with extraordinary love. This is the essence of St. Therese's spirituality. Today we pray for the relationships in our lives. May we be more loving with our family, friends, coworkers, strangers, and God. We ask for the strength to do small things with love and to see everyone as our brothers and sisters in Christ. ____________________________________________ Saint Therese of Lisieux, you said that you would spend your time in heaven doing good on earth. Your trust in God was complete. Pray that He may increase my trust in His goodness and mercy as I ask for the following petitions… (State your intentions) Pray for me that I, like you, may have great and innocent confidence in the loving promises of our God. Pray that I may live my life in union with God’s plan for me, an

September 22, 2017 Saint Therese of Lisieux, you said that you would spend your time in heaven doing good on earth. Your trust in God was complete. Pray that He may increase my trust in His goodness and mercy as I ask for the following petitions… (State your intentions) Pray for me that I, like you, may have great and innocent confidence in the loving promises of our God. Pray that I may live my life in union with God’s plan for me, and one day see the Face of God whom you loved so deeply. Saint Therese, you were faithful to God even unto the moment of your death. Pray for me that I may be faithful to our loving God. May my life bring peace and love to the world through faithful endurance in love for God our savior. Amen. St. Thérèse of Lisieux Novena Day One Loving God, you blessed St. Therese with a capacity for a great love. Help me to believe in your unconditional love for each of your children, especially for me. I love you, Lord. Help me to love you more! Our

September 22nd is the first day of the novena to Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, more popularly known as St. Thérèse of Lisieux, "the Little Flower." This beloved saint is the patron of foreign missions, missionaries, against tuberculosis, AIDS sufferers, illness and loss of parents. Her perfect trust in God, deep faith and patient suffering is an example of heroic virtue for us to follow. Saint Pius X called St. Thérèse the "greatest saint of modern times." She is a powerful intercessor whose help is sought by many. Join thousands of others around the world in praying the novena to St. Thérèse of Lisieux. O God, who opened your Kingdom to those who are humble and to little ones, lead us to follow trustingly in the little way of St. Thérèse, so that through her intercession we may see your eternal glory revealed and spend eternity with you in heaven. For more about this novena including daily email reminders go HERE .

September 7, 2017 The Virgin Mary and Joseph were graced with the honor of raising Jesus. Having God Incarnate in their midst was an unrivaled joy. The happiness this brought was something we can only imagine. Jesus, Mary and Joseph are the model for Christian marriages and families. Today, we pray for all married couples that they emulate the Holy Family in how they relate to their spouses and in conducting their families to be holy and loving. Blessed Virgin Mary, our Mother, pray for us. Nativity of the Virgin Mary Novena for Marriage and Families - Day 9 Say the following three times: Jesus, I trust in You. Please grant through Your mother’s intercession that I may always bring Your hope into my family. Then say: Mother Mary, you pray for me as your child. Thank you for welcoming me into the Holy Family. Pray for me today that the feast of your birth may give great joy to my soul that I may increase my devotion to the Holy Family. Dearest Mother, please pray for

September 6, 2017 Today, we again remember marriages and families who are struggling. Pope Francis once said, "Jesus' attitude is striking: we do not hear the words of scorn, we do not hear the words of condemnation, but only words of love, of mercy..." Let us pray for spouses to emulate this in their marriages and in their families. We pray also for the widowed, single parents, and all those hurt by divorce. Nativity of the Virgin Mary Novena for Marriage and Families - Day 8 Say the following three times: Jesus, I trust in You. Please grant through Your mother’s intercession that I may always bring Your hope into my family. Then say: Heavenly Mother, your birth gave great joy to all the world because it signaled the coming of Jesus Christ, who would save the whole world by His life, death and resurrection. Pray for me today that the feast of your birth may give great joy to my soul that I may be exceedingly patient with my family and loved ones. Deare

September 5, 2017 Today we pray for all single people discerning marriage, all engaged couples, all newlyweds, and those who have been married for many years. Each of them need God's guidance — that their love, relationships and marriages may glorify God and bring Christ to the people around them, their families, and the world. Nativity of the Virgin Mary Novena for Marriage and Families - Day 7 Say the following three times: Jesus, I trust in You. Please grant through Your mother’s intercession that I may always bring Your hope into my family. Then say: Holy Mother, your birth caused great joy to the angels, because they saw your holiness caused by your Son’s resurrection. Pray for me today that the feast of your birth may give great joy to my soul that your graces may rain down on all married couples. Dearest Mother, please pray for me and for these my intentions… (State your intentions) Hail Mary… Impart to your servants, we pray, O Lord, the gift of he

September 4, 2017 Saint John Paul II wrote at length about the family in 1994, when the Church celebrated the 'Year of the Family.' He said, "The civilization of love is possible; it is not a utopia. But it is only possible by a constant and ready reference to the "Father from whom all fatherhood on earth is named", from whom every human family comes." Today, we pray that all families may grow to be ever more Christ-centered, and recognize that all things good are truly gifts from God, our Father. Nativity of the Virgin Mary Novena for Marriage and Families - Day 6 Say the following three times: Jesus, I trust in You. Please grant through Your mother’s intercession that I may always bring Your hope into my family. Then say: O holy Mother, St. Joachim and St. Anne were delighted to love and care for so holy a child. Pray for me today that the feast of your birth may give great joy to my soul that I may show greater charity to my parents and g

September 3, 2017 Society is built and sustained by families. The sacred foundation of the family is marriage. Today, the family and marriage are under attack. However, this did not happen in a vacuum. Archbishop Charles J. Chaput observed, “No society can sustain itself for long if marriage and the family fall apart on a mass scale.” When marriages suffer, families suffer, and society breaks down. Faithfulness to Christ will increase faithfulness to our families, particularly one’s spouse. Let us pray for greater fidelity to our Lord Jesus so that we may be selfless as family members. Nativity of the Virgin Mary Novena for Marriage and Families - Day 5 Say the following three times: Jesus, I trust in You. Please grant through Your mother’s intercession that I may always bring Your hope into my family. Then say: Most holy Mary, the Holy Spirit preserved you from sin so that our Lord would have a fitting vessel to enter the world. Pray for me today that the feast of you

September 2, 2017 Society is built and sustained by families. The sacred foundation of the family is marriage. Today, the family and marriage are under attack. But this did not happen in a vacuum. Archbishop Charles J. Chaput observed, “No society can sustain itself for long if marriage and the family fall apart on a mass scale.” When marriages suffer, families suffer, and society breaks down. Every marriage and family is called to be at the service of life. Today, we pray that families may discern how they can uphold the dignity of life, regardless of circumstances. Nativity of the Virgin Mary Novena for Marriage and Families - Day 4 Say the following three times: Jesus, I trust in You. Please grant through Your mother’s intercession that I may always bring Your hope into my family. Then say: Our Lady, on this feast of your birth, please pray for stronger and holier marriages. Amen. O most holy daughter of the line of King David, the Redeemer of the world loves you