Twenty-Third Psalm

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;

he leads me beside still waters;

he restores my soul.

He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley 

of the shadow of death,

I fear no evil;

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff--they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

--- Psalms 23: 1-6

Novena to Saint Augustine of Hippo - Day 9

DAY 9 – OPENNESS TO THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE

In the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.


INTRODUCTION

Augustine was always mindful of his companions in poverty.  He gave to them by taking from what was set aside for his own use and that of those who lived with him, that is, the income from the goods of the Church and the offerings of the faithful.  Sometimes when the church had no money, he informed the faithful that he had nothing more that he could give to the poor.  In order to help a great number of poor people, he had some sacred vesselsbroken up and melted down. What he then received from the sale, he distributed to the needy.

Augustine’s solidarity with the people is felt keenly in these words.  My brothers, let your primary purpose, be openness with the needs of the poor…Focus your attention on Christ, who is hungry and suffering.

Let us pause for some moments to allow these words of our patron Saint to enter into our consciousness and move our hearts and will to a compassionate response to the human condition of the people.


READING: From LIVING IN FREEDOM UNDER GRACE
We are rightly urged to practice solidarity with the poor.  But this solidarity must not be limited to those materially poor.  As has been indicated above, it should also embrace the ignorant, the insecure, the lonely, the ill, those who suffer from failure sinners.  The whole area justice and peace comes to mind here, an area that has been brought more and more to the forefront of our awareness in recent years.  But as must be clear, we cannot attempt to speak out to others on this matter unless we have already set our own house in order.  Our whole attitude toward the under-privileged, the exceptional, minority groups, those who work with us and for us, needs to undergo close scrutiny, for it is precisely in this very personal area that the quest for the greater justice in the world must begin.  When we take this aspect of our lives seriously, then our solidarity with all the poor in the society, will take on a new and more significant meaning.  (End of the reading).

Let us stay quiet for a moment and ask ourselves.  If Augustine were alive, how would he respond to the poor in our place of work, and in our own communities?


LITANY IN HONOR OF SAINT AUGUSTINE

Lord, have mercy on us  
Lord, have mercy on us

Christ, have mercy on us                                                      
Christ, have mercy on us

God the Father of Heaven                                                  
Have mercy on us

God the Son, Redeemer of the World                                  
Have mercy on us

God, the Holy Spirit                                                              
Have mercy on us

Holy Trinity, one God                                                            
Have mercy on us

Mary, Mother of Jesus                                                          
Pray for us

Mary, Mother of Consolation                                                
Pray for us

Mary, Mother of Good Counsel                                              
Pray for us

St. Augustine, bright star of the Church                                
Pray for us

St. Augustine, filled with zeal for God’s glory                        
Pray for us

St. Augustine, dauntless defender of the truth                    
Pray for us

St. Augustine, the triumph of divine grace                            
Pray for us

St. Augustine, on fire with the love of God                            
Pray for us

St. Augustine, so great and so humble                                  
Pray for us

St. Augustine, prince of bishops and doctors                        
Pray for us

St. Augustine, father of monastic life                                      
Pray for us

St. Augustine, holiest of the wise and wisest of the holy      
Pray for us

Pray for us St. Augustine
That may become worthy of the promises of Christ.


CONCLUDING  PRAYER

ALL: Lord, renew in your Church the spirit you gave St. Augustine.  Filled with his spirit, may we thirst for you alone as fountain of wisdom and seek you as the source of eternal love so that we will be open to the needs of the people in our communities.  We ask you this through Christ our Lord, our friend and brother.  Amen.

http://www.rcam.org/novena-guide/246-novena-to-our-father-saint-augustine

Feast Day of Saint Monica of Hippo

Mother of Saint Augustine of Hippo

St. Monica was born into a Christian family in Tagaste, Algeria, across the Mediterranean Sea from
Rome, in 332 AD. She married a pagan, a minor Roman government official named Patricius. Christians
were few and far between in those days. The marriage was blessed with three children; the oldest
and most famous was Augustine.

Patricius was not a model husband yet Monica prayed ceaselessly for his conversion. Her sweet piety,
patience, and persistence paid off. One day, Patricius accepted baptism but he died a year after.
Her son Augustine was a constant concern for Monica. Brilliant and likable, Augustine followed the
example of his father. He refused to accept baptism and lived a passionate life with his mistress. For
years Monica prayed, fasted, and cried silently for Augustine.

God was listening. He heard and finally answered these prayers of this faithful mother. Augustine,
abandoning his sinful ways, accepted baptism from St. Ambrose of Milan, on Easter Sunday, 387 AD.
Augustine’s mother, St. Monica, died shortly after at the age of 55, secure in the knowledge that her son
had heard God’s call and her work on earth was finished.

In addition to lapsed Catholics, St. Monica is the patroness of troubled parents, battered wives, despondent
mothers, widows, and alcoholics. Her feast is celebrated on August 27.

Novena to Saint Monica of Hippo Day 9

Day Nine

Today we pray for those who are ready to come home and just need
to be invited. May the Holy Spirit open our hearts and eyes to them
that we may be the inviting and welcoming presence they seek.


Intentions



Novena Prayer:

Exemplary mother of the Great Augustine, you perseveringly
pursued your wayward son…not with wild threats but with
prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all mothers in our day so
that they may learn to draw their children to God.
Teach us to remain close to all God’s children, even the prodigal
sons and daughters who have sadly gone astray.
Dear St. Monica, troubled wife and mother, many sorrows
pierced your heart during your lifetime. Yet, you never despaired
or lost faith. With confidence, persistence, and profound faith,
you prayed daily for the conversion of your beloved husband,
Patricius and your beloved son, Augustine.
Grant me that same fortitude, patience, and trust in the Lord. Intercede
for me, dear St. Monica, that God may favorably hear my
plea for (names of those you are praying for) and grant me the grace
to accept His will in all things, through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen.

Pray Hail Mary 3 times

Pray Glory Be 3 times

St. Monica, pray for us

http://www.stthomasaquinas.org/sites/default/files/pdflibrary/StMonicaNovena.pdf

Novena to Saint Augustine of Hippo Day 8

DAY 8 – RESPONSIVENESS TO THE NEEDS OF THE CHURCH

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.


INTRODUCTION

Religious are not only very much a part of this reality of the Church but as, Augustine puts it, a very honorable part, model part.  In the sane way that the members of the early Jerusalem community were closely jointed to the Apostles and instructed by them, so also must religious today, be closely united to the Church and concerned principally about her needs, not their own.  In the same way, very apostolic  work must be intimately related to the Church’s needs and reality, because everything the spirit gives us is at the service of the common good.  (Pause)


READING: From LIVING IN FREEDOM UNDER GRACE
By our very nature as an apostolic community, we Augustinians ought always to be more open to the needs of the Church, both now and in the future.  Our apostolates is an integral part of our calling.  We cannot, however, be complacent simply because we continue to work as before.  We need to continually question ourselves whether our current apostolic commitments correspond adequately to the real needs of the church today.  End of the reading (Pause for reflection)


LITANY IN HONOR OF SAINT AUGUSTINE

Lord, have mercy on us  
Lord, have mercy on us

Christ, have mercy on us                                                      
Christ, have mercy on us

God the Father of Heaven                                                  
Have mercy on us

God the Son, Redeemer of the World                                  
Have mercy on us

God, the Holy Spirit                                                              
Have mercy on us

Holy Trinity, one God                                                            
Have mercy on us

Mary, Mother of Jesus                                                          
Pray for us

Mary, Mother of Consolation                                                
Pray for us

Mary, Mother of Good Counsel                                              
Pray for us

St. Augustine, bright star of the Church                                
Pray for us

St. Augustine, filled with zeal for God’s glory                        
Pray for us

St. Augustine, dauntless defender of the truth                    
Pray for us

St. Augustine, the triumph of divine grace                            
Pray for us

St. Augustine, on fire with the love of God                            
Pray for us

St. Augustine, so great and so humble                                  
Pray for us

St. Augustine, prince of bishops and doctors                        
Pray for us

St. Augustine, father of monastic life                                      
Pray for us

St. Augustine, holiest of the wise and wisest of the holy      
Pray for us

Pray for us St. Augustine
That may become worthy of the promises of Christ.


CONCLUDING PRAYER

Loving Father, we honor and glorify you for having given us Saint Augustine. Having committed ourselves to his teachings and spirituality, help us become authentic Augustinian religious for our time.  Direct all our efforts to work for a renewed Church as we are approaching the year 2000.  This we ask of you through Christ our Lord and Savior.  Amen.

http://www.rcam.org/novena-guide/246-novena-to-our-father-saint-augustine

Novena to Saint Augustine of Hippo Day 7

DAY 7 – PASTORAL CARE

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.


INTRODUCTION

“Let us love the Lord, let us love his Church…We received the Holy Spirit if we love the Church, if we are bound together by love, if we rejoice in the catholic name and faith.  Let us believe it, brothers and sisters; one will have the Holy Spirit in the same measures that he or she loves the Church…Morever, we love the Church when we stand fast in her membership and love.” (Pause)


READING: From LIVING IN FRREDOM UNDER GRACE
The world needs our service, our generous activity, but not just any activity.  Of activity there is an abundance in the world and in holy leads to further confusion. What we can and must offer the world, the people we serve, from our vantage points as Augustinian, is a view of life made wholesome by a true spirit of fraternity, community, friendship and union with God.

Let us go forth with confidence in ourselves and in the accompanying help of our father Augustine.  Let us be living message of faith and hope to our brethen wherever we may go.  Let us not hesitate to give ourselves wholeheartedly to the various apostolates to which the Church calls us today, strengthened in our generosity by healthy community life after the model St. Augustine offers us (End of the reading).  Pause for reflection.


LITANY IN HONOR OF SAINT AUGUSTINE

Lord, have mercy on us    
Lord, have mercy on us

Christ, have mercy on us                                                      
Christ, have mercy on us

God the Father of Heaven                                                    
Have mercy on us

God the Son, Redeemer of the World                                    
Have mercy on us

God, the Holy Spirit                                                                
Have mercy on us

Holy Trinity, one God                                                              
Have mercy on us

Mary, Mother of Jesus                                                            
Pray for us

Mary, Mother of Consolation                                                  
Pray for us

Mary, Mother of Good Counsel                                              
Pray for us

St. Augustine, bright star of the Church                                
Pray for us

St. Augustine, filled with zeal for God’s glory                        
Pray for us

St. Augustine, dauntless defender of the truth                      
Pray for us

St. Augustine, the triumph of divine grace                              
Pray for us

St. Augustine, on fire with the love of God                            
Pray for us

St. Augustine, so great and so humble                                  
Pray for us

St. Augustine, prince of bishops and doctors                          
Pray for us

St. Augustine, father of monastic life                                      
Pray for us

St. Augustine, holiest of the wise and wisest of the holy        
Pray for us

Pray for us St. Augustine
That may become worthy of the promises of Christ.


CONCLUDING PRAYER

Loving Father, we thank you for the gift of St. Augustine to the Church.  Through his intercession, we his daughters, sons and friends, pray for light and courage to give ourselves unconditionally in humble and enduring service to the poorer members of flock whom you have entrusted to the church.  We ask this in the name of Jesus your Son, our Lord Savior.  Amen.

http://www.rcam.org/novena-guide/246-novena-to-our-father-saint-augustine

Novena to Saint Monica

Day Eight

Today we pray for those who feel abandoned by God. May they come
to see God working in their lives, restore their faith in Him, and come
home to His church. (Pray Novena Prayers)

Novena Prayers:

Exemplary mother of the Great Augustine, you perseveringly
pursued your wayward son…not with wild threats but with
prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all mothers in our day so
that they may learn to draw their children to God.
Teach us to remain close to all God’s children, even the prodigal
sons and daughters who have sadly gone astray.
Dear St. Monica, troubled wife and mother, many sorrows
pierced your heart during your lifetime. Yet, you never despaired
or lost faith. With confidence, persistence, and profound faith,
you prayed daily for the conversion of your beloved husband,
Patricius and your beloved son, Augustine.
Grant me that same fortitude, patience, and trust in the Lord. Intercede
for me, dear St. Monica, that God may favorably hear my
plea for (names of those you are praying for) and grant me the grace
to accept His will in all things, through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen.

Pray Hail Mary 3 times

Pray Glory Be 3 times

St. Monica, pray for us

Intentions

http://www.stthomasaquinas.org/sites/default/files/pdflibrary/StMonicaNovena.pdf