On Praying the Novena

How do you say your novena to your patron saint? I mean, do you say it over and over again, 9 day cycle after 9 day cycle?

In my case, there are times when I both say the novenas to Saint Rita of Cascia and the Miraculous Infant Jesus of Prague. And I even used to say both novenas endlessly, one novena period immediately after another.

I guess I tend to do this whenever I feel I need to ask for much help and intercession regarding one particular important intention or request.

In my opinion, incessant praying is one way of making your message across, that you really need the powerful intercession of whomever patron saint you are praying to.

Albeit I decided that for impossible and really difficult cases, I would say the novena to Saint Rita of Cascia. And for daily protection and requests, I say my prayers to the Infant Jesus of Prague.

Honestly, I do fee that it does not matter how frequent you say the novena of your personal saint. What matters is the sincerity and wholeheartedness of your act of prayer. Even a short prayer, if said with love and faith, will surely be heard.

Reasons For Praying

There are many reasons why a person pray to God or say the novena of his personal saint. I myself pray to the Lord, and say the novena to Saint Rita of Cascia or the Miraculous Infant Jesus of Prague for many various reasons.

It can be a prayer of joy and gratitude, a prayer of intent or a pleading for a favor. A prayer can also be intended to say you are sorry and ask for forgiveness from the Lord. It can also be a prayer requesting for wisdom and discernment.

I pray and recite fervently the novena of Saint Rita of Cascia and the Miraculous Infant Jesus of Prague because I would like to ask for their intercession regarding a request or favor from the Lord.

Whatever the reasons for saying our prayers may be - they may be very important reasons or just trite ones – such prayers must be said in a proper way. Our prayers must possess the qualities of sincerity, clarity and simplicity. When we pray, it must be done fervently and straight from our hearts.

We must also remember that prayers and novenas are a way of effectively talking and conversing to the Lord and the saints. So, even if it is like we are just talking to them, we would have to convey our message with the respect and adoration that they deserve.

On Religious Statues and Items

Does anyone of my good readers have a small sized image of Saint Rita of Cascia and the Miraculous Infant Jesus of Prague?

I am hoping that any one might be generous enough to give me as a present any of the images of Saint Rita and Infant Jesus.

I am really serious - this may be a bit straightforward or even inappropriate, but I am just following a saying that it is much better to receive images or statues of saints or any other religious items such as saint medals and guardian angel pins for that matter that to buy them. This makes the item more precious and important.

I am currently in Israel, and although I have not really looked around in churches like in St. Anthony's Church, I am sure that it is difficult for me to find such items. Unless of course, if I would go to Jerusalem or Bethlehem where Christian and Catholic items abound. I am sure it would be easier to find the statues of Saint Rita of Cascia and Infant Jesus of Prague there.

Does anyone know where to find Christian items such as angel pins and patron saint medals in Tel Aviv?

September 8 - Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary

While this is a site for Saint Rita of Cascia and the Infant Jesus of Prague - I am sure it is just okay (and fitting) that I greet here Mama Mary today, September 8 as I am also sure that the whole Catholic World is celebrating the Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In honor of her birthday, I intend to say the Holy Rosary tonight being a normal custom of many Catholics.

Happy Birthday, Mama Mary!