Last week I learned about a Novena for Ourselves and our Siblings, organized by two young Catholics, Trista and Bryan, who are active participants in “The New Evangelization†and doing their share to spread the good news of Jesus Christ through the use of social media.
So what’s a novena? It’s simply a devotion consisting of prayers for nine consecutive days. The Novena for Ourselves and our Siblings begins today, on St. Benedict’s Feast Day, and for nine days we are praying the prayer below, followed by an Our Father, a Hail Mary, and a Glory Be.
Why St. Benedict? He had a twin sister, Scholastica, and they had a great love for each other. After Benedict founded the Benedictine Order, he established a convent where Scholastica became the first Benedictine nun. Read more about the siblings here.
I love this idea because I have spent the last year traveling to a Benedictine seminary and monastery one weekend a month for Joel’s diaconate formation. My awareness and fondness for both Benedict and Scholastica has grown during this time.
I need this novena because I love my siblings and admittedly don’t pray for them as fiercely or intentionally as I could. Each of us has some unique things going on in our lives right now, and extra prayers will help all of us along our journeys.
Please join in and spread the word! Check the links here for more information about the novena and history on Benedict and Scholastica. For those without biological siblings, pray for your dear siblings in Christ — I am adding some special “sisters†to my prayer intentions in addition to my siblings.
The Novena Prayer (Source: Calling All Witnesses)
Dear Saints Benedict and Scholastica,
As siblings you encouraged each other to grow in faith and love of God;
As saints, you encourage the world to do the same.
We turn to your knowledge of the struggles as siblings, from different perspectives and desires, to time and distance spent apart.
Despite the struggles, you also experienced the fruits of friendship, love, and support.
We humbly pray for your intercession, for ourselves and our siblings. Open our hearts to the Lord; guide us on the path to holiness; and bind us together, so that one day we will greet you in heaven with our siblings by our side.
Followed by one Our Father, one Hail Mary, one Glory Be.