Novena for the Society of Jesus
Day 1, 30 July
Foundation of the Society
On 7 August 2014, we shall commemorate the 200th anniversary of the reestablishment of the Society of Jesus. As a Jesuit community, we offer this novena prayer in thanksgiving for God's mercy and faithful love to our least Society, imploring the graces we need to remain faithful to our vocation of serving Jesus under the banner of the Cross and the Church, His Spouse. On this first day of the Novena, we recall God's wondrous work of calling into being the Society of Jesus.
In the name of the Father...
Psalm 8
How great is your name, O Lord our God, through all the earth!
Your majesty is praised above the heavens; on the lips of children and of babes you have found praise to foil your enemy, to silence the foe and the rebel.
When I see the heavens, the work of your hands, the moon and the stars which you arranged, what is man that you should keep him in mind, mortal man that you care for him?
Yet you have made him little less than a god; with glory and honour you crowned him, gave him power over the works of your hand, put all things under his feet.
All of them, sheep and cattle, yes, even the savage beasts, birds of the air, and fish that make their way through the waters.
How great is your name, O Lord our God, Through all the earth!
Scripture Reading (Isaiah 43:1b-31)
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine. When you pass through waters, I will be with you; through rivers, you shall not be swept away. When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, nor will flames consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel.
The Word of the Lord/ Thanks be to God.
From the Tradition of the Society (The 1539 Formula of the Institute)
Whoever desires to serve as a soldier of God beneath the banner of the Cross in our Society, which we desire to be designated by the name of Jesus, and to serve the Lord alone and his vicar on earth, should after solemn vow of chastity, keep what follows in mind. He is a member of a community founded chiefly for this purpose: to strive especially for the progress of souls in Christian life and doctrine and for the propagation of the faith by the ministry of the word, by the Spiritual Exercises, by works of charity, and expressly by the education of children and unlettered persons in Christianity.
Responsory
God calls us by name
In His faithful love we trust
Intercessions
God, in His mercy, called St. Ignatius to share in the mission of Christ, by founding the Society of Jesus. Let us offer our prayers to the Lord, asking to be confirmed in our mission, as we say, God of faithful love, hear us.
1. For the Society of Jesus: that our life and ministries may always embody the vision of the First Companions, enriching it with modern insights and experiences.
2. For Father General Adolfo Nicolas: that, united with God in prayer, he may lead the Society in accordance with the will of God.
3. For the missions of the Society of Jesus: that they may be efficient instruments for the propagation of the Christian faith and the edification of a human society founded on justice and Christian love. R
4. For our collaborators: that, imbued with the Ignatian spirit, they may contribute to the incarnation of the values of the Society in human society.
5. For vocations: that the Lord may send us many young people enflamed with the desire to serve and not to be served, to give without counting the cost.
For our own personal intentions for the novena.
Our Father
Novena Prayer
Blessed are you, Lord, who choose the weak and make them strong, raise the fallen, heal the wounded and gather the dispersed back to you. Renew us with the Spirit who moved St. Ignatius and his companions to serve your Son under the standard of the Cross. Grant us the courage to reach out to our forgotten brothers and sisters; the generosity to open our doors to those who seek you, and the wisdom to sow seeds of your Kingdom in the hearts of all we meet, for the greater glory of your Name, as we pray:
Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. You have given all to me. To You, O Lord, I return it. All is Yours, dispose of it wholly according to Your will. Give me Your love and Your grace, for this is sufficient for me.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Day 2, 31 July
St. Ignatius of Loyola (Solemnity)
Spiritual Freedom
"Once when the doctor had told Ignatius he should avoid any bout of melancholy, because that would harm him, the Father said afterwards, I have considered what might cause me melancholy, and I have not found anything, except if the Pope were completely to undo the Society: and even this, I think, if I were to recollect myself in prayer for a quarter of an hour, I would be has happy as before and even more so." Memoriale of Goncalves da Camara, 182.
In the Name of the Father ...
Psalm 40
Happy the man who has placed his trust in the Lord and has not gone over to the rebels who follow false gods.
How many, O Lord my God, are the wonders and designs that you have worked for us; you have no equal. Should I proclaim and speak of them, they are more than I can tell!
You do not ask for sacrifice and offerings, but an open ear. You do not ask for holocaust and victim. Instead, here am I.
In the scroll of the book it stands written that I should do your will. My God, I delight in your law in the depth of my heart.
Glory be...
Scripture Reading (Philippians 3:7-9)
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.
The Word of the Lord/ Thanks be to God.
From the Tradition of the Society of Jesus (Principle and Foundation, Spiritual Exercises 23)
Human beings are created to praise, reverence, and serve God our Lord, and by means of doing this to save their souls. The other things on the face of the earth are created for human beings, to help them in the pursuit for the end for which they are created. From this it follows that we ought to use these things to the extent that they help us toward our end, and free ourselves from them to the extent that they hinder us from it. To attain this it is necessary to make ourselves indifferent to all created things, in regard to everything which is left to our free will and is not forbidden. Consequently, on our own part we ought not to seek health rather than sickness, wealth rather than poverty, honor rather than dishonor, a long life rather than a short one and so on in all other matters. Rather, we ought to desire and chose only that which is more conducive to the end for which we are created.
Responsory
Human beings are created to praise, reverence, and serve God our Lord; So we ought to desire and chose only that which is more conducive to the end for which we are created.
Intercessions
The authenticity of our vocation and the efficacy of our mission depend on our interior freedom. Let us offer our petitions to the Lord, who calls us to the freedom of the sons of God.
1. That we may be set free from inordinate attachments that prevent us from committing ourselves to the service of others. R: Lord, hear our prayer. 2. That we may be set free by our vow of poverty to share the life of the poor and to use all our resources for the kingdom of God. 3. That we may be set free by our vow of chastity to be men for others, in friendship and communion with all, especially with those who share our mission. 4. That we may be set free by our vow of obedience to respond to the call of Christ communicated to us through our superiors.
For our own personal intentions for the novena.
Our Father
Novena Prayer
Blessed are you, Lord, who choose the weak and make them strong, raise the fallen, heal the wounded and gather the dispersed back to you. Renew us with the Spirit who moved St. Ignatius and his companions to serve your Son under the standard of the Cross. Grant us the courage to reach out to our forgotten brothers and sisters; the generosity to open our doors to those who seek you, and the wisdom to sow seeds of your Kingdom in the hearts of all we meet, for the greater glory of your Name, as we pray:
Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. You have given all to me. To You, O Lord, I return it. All is Yours, dispose of it wholly according to Your will. Give me Your love and Your grace, for this is sufficient for me.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Day 3, 1 August
Union of Hearts and Minds
The Society of Jesus was born as a group of friends, united in heart and mind with the Lord and with one another. They fostered this union through prayer, mutual sharing and common discernment. As we prepare to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the re-establishment of this apostolic body, let us pray for the renewal and deepening of our union with the Lord and with one another.
In the Name of the Father….
Psalm 133
How good and how pleasant it is, when brothers live in unity!
It is like precious oil upon the head running down upon the beard, running down upon Aaron's beard, upon the collar of his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon which falls on the heights of Zion. For there the Lord gives his blessing, life for ever.
Glory be….
Scripture Reading (Acts of the Apostles 4:32-35)
The whole body of believers was united in heart and soul. Not one of them claimed any of his possessions as his own, but everything was held in common, while the apostles bore witness with great power to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. They were all held in high esteem; for they had never a needy person among them, because all who had property in land or houses sold it, brought the proceeds of the sale, and laid the money at the feet of the apostles; it was then distributed to any who stood in need.
The Word of the Lord/ Thanks be to God.
From the Tradition of the Society of Jesus (Constitutions, no. 671)
The chief bond to cement the union of the members among themselves and with their head is, on both sides, the love of God our Lord. For when the superior and the subjects are closely united to His Divine and Supreme Goodness, they will very easily be united among themselves, through that same love which will descend from the Divine Goodness and spread to all other persons, and particularly into the body of the Society. Thus from both sides charity will come to further this union between superiors and subjects, and in general all goodness and virtues through which one proceeds in conformity with the spirit.
Responsory
The whole body of believers was united in heart and soul; They bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and were all held in high esteem.
Intercessions
Our Lord has formed us to be an apostolic body, a visible sign of the union of the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit. Let us now call upon our Lord to grant us the strength to live out this grace.
1. Father, we praise you for placing us with your Son, the source of fruitfulness;
Strengthen our unity with him so we may bear abundant fruit.
2. Father, your Son called the disciples his friends and revealed to them everything he had learned from you;
Make us attentive to his word so we may grow in friendship with him.
3. Father, you called us to share in the one mission of your Son;
May the diversity of our ministries deepen the sense of unity among us.
4. Father, you called the Society to labour in the Church, the Body of Christ;
Open our hearts so we can make our own the mission she received from your Son.
5. Father, you called our departed brothers and sisters back to you;
In your mercy, embrace them and grant them the joy of perfect union with you.
6. For our own personal intentions for the novena.
Our Father
Novena Prayer
Blessed are you, Lord, who choose the weak and make them strong, raise the fallen, heal the wounded and gather the dispersed back to you. Renew us with the Spirit who moved St. Ignatius and his companions to serve your Son under the standard of the Cross. Grant us the courage to reach out to our forgotten brothers and sisters; the generosity to open our doors to those who seek you, and the wisdom to sow seeds of your Kingdom in the hearts of all we meet, for the greater glory of your Name, as we pray:
Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. You have given all to me. To You, O Lord, I return it. All is Yours, dispose of it wholly according to Your will. Give me Your love and Your grace, for this is sufficient for me.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Day 4, 2 August
St. Peter Faber (Memoria)
Humility
On this fourth day of our Novena, we contemplate the virtue of humility. The suppression and the eventual reestablishment of the Society of Jesus compel us to learn from our history and honestly identify occasions both of grace and human weakness. Let us continue to implore God for the grace to recognise our brokenness and our need for conversion, in order to follow more faithfully Christ humble and poor. Peter Faber, whose feast we celebrate today, is a model of simplicity and humility.
In the name of the Father...
Psalm 131
Lord, my heart is not haughty, Nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, Nor with things too profound for me.
Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul within me.
O Israel, hope in the LORD From this time forth and forever.
Scripture Reading (Philippians 2:5-11)
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. The Word of the Lord/ Thanks be to God.
From the Tradition of the Society (Spiritual Memorial of Peter Faber)
It is in fact in Christ crucified that we find our salvation, our life and our resurrection. These three gifts precede the glory which waits us in heaven that comes through Christ glorified — from him and in him. We must therefore seek first the power of Christ crucified and then that of Christ glorified, not the other way around.
Responsory
Praise the Lord, who has begun the good work in us, all glory to his name because he will bring it to perfection.
Intercessions
The restoration of the Society of Jesus teaches us that God works in loving and mysterious ways. Grateful and trusting, let us present to our Lord our holy desires as we implore: Christ our Lord, hear us.
1. That we may become more attentive to the movement of the Spirit, attuned to God's will and trusting in God's providence.
2. That we may put the interests of the Society of Jesus above our personal pursuits, so as to become better instruments in the hands of God.
3. That we may constantly grow in the spirit of collaboration with fellow companions and with the laity, in order to respond more effectively to the complex demands of our day.
4. That we may not seek the honors and privileges of this world, and that we may use our moral and social influence to further the glory of God and to establish a civilization of love and justice.
5. That, inspired by the life of St. Peter Faber, we may share the graces of the Spiritual Exercises with those we encounter, through retreat-giving and personal witnessing to the gospel values.
For our own personal intentions for the novena.
Our Father
Novena Prayer
Blessed are you, Lord, who choose the weak and make them strong, raise the fallen, heal the wounded and gather the dispersed back to you. Renew us with the Spirit who moved St. Ignatius and his companions to serve your Son under the standard of the Cross. Grant us the courage to reach out to our forgotten brothers and sisters; the generosity to open our doors to those who seek you, and the wisdom to sow seeds of your Kingdom in the hearts of all we meet, for the greater glory of your Name, as we pray:
Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. You have given all to me. To You, O Lord, I return it. All is Yours, dispose of it wholly according to Your will. Give me Your love and Your grace, for this is sufficient for me.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Day 5, 3 August
Generosity
On this fifth day of our Novena, we pray for the gift of generosity. Inspired by the generosity of Christ who took the human form to make known God's love for the world, St. Ignatius and his companions left everything in order to preach the Good News of God's self-giving. Today, let us pray for the grace to emulate Christ's self-emptying commitment to the mission of the Father.
In the name of the Father...
Psalm 116: 10-19
I trusted, even when I said: “I am sorely afflicted,” and when I said in my alarm: “No man can be trusted.”
How can I repay the Lord For his goodness to me? The cup of salvation I will raise; I will call on the Lord's name.
My vows to the Lord I will fulfil before all his people. O precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful.
Your servant, Lord, your servant am I; you have loosened my bonds. A thanksgiving sacrifice I make: I will call on the Lord's name.
My vows to the Lord I will fulfil before all his people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Glory be…
Scripture Reading (2 Corinthians 9:7-8,11 )
Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us.
The Word of the Lord/ Thanks be to God.
From the Tradition of the Society (Spiritual Exercises 53)
Imagine Christ our Lord suspended on the cross before you, and converse with him in a colloquy: How is it that he, although he is the Creator, has come to make himself a human being? How is it that he has passed from eternal life to death here in time, and to die in this way for my sins? In a similar way, reflect on yourself and ask: What have I done for Christ? What am I doing for Christ? What ought I to do for Christ?
Responsory (Matt 10:8) You received without cost; Give without charge.
Intercessions
The restoration of the Society of Jesus was a reminder of God's gratuitous goodness to us. Gratefully and humbly, let us express our filial trust in his mercy: Merciful Father, hear us.
1. For Jesuits all over the world: that we may put our personal gifts and resources at the disposition of the Society of Jesus, the Church and the entire human community.
2. That we may distinguish ourselves in our constancy and fidelity to the humble and simple tasks that come with our religious life and ministries.
3. For our benefactors: that, inspired by the contribution of the Society of Jesus to the human and spiritual development of peoples, they may increasingly find joy in sharing their resources with others.
4. Let us pray for our local community, that we may be generously respond to the needs of the people around us, sharing with them what we too have received.
5. Let us pray for the elderly and sick members of our community who have given so much to the Society and to the human community; may they patiently unite their pain with the sacrifice of Christ for the healing and the renewal of humanity.
For our own personal intentions for the novena.
Our Father
Novena Prayer
Blessed are you, Lord, who choose the weak and make them strong, raise the fallen, heal the wounded and gather the dispersed back to you. Renew us with the Spirit who moved St. Ignatius and his companions to serve your Son under the standard of the Cross. Grant us the courage to reach out to our forgotten brothers and sisters; the generosity to open our doors to those who seek you, and the wisdom to sow seeds of your Kingdom in the hearts of all we meet, for the greater glory of your Name, as we pray:
Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. You have given all to me. To You, O Lord, I return it. All is Yours, dispose of it wholly according to Your will. Give me Your love and Your grace, for this is sufficient for me.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Day 6, 4 August
Reading the Signs of the Times
Christian mission is a response to real needs. In the Spiritual Exercises, the mission of the Son is grounded on the Trinity's contemplation of the condition of the world. Our capacity for “scrutinizing the signs of the times and of interpreting them in the light of the Gospel” (Gaudium et spes 4) is a basis for a timely response to fundamental issues and genuine needs. Gathered before the Lord, let us pray for the capacity to see and to hear with the eyes and ears of the Lord.
In the Name of the Father….
Isaiah 21, 6-7.8.11
The Lord said to me: Go, post a watchman to report what he sees. He sees chariots, two-horsed chariots. He is alert, alert, always on the alert.
Then the watcher cried: All day long I stand on the Lord's watchtower, night after night I keep my station.
One calls to me from Seir: Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left? The watchman answered: Morning comes, and also night.
Glory be….
Scripture Reading (Luke 12:54-56)
Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud looming up in the west you say at once that rain is coming, and so it does. And when the wind is from the south you say it will be hot, and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the face of the earth and the sky. How is it you do not know how to interpret these times?”
The Word of the Lord/ Thanks be to God.
From the Tradition of the Society of Jesus (GC 35, Decree 3, 8-9)
The new context in which we live our mission today is marked by profound changes, acute conflicts, and new possibilities. We live in a global world. GC 34 already noted the ‘growing consciousness of the interdependence of all people in one common heritage'. This process has continued at a rapid pace; as a result, our interconnectedness has increased. Its impact has been felt deeply in all areas of our life, and it is sustained by interrelated cultural, social and political structures that affect the core of our mission of faith, justice, and all aspects of our dialogue with religion and culture.
Responsory (Isaiah 21:8)
All day long I stand on the Lord's watchtower, Night after night I keep my station.
Intercessions
The Lord is present in history, leading all creation to its fulfilment. Let us now ask the Lord to make us always attentive to the signs of the times so that we may discern the movement of the Spirit in our age.
1. Let us pray for the light of the Spirit, that our eyes may see what the Lord wants us to do. Lord, hear us;
Lord, graciously hear us.
2. Let us pray for the gift of wisdom, that we may receive with gratitude the positive developments of our time and renounce all that is contrary to the Kingdom of God. Lord, hear us;
3. Let us pray for political and religious leaders, that they may take advantage of the opportunities of the present age to foster peace, harmony, and concord. Lord, hear us;
4. Let us pray for researchers in various fields, that they may pursue technologies and thoughts that promote solidarity with those at the margins of our society. Lord, hear us.
For our own personal intentions for the novena.
Our Father
Novena Prayer
Blessed are you, Lord, who choose the weak and make them strong, raise the fallen, heal the wounded and gather the dispersed back to you. Renew us with the Spirit who moved St. Ignatius and his companions to serve your Son under the standard of the Cross. Grant us the courage to reach out to our forgotten brothers and sisters; the generosity to open our doors to those who seek you, and the wisdom to sow seeds of your Kingdom in the hearts of all we meet, for the greater glory of your Name, as we pray:
Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. You have given all to me. To You, O Lord, I return it. All is Yours, dispose of it wholly according to Your will. Give me Your love and Your grace, for this is sufficient for me.
Conclusion:
Let us bless the Lord;
Thanks be to God.
Day 7, 5 August
Dedication of the Basilica of Mary Major (Optional Memorial)
Sentire cum Ecclesia
The Society of Jesus is an apostolic body in the Church, which is the Body of Christ. Our call is intimately united with the call of the Church to be light of the world and salt of the earth. From the very beginning, the first companions wanted to offer themselves to the service of the Church. Today, we pray that the Lord may deepen our sense of belonging to the ecclesial community.
In the Name of the Father….
From the Common of the Dedication of a Church
The Church's one foundation Is Jesus Christ her Lord; She is his new creation By water and the word: From heav'n he came and sought her To be his holy bride; With his own blood he bought her, And for her life he died.
Elect from ev'ry nation, Yet one o'er all the earth, Her charter of salvation, One Lord, one faith, one birth; One holy Name she blesses, Partakes one holy food, And to one hope she presses, With ev'ry grace endued.
Glory be…..
Scripture Reading (Ephesians 2:19-22)
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. The Word of the Lord/ Thanks be to God.
From the Tradition of the Church (Pope Francis, Interview with Civiltà Cattolica)
The image of the Church I like is that of the holy, faithful people of God.... In the history of salvation, God has saved a people. There is no full identity without belonging to a people.... Thinking with the Church, therefore, is my way of being a part of this people. And all the faithful, considered as a whole, are infallible in matters of belief, and the people display this infallibilitas in credendo, this infallibility in believing, through the supernatural sense of the faith of all the people walking together. This is what I understand today as the ‘thinking with the church' of which St. Ignatius speaks.... We should not even think, therefore, that ‘thinking with the church' means only thinking with the hierarchy of the Church.
Responsory (Eph 2:20)
You are God's people, members of God's household; You are built upon the foundation laid by the apostles and the prophets.
Intercessions
Christ, the corner-stone of the Church, has called us to labour under the banner of the Cross. Let us offer our prayers for the Church, for the Society and for the entire world.
1. Let us pray for the Church, that she may preach the Good News with renewed strength, conviction, and creativity;
May her preaching bear abundant fruit in the lives of men and women.
2. Let us pray for the Holy Father, Francis, and for all who assist him in guiding the community of believers, that the Spirit of the Lord may enlighten them in their ministry;
May their wisdom promote unity in the Church and in the world.
3. Let us pray for the Laity, that they may discover the depth and breadth of their Christian vocation in the Church and in the world;
May they take the Good News to all corners of human life.
4. Let us pray all Christian Churches in the world, that they may be united in witnessing to Christ in the world today;
May the values of Christ's Kingdom supersede sectarian ecclesial interests.
For our own personal intentions for the novena.
Our Father
Novena Prayer
Blessed are you, Lord, who choose the weak and make them strong, raise the fallen, heal the wounded and gather the dispersed back to you. Renew us with the Spirit who moved St. Ignatius and his companions to serve your Son under the standard of the Cross. Grant us the courage to reach out to our forgotten brothers and sisters; the generosity to open our doors to those who seek you, and the wisdom to sow seeds of your Kingdom in the hearts of all we meet, for the greater glory of your Name, as we pray:
Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. You have given all to me. To You, O Lord, I return it. All is Yours, dispose of it wholly according to Your will. Give me Your love and Your grace, for this is sufficient for me.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Day 8, 6 August
Transfiguration of Our Lord (Feast)
Contemplatio ad Amorem
On the Feast of the Transfiguration, we contemplate the glory of Christ the Sacrament of God's transforming love. As we celebrate the 200th year of the Society's re-establishment, let pray for the grace to be caught up in the love of God and to be transformed into credible sacraments of God's self-giving to the world.
In the Name of the Father….
Psalm (Ps 136)
O give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his love endures for ever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords for his love endures for ever;
who alone has wrought marvellous works, for his love endures for ever; whose wisdom it was made the skies, for his love endures for ever; who fixed the earth firmly on the seas, for his love endures for ever.
He snatched us away from our foes, for his love endures forever. He gives food to all living things, for his love endures for ever. To the God of heaven give thanks, for his love endures forever.
Glory be….
Scripture Reading (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
The Word of the Lord/ Thanks be to God.
From the Tradition of the Society of Jesus (Memoriale of Gonçalves da Câmara, 86, 88)
Our Father [Ignatius] always inclines more towards love, to such a point that everything appears as love. And because of this he is so beloved by all, there is no one in the Society who does not love him greatly, and does not himself think that the Father loves him dearly.
There are many things that keep alive this love of his subjects: first, the great affability of the Father; second, the great care which he takes of everyone's bodily health - this is so great that one can hardly praise it enough....
Responsory (1John 3:16)
The way we came to know love was that he laid down his life for us; So we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
Intercessions
Our vocation is a response to the love of God. Let us offer our petitions to the Lord who never ceases to give Himself to us so that we too may give ourselves to others.
1. That the gift of God's forgiving love may make us ministers of God's reconciliation in an increasingly divided world.
2. That our experience of God's healing love may empower us to do all we can to heal our broken brothers and sisters.
3. That the fire of God's love may purify us and transform us into eloquent preachers of the Good News.
4. That God's creative love may inspire the world to respect the integrity of God's creation.
For our own personal intentions for the novena.
Our Father
Novena Prayer
Blessed are you, Lord, who choose the weak and make them strong, raise the fallen, heal the wounded and gather the dispersed back to you. Renew us with the Spirit who moved St. Ignatius and his companions to serve your Son under the standard of the Cross. Grant us the courage to reach out to our forgotten brothers and sisters; the generosity to open our doors to those who seek you, and the wisdom to sow seeds of your Kingdom in the hearts of all we meet, for the greater glory of your Name, as we pray:
Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. You have given all to me. To You, O Lord, I return it. All is Yours, dispose of it wholly according to Your will. Give me Your love and Your grace, for this is sufficient for me.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Day 9, 7 August
Thanksgiving for the Reestablishment of the Society of Jesus
Forty-one years after its suppression, the Society of Jesus was re-established by Pope Pius VII, on 7th August. The papal Bull, Sollicitudo Omnium Ecclesiarum, extended to the rest of Christendom the rights and privileges granted to the surviving Society in the Russian Empire and in the kingdom of Sicily. Today we celebrate the 200th anniversary of this moment of grace, and we gather to thank the Lord who continues to confirm us as servants of Christ's mission.
In the name of the Father ...
Psalm 150
Praise God in His holy place, praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for His powerful deeds, Praise his surpassing greatness.
O praise him with sound of trumpet, praise him with lute and harp. Praise him with timbrel and dance, Praise him with strings and pipes.
O praise him with resounding cymbals, praise him with clashing cymbals. Let everything that lives and that breathes Give praise to the Lord.
Glory be ...
Scripture Reading (Ephesians 1:3-6).
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
The Word of the Lord / Thanks be to God.
From the Tradition of the Church (Sollicitudo Omnium Ecclesiarum)
The Catholic world demands with unanimous voice the re-establishment of the Company of Jesus. We daily receive to this effect the most pressing petitions from our venerable brethren, the archbishops and bishops, and the most distinguished persons, especially since the abundant fruits which this Company has produced in the above countries have been generally known. After having by fervent prayers implored the Divine assistance, after having taken the advice and counsel of a great number of our venerable brothers, the cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, we have decreed, with full knowledge, in virtue of the plenitude of apostolic power, and with perpetual validity, that all the concessions and powers granted by us solely to the Russian empire and the kingdom of the Two Sicilies, shall henceforth extend to all our ecclesiastical states, and also to all other states. We declare, besides, and grant power, that [Jesuits] may freely and lawfully apply to the education of youth in the principles of the Catholic faith, to form them in good morals, and to direct colleges and seminaries; we authorise them to hear confessions, to preach the Word of God, and to administer the sacraments in the places of their residence with the consent and approbation of the ordinary.
Responsory
Be not afraid, For I will be propitious to you.
Intercessions
God has deigned to confirm the Society and bring it back together as servants of Christ's mission. Let us now implore God's compassion to accompany us as we seek to discern and to carry out God's will.
1. Let us pray in thanksgiving for all the graces we have received in the past 200 years;
May God's providence strengthen our trust in the Lord.
2. Let us pray in thanksgiving for our companions who kept the Society alive during the moments of trial;
May our lives inspire more vocations to the Society.
3. Let us pray in gratitude for our collaborators, who, in one way or another, contributed to the re-establishment of the Society.
May our labors bear abundant fruit, for the salvation of all.
4. Let us pray in gratitude for the memories of the old and the dreams of the young;
May we remain faithful to our tradition and face new challenges with creativity.
5. Let us pray for our brothers and sisters who have gone before us;
May they rejoice forever in heaven and intercede for us.
For our own personal intentions for the novena.
Our Father
Novena Prayer
Blessed are you, Lord, who choose the weak and make them strong, raise the fallen, heal the wounded and gather the dispersed back to you. Renew us with the Spirit who moved St. Ignatius and his companions to serve your Son under the standard of the Cross. Grant us the courage to reach out to our forgotten brothers and sisters; the generosity to open our doors to those who seek you, and the wisdom to sow seeds of your Kingdom in the hearts of all we meet, for the greater glory of your Name, as we pray:
Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. You have given all to me. To You, O Lord, I return it. All is Yours, dispose of it wholly according to Your will. Give me Your love and Your grace, for this is sufficient for me.