Novenas

The word Novena come from the word "novem" which means "nine." It is a prayer that is said for nine days in a row. We pray novenas for particular intentions. God has granted certain gifts to certain Saints which enable them to intercede for us in times of difficulty and need. Why nine times? The number 9 symbolizes divine completeness or conveys the meaning of finality. Christ died at the 9th hour of the day, or 3 p.m. (The Jewish clock was seasonal and began at dawn). The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) is the only Feast day of the Jewish people that requires believers to fast for one day. Most Jews consider this to be the holiest day of the year. It begins at sunset on the 9th day of the seventh Hebrew month (Leviticus 23:32). I believe the number nine is used 49 times in scripture but don't hold me to that because I haven't checked my notes! There are in Galatians 6:22-23 nine fruits of the Holy Spirit which brings me to the reason I decided to write about novenas. Today is Ascension Thursday which means that Pentecost is around the corner. The oldest novena we have is the Novena to the Holy Spirit, the Pentecost Novena. I believe it is the only novena officially prescribed by the church and it should begin tomorrow. EWTN has the novena on their website if you would like to join in. http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/pentecost/seven.htm If you don't have any personal necessities to pray for please consider praying for the end of the many abominations occurring in our world. Abortion, genocide, poverty and abuse to name a few.
As always thanks for reading and please feel free to add any comments or questions.

Marriage and the Catholic Church

I receive many questions from family members and friends asking why the church doesn't just "get out of the marriage business?" Here is my answer: Marriage in the Church is a sacrament of the Church which makes it sacred. It is more than a business or a trial run. It is a commitment not only for two people to live together but for them to share a sacred bond. We learn about marriage from the beginning of scripture in Genesis chapter 2, where we read that man and woman are made to be suitable for each other and that the two become one. The first recorded miracle of Jesus was at a wedding in Cana where He was present for that couple in same way that He is present for every couple who gets married in the Church.  The commitment of the couple includes Christ. This doesn't mean that He is absent in civil relationships, it means that His Grace is being poured upon those who purposely include Him in their marriage. Revelation speaks to us about the "Wedding feast of the Lamb". Jesus is the groom and we are His bride. Marriage is so important that it is used as our relationship with our Lord. So for the people who ask that infamous question, "Were is that in the Bible?" There it is! Therefore, I think the Church has every right to be "in the marriage business!"
 I think that one the problems we have is that newly engaged people don't understand the sacredness of what they are committing to. Do they know that the job description of a spouse includes the responsibility of helping the other spouse to get to Heaven? To place the other person before themselves in the same way that Jesus gave Himself for His Church? I know we say the vows but do we really get it? There was a time when the ailing elderly were taken care of in the homes  more often than in nursing homes. Wars struck just about everyone and the mortality rate was greater. Children grew up with these things and might have had a better understanding of sacrifice. (opinion) Statistically, over half of young couples today come from divorced families. How are they able to understand a lifetime together if they have never witnessed one? Marriage is filled with every emotion imaginable. It is a mix between, great times and love and bad times and grrrs! But no matter the time, it is still sacred.
If you want to read more about marriage and the Catholic Church see the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs 1601-1637.

Guardian Angels

After hearing Peter Kreeft speak a couple of years ago I was reminded that I do in fact have a guardian angel. Since then I have read his book, "Angels and Demons" and have renewed my relationship with my guardian angel. I believe his/her name is Michael (not the archangel Michael) and I talk to him/her every day. How wonderful our God is to give us so much protection. I ask him to pray for and with me. It's great knowing that when I pray there is someone next to me praying along. I never really understood the choir of angels or why some were archangels and others were not, etc. The book really helped me. Here is a link that also has a great deal of Angel info: http://www.catholic.org/saints/angels/angelchoir.php. I pray that all of you get to know and love your guardian angels the way I am getting to know and love mine!