Novena

FOR THE YEAR OF CONSECRATED LIFE

Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity

Novena prayers based on texts from the Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata of St. John Paul II (25 March, 1996) and the Apostolic Letter of Pope Francis to all consecrated people On the Occasion of the Year of Consecrated Life (21 November, 2015).

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Day 2 Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy

Trinity, and for the vision, mission, and charism given through its founder, Fr. James Flanagan.

Established in your Church near the time of the Second Vatican Council, which “represented a ‘breath’ of the Holy Spirit upon the whole Church,” the SOLT community is abundantly grateful for the graces of fidelity you have given to its founding members, and we beseech you, Father, to bless

them and make them holy, commending to you especially all Society members who have died.

Day 1 Father Most Holy, we thank you for the gift of the consecrated life, which in faith seeks you, and in its universal mission invites all people

to draw near to you. This way of life—deeply rooted in the example and teaching of Jesus Christ your Son—is your gift to the Church

through the Holy Spirit. We thank you for every blessing you have bestowed upon the Church, and indeed the whole human race,

through this precious gift. Grant, we beseech you, to sanctify the sons and

daughters who have consecrated themselves to you, for the glory of

your name and the salvation of souls.

NOVENA PRAYER INVOKING THE AID OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY Mary, Mother of the Church, Bride without spot or wrinkle, to you do we address our confident prayer. You

who did the will of the Father, ever ready in obedience, courageous in poverty and receptive in fruitful virginity, obtain from your divine Son that all who have received the gift of following him in the consecrated life may be

enabled to bear witness to that gift by their transfigured lives, as they joyfully make their way with all their brothers and sisters towards our heavenly homeland and the light which will never grow dim.

We ask you this, Mary our Mother, that all praise, glory and honor may be given to the Most High Lord of things, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Day 3 Father of Mercies, we thank you for the gift of our individual

vocations, which come wholly from your initiative. We lift our hearts in grateful prayer that you have chosen us and called us to respond to your

gracious love with complete and exclusive devotion. May we be

renewed in the “yes” which we gave in response to this call that led each of us to a life-long commitment and marvelous journey with countless

graces. Forgive us, Father, for all our infidelities. Through the perfect

offering of your Son, Jesus Christ, we beg you for the grace of

final perseverance.

“Looking to the past with gratitude…”

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Day 5 Jesus Christ, Bridegroom of the

Church and model of perfect chastity, who make visible the pure and

undivided love of the Most Holy Trinity, we adore you. Help all consecrated persons to live chastity passionately, and to

immerse themselves in your mystery and contemplate your beauty. Make their lives a fervent expectation of you, that they may become like the wise virgins setting out to meet the

Bridegroom. Grant us the grace, Lord Jesus, to love you with all our

hearts, putting you above every other love, and thus loving every creature with perfect freedom.

Day 4 Jesus our Savior, perfect model of holy

poverty, who emptied yourself in becoming man and embraced poverty

in fact and in spirit, we praise you. Help all consecrated persons to

live poverty radically, and to entrust themselves, as you did, to the

provident care of our heavenly Father. May they always give witness that you are the only true wealth of the human heart. Renew us in our

commitment to live and work among the poor and the marginalized, and to embrace their conditions of life, and

share in their sufferings, that all people may come to love and serve

you, our true King.

NOVENA PRAYER INVOKING THE AID OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY Mary, Mother of the Church, Bride without spot or wrinkle, to you do we address our confident prayer. You

who did the will of the Father, ever ready in obedience, courageous in poverty and receptive in fruitful virginity, obtain from your divine Son that all who have received the gift of following him in the consecrated life may be

enabled to bear witness to that gift by their transfigured lives, as they joyfully make their way with all their brothers and sisters towards our heavenly homeland and the light which will never grow dim.

We ask you this, Mary our Mother, that all praise, glory and honor may be given to the Most High Lord of things, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Day 6 Christ our Lord, obedient Son of the Father, who humbled yourself and

became obedient, even unto death, we bless you and adore you. Holy

Lover of God’s law, in your attitude of perfect obedience to the Father's

will, the key to the mystery of human freedom is revealed. Help all consecrated persons to live

obedience faithfully, and to offer their lives as a pleasing sacrifice in

union with you. We pray also for all those who serve in the ministry of authority—for the Holy Father, all Bishops, especially those in whose dioceses we serve, and all of our

religious superiors.

“Living the present with passion…”

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Day 9 Holy Spirit, in whom “the intimate

life of the Triune God becomes totally gift, an exchange of mutual love between the divine Persons”

come, fill us with your love. We place our hope of

communion with the Most Holy Trinity and amongst all peoples entirely in you. Thank you for the graces of communion you have been pleased to bestow upon us. Deign to

make us, O Holy Spirit—by prayer and ascestism, by dialogue and continual acts of charity, and by

fidelity to the charism entrusted to our care—ever more faithful

instruments of your communion.

Day 8 Spirit of God, who grant grace and

inspiration to our minds, the perennial Source of life, who bring to

fulfillment the mission of Christ by means of many charisms, come and sanctify us. We place our hope

of fulfilling the mission of Christ entrusted to the Church entirely in you. Thank you for

inviting us to share in Christ’s work of redemption and for allowing us to serve our brothers and sisters in this

mission. O Holy Spirit, give us the courage to face the challenges of our

time and the grace to bring to all mankind the goodness and loving

kindness of our Savior Jesus Christ.

NOVENA PRAYER INVOKING THE AID OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Mary, Mother of the Church, Bride without spot or wrinkle, to you do we address our confident prayer. You who did the will of the Father, ever ready in obedience, courageous in poverty and receptive in fruitful virginity, obtain from your divine Son that all who have received the gift of following him in the consecrated life may be

enabled to bear witness to that gift by their transfigured lives, as they joyfully make their way with all their brothers and sisters towards our heavenly homeland and the light which will never grow dim.

We ask you this, Mary our Mother, that all praise, glory and honor may be given to the Most High Lord of things, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Day 7 Holy Spirit, who at the “yes” of the

Blessed Virgin Mary, conceived in her womb our Savior Jesus Christ, come, dwell in our hearts. We place our hope of holy vocations to the

consecrated life entirely in you. Thank you for your action in softening hearts and making them receptive to God’s call. Raise up, O Holy Spirit,

innumerable consecrated souls, filled with generosity and faith. Remove all obstacles that would prevent them

from responding to your voice. May the prophetic witness of those called to the consecrated life give ever more

perfect praise to the Most Holy Trinity, now and forever.

“Embracing the future with hope…”