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!

A Saint's Statue or Likeness

What is the popular on this issue: Do you need to stand, kneel or be in front of the statue or any likeness of your patron saint when you pray to him or say the novena?

Unfortunately, inasmuch as I want to have a statue of the Saint Rita of Cascia or the Miraculous Infant Jesus of Prague whenever I say their novenas and pray to them for my intentions or request for their intercessions.

Well, many novenas indeed require that you should have the statue of your saint for your novena to be more effective. It is said that you somehow are able to convey more your prayers and intention when you say them in front of your saint’s likeness.

The most that I could have when it comes to the likeness of Saint Rita of Cascia and the Miraculous Infant Jesus of Prague are pictures. I have a picture of the Patroness of the Impossible Cases which I clipped from a magazine. I gaze on it while I say the novena to her. While with the Infant, I look at his picture in front of the novena booklet whenever I pray to him.

I believe that what matters really is not whether you have your saints’ statues – what is more important is the sincere and fervent means of praying to them, whenever you want to say your intentions or express your gratitude for their intercession.

My Personal Intercessors to the Lord

From time to time I come across in the internet amazing stories of miracles arising from one’s devotion to his or her Patron Saint (mine is Saint Rita of Cascia and Miraculous Infant Jesus of Prague).

A miracle, however great or insignificant, is a miracle coming from God, like a blessing given to us through the help and intercession of the saints.

How do you pray the novena of your saint?

In my case, this is how I pray to Saint Rita of Cascia or the Miraculous Infant Jesus of Prague. Whenever I request or pray for my intentions, I fervently say the novena over and over until my prayers are heard. Or sometimes I just say the novena without any particular request being mentioned, except the usual expression of gratitude.

But most of the time I mention an intention, or even several ones. Very common requests such as having safe days ahead, or good health for myself and the family, or financial provisions.

Some are heard with positive results – others, well perhaps what I am praying for may not really be for my good.

Still, I am thankful that Saint Rita of Cascia and Infant Jesus of Prague are my “hardworking” intercessors to God.

Church of Saint Anthony

Here is a picture of the Saint Anthony's Church in the White
City of Jaffa in Israel.

I wish there is also a Church here for Saint Rita of Cascia and Infant Jesus of Prague.

Anyway, the Saint Anthony's Church is very popular to Catholics and Christians alike in Tel Aviv.

There are even Saturday masses celebrated for those who can not attend the Sunday masses.

I will be posting some Church photos here. If you can lending me your own photos of Churches in the United States or all over the world, especially that of Saint Rita of Cascia or Infant Jesus of Prague, it will very much be appreciated. 

My Personal Prayer to Infant Jesus of Prague

Like with Saint Rita of Cascia, I also composed a personal prayer to Infant Jesus of Prague, a modification of a novena prayer to Him.

I am publishing it here for everyone who might wish to adopt it as their short prayer to Infant Jesus.

Infant Jesus of Prague
My dear sweet Infant Jesus
Look down upon me with so much love
and understanding.

You are so powerful
please assist me in my needs

(Say the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be)

Hear my petition and prayers,
Dear Infant Jesus
And please grant me the intention that I now pray to You..
(say your intention)
Please grant me this grace if it is according to Your will.
I have so much faith in You
Please have mercy on me. Amen

If you wish to share your personal prayers to the Infant Jesus of Prague, Saint Rita of Cascia or any other saints, please do send them here to be published.

Spreading Information on Saint Rita and Infant Jesus

In my previous posts, I always mention how saints have helped me in my prayers of intentions and how thru their powerful intercessions, the Lord God has granted a good number of them.

And for this, I am truly grateful to Saint Rita of Cascia and the Miraculous Infant Jesus of Prague. And to reciprocate their generous assistance and intercession, I try my best to spread information about them, tell the stories of their miracles and give away their prayers and novenas to relatives and friends.

If by chance, your Patron Saints are also Saint Rita of Cascia or the Infant Jesus of Prague, please join me in spreading forth their life stories and miracles.

I list here some sites, emails, and addresses on which Catholics may be able to know more about them, reach appropriate authorities and groups devoted to them, and perhaps inquire about copies of books, pictures, novenas, medals, pins, what church to visit or how to send donation.

National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia
1166 South Broad Street
Philidelphia Pennsylvania 19146
Website: http://www.saintritashrine.org/

Infant Jesus of Prague
Procura Missioni Carmelitane
16011 Arenzano Italy
www.santuario.gesubambino.org/missioni
or
Bosi Karmelitani
Website: http://karmel.at/prog-jesu

Saint Titles and Feast Days

Do you have some interesting and inspiring stories about how Saint Rita of Cascia or the Infant Jesus of Prague or any saint for that matter has acted favorably on your prayer of intention or novena?

It can be you or anybody that you know who would be willing to share inspiring tales of miracles and answered prayers with the powerful intercession of our Patron Saints.

We all know that Saint Rita of Cascia is known as the Saint of Hopeless Causes or Patroness of Impossible Cases, and that her feast day is May 22.

While the Infant Jesus of Prague is popularly known as the Miraculous Infant, and His feast day is the third week of May.

Here are some few more Saints with their titles and feast days:

Saint Jude of Thaddaeus - Patron of Desperate Cases
Feast day: October 28

Saint Teresa of Avila - Patroness of Headache Sufferers
Feast day: October 15

Saint Martin de Porres - Patron Saint of the Barbers
Feast day: November 3

On Saint Rita and Infant Jesus' Intercessions

Again, another prayer of mine was heard and answered positively by the Lord God through the powerful intercession of both Saint Rita of Cascia and the Infant Jesus of Prague.

I will not be specific about the particular answered intention – it is one of those intentions which involve the material needs. Nothing divine – but still very important because its realization gives me hope to continue with my endeavor, which is the pursuit of a writing career.

Both the Infant Jesus of Prague and Saint Rita of Cascia are my personal saints that I pray to for intercession. Saint Rita is known as the Patroness of the Hopeless Cases and Saint of the Impossible Causes. While the Infant Jesus is popularly known as the Miraculous Infant.

I truly believe that Saint Rita and the Infant Jesus are powerful intercessors and mediators to the Lord. They enjoy the blessed presence of the Lord, and He is willing to listen and grant whatever deserving intentions Saint Rita and Infant Jesus whisper to Him.

I express my gratitude to them by publishing information about them, their prayers and novena so that other people may be able to know about their miracles and intercession.

To those who have nice stories to tell about Saint Rita of Cascia and the Infant Jesus of Prague, please do write me so we can feature them here.

More on Infant Jesus of Prague

While this is primarily the special corner of Saint Rita of Cascia, which features everything about her, her novenas and miracles, I will also be writing on other saints.

In fact I have also written about the Infant Jesus of Prague, another powerful intercessor like Saint Rita of Cascia.

The history of the Infant Jesus of Prague is filled with numerous miracles which made people all around the world become devoted to him.

The devotion to the Infant Jesus started in the late 16th century with the Carmelite Order. In 1628, the Carmelites in Prague began their devotion to the Statue of the Infant Jesus which was given to the religious group by Princess Polixenie Lobkowitz, who had the gospel in mind – “Unless you become like one of the little children you will not be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Mt. 18.3).

Since then the Statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague had brought miracles to numerous lives.

At the tabernacle of the novitiate chapel, Saint Therese Lisieux venerated the statue. Likewise, Saint Teresa Benedicta, who was a visitor to the church of the Infant Jesus at Prague, was greatly devoted to the Infant.

Anyone who wishes to suggest other saints they would like to be featured here, and has more information about Saint Rita of Cascia, please do write me.

Infant Jesus of Prague: Another Powerful Mediator

I have known Saint Rita of Cascia early of this year, and begun praying to her and regularly say her novena since then.

Saint Rita of Cascia is popularly known as Patroness of the Impossible Cases and Saint of the Hopeless Causes. Likewise, she is known by the title Patroness of the Desperate Cases.

Saint Rita, I can attest, is a very powerful intercessor the the Lord - so far most of my intentions and prayers were granted by God through her assistance.

While I do consider Saint Rita of Cascia as my personal saint, I also have other favorite saints that also turn to and pray.

One of my favorite saints is the Infant Jesus of Prague. Often, I say his 9 day novena, together with my saying of Saint Rita's novena.

Here is the Novena of the Infant Jesus of Prague.

Like Saint Rita, I also can attest that the Infant Jesus is a powerful intercessor for those who pray to him for help and intercession that the Lord may grant our prayers or intentions.

Saint Rita of Cascia: For the Desperate and the Hopeless

I have published two versions of Saint Rita of Cascia’s novena, hoping that some of you would be able to develop the habit and become devotees of Saint Rita.

This is one of my goals, that is, to spread much information about the Patroness of the Hopeless Causes / Saint of the Impossible Cases.

By the way, I learned that another title given to Saint Rita of Cascia is the Saint of the Desperates.

If you would notice the titles bestowed to her, you can say that she is the saint to go to and pray for assistance especially if your request is quite difficult or even impossible to achieve.

I had my share of impossible intentions, and while often, the difficult circumstances which pushed me to pray to Saint Rita of Cascia for intercession see me weak and even not fully having faith in her power as a messenger to the Lord, still I receive answers and possible results from my prayers and novena to her.

This proves that Saint Rita of Cascia is a powerful intercessor and favored saint of the Lord.

Does anyone have a miracle to share, an intention or request so difficult yet was granted through Saint Rita’s intercession?

Please we have a lot of space here – let us all hear about them.

Saint Rita of Cascia and Company: Honor, Not Worship

Most of us Catholics pray to the Saints and even say regularly their novenas. I say the novena of our beloved Italian Saint Rita of Cascia, the Patroness of the Hopeless Causes and Lady Saint of the Impossible Cases.

But of course, as devout Catholic, we do not pray to the Saints to worship and idolize them – which definitely is not proper and is even a sin as taught by the Church.

Only God deserves our highest worship and praise. One of the Ten Commandments states, “I am your only God. You shall not have other gods before me.” So indeed, one may be committing a mortal sin if he idolizes and worships saints.

One good reason why we pray to the Saints is because we ask for their intercession to the Lord for our many requests and intentions. The saints are given the special tasks to be powerful intercessors to the Lord, assisting us in obtaining and receiving the grace and blessings of God.

Saint Rita of Cascia has been my best friend, and has acted many times as a powerful intercessor on my behalf.

Many of my intentions which I say when I pray to Saint Rita of Cascia and do her novena are heard and granted by the Lord God. And for this, I always try my best to propagate information about her, send out her novena and prayers to as many friends and acquaintances as possible.

We are given the privilege to invoke saints and directing to them our prayers and intentions, that we may be able to obtain them from God thru their assistance.

Saint Rita of Cascia Novena: Another Version

The novena to a particular saint or patron varies as there may be several versions of the prayer of the novena. There may be the complete version, or it can be changed into a shortened one. But then, in most versions, the essense of the novena as a prayer honoring a particular saint remains.

Like in my case, I received a novena to Saint Rita of Cascia by email (this is how I was introduced to her). It was quite different in words when a compared it other version - and much shorter. Probably the sender wishes to publish a much easier to pray version of her novena.

And I wish to publish it here for everyone to appreciate:

Novena to Saint Rita of Cascia

O Lady Saint of the needy, Saint Rita
whose whispers are always heard by God
and who because of your generosity in granting intentions
is called the Patroness of the Hopeless Cases.

Help me in my petition and prayers
show me your power with the Lord,
and help me through your powerful intercession
that God hear me and grant my petition
in Jesus' name.

I promise that if God grants my petition
through your intersession, Saint Rita of Cascia,
I will praise your blessedness
and make known to everyone your help.

Before the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
I pray that you may grant (say your request).

as soon as God deems it fit. Amen

(This short novena must be prayed fervently for 9 consecutive days. Do remember to publish this prayer to Saint Rita of Cascia if your petition is fullfilled and granted.)

Saint Rita of Cascia and Other Saints: Blessed Intercessors

While many Catholics among us (me included) tend to ask everyone - our family, friends, the parish priest, the sisters and nuns of our alma mater – to help by also praying with us for whatever important intention we have at the moment, we also turn to our Patron Saints for their intercession to the Lord that He may grant our requests.

We recognize the saints as an effective conveyor of our prayers, intentions, and requests to the Lord. This is what we accept - as it is indicated in most of the novenas for saints. In the first part of novena to Saint Rita of Cascia, it more or less goes – “Saint Rita of Cascia, whose pleadings before the Lord are almost always irresistible…”

This line means that saints are reliable intercessors – and anyone who prays to God for his intention or request through the saints would certainly earn God’s blessings and favors.

Most novenas request devotees to return the favor by publishing the novena and spreading information about the saint once their prayers and intentions are heard and granted.

In my case, I have always received God’s blessings through Saint Rita of Cascia’s intercession. In return, I publish information about the Patroness of Hopeless Cases through this site, and hopefully be able to attract others to become devotees of Saint Rita.

My Being Devoted to Saint Rita of Cascia: Is It Okay?

Why are many Catholics devotees to saints?

Does it make sense that while the Holy Bible clearly states that “Jesus is the Only Way, Truth and Life”, still many pray to the saints for intersession to the Lord God.

Does this mean Catholics recognize the saints as another means of communicating and praying and sending forth intentions to God?

I myself am a devotee to Saint Rita of Cascia, and have been regularly saying her novena. I also publish her novena and other information about her through this site as a way of keeping my promise for all the intentions granted. And all my prayers heard by the Lord through her intercession.

Would my being a devotee to Saint Rita of Cascia mean that I am sinning since as a devout Catholic myself, I do recognize Jesus as the Only Way to the Father?

Personally, I am careful about this – so I always declare that saints for me are like true friends whom one can count on.

Saints are not to be worshipped. Respect is more that they deserve. I believe they are more like messengers to God, helping us get our prayers and intentions across to Him.

Saints for me are like Jesus’ assistants when it comes to sending messages to the Lord.

For me, it is okay to be a devotee to Saint Rita of Cascia - she has been a wonderful messenger for me to the Lord, and many of my prayers have been heard and granted so far – through her help and in Jesus’ name.

More Trivia on Saint Rita of Cascia

Here is a few trivia on Saint Rita of Cascia, the Patroness of the Hopeless and the Saint of the Impossible Cases.

Did you know that aside from parishes and churches, many schools, places and religious establishments were named in honor of Saint Rita of Cascia?

Many schools and colleges in the United States of America are named after our beloved saint. In Illinois are two schools named in honor of her such as Saint Rita of Cascia High School in Chicago and Saint Rita of Cascia Catholic School in Aurora.

There is also the Saint Rita Primary school in the state of Wisconsin.

Likewise, there is a nice place of retreat in Italy, Sanctuary of Saint Rita in Roccaporena, was built in Roccaporena, also named in honor of our beloved saint.

The sanctuary honors Saint Rita by showcasing the saint’s blessed life in this part of Roccaporena, her place of birth.

On a Growing Saint Rita of Cascia and Miracles

I have heard of a story about a Filipino owner whose clay image of Saint Rita of Cascia, the Patroness of the Hopeless and Impossible Cases, growing slowly but steadily.

The image was a little over a foot tall, but the owner noticed that image was growing in size.

He took the measuring tape, and checked for the image’s length. Indeed, his Saint Rita of Cascia statue (which he got from a trip to Italy) has grown – and added at least two more inches.

What is more surprising for him is that along with the miracle of the growing statue, he seemed to have received the gift of healing. And this gift he has begun to heal the sick people in his hometown.

And he have been very vocal in saying that because of his prayers to Saint Rita of Cascia and his desire to help the poor, he was blessed by the Lord with the ability to heal.

I have heard about similar miracles stories like this. And often time I do not know how to take such stories. More often than not, I take it with a grain of salt but always with an open mind.

In these modern times, miracles that are religious in nature are often met with indifference and doubt.

Nonetheless, let us be reminded that Saints exists because of miracles. And these miracles are examined, verified and confirmed by the concerned authorities. Which means that miracles do exist and are recognized by the Church, even in these times of skepticism.