Wedding Novena~Ninth Day~Even of the Wedding, Friday, December 5th, 2014

 Our Lady Undoer of Knots

Make the Sign of the Cross
Pray one Our Father and Hail Mary

The Last recorded words spoken by Mary 

at the wedding feast of Cana, echo through the ages. 

Wedding days, marriages and miracles follow those who respond to her plea; 

"Do…whatever…He…tells…you…."

Marriage Intentions for Heather and Ryan

May they continue to develop a deep love and commitment to one another.

May they have greater awareness of their call to holiness as a couple.

May they continue to communicate well as spouses and to pray together as a couple.

May they understand and practice the acts of forgiveness and repentance.

May they offer thankfulness for the gifts 
God has bestowed on each of them,

and understand how they are to share their gifts with others.

May they have an Increased awareness of their vocation 
in service to the Church and in bringing souls to Christ.

May they continue to have openness to the life giving aspects 
of the marital covenant and an understanding 
of the value of every human life.

May they grow in their understanding of the unitive aspects of marriage 

and an increase in those virtues most important in marriage;

Charity, humility and obedience.

May they express genuine thanksgiving for all the graces and blessings 

they have received as a couple united in love and in union with Christ.

Quotes from Saint John Paul the Great on Love and Marriage

"When a man and woman are united by love, each one takes on a destiny,

the future of the other, as his or her own."

~"An Invitation to Joy" by Pope John Paul II, 1999

"God calls everyone to holiness, but without forcing anyone's hand. 

God asks and waits for man's free acceptance."

~Homily, Beatification of the 5 Blesseds, Rome, 1997

"Prayer joined to sacrifice constitutes the most powerful force in human history".

~Papal Address, Rome, 1994

"The human body includes right from the beginning…

the capacity of expressing love,

that love in which the person becomes a gift
~and by means of this gift~

fulfills the meaning of his being and existence."

~Theology of the Body, Jan 16, 1980

"Marriage is the primordial sacrament,

reborn in a certain sense in the spousal love of Christ and of the Church."

~Theology of the Body, Dec. 1, 1982

"In order that Christian Marriage may favor the total good and development

of the married couple, it must be inspired by the Gospel,

and thus be open to new life~new life to be given and accepted generously."

~Homily at the Washington Mass, October 7, 1979

"Christ manifests the love with which He has loved Her

(the Church) by giving Himself for Her. 

That love is an image and above all a model of the love

which the husband should show to his wife in marriage,

when the two are subject to each other 'out of reverence for Christ.'"

~Theology of the Body, Aug. 25, 1982

"The bond that unites a family is not only a matter of natural kinship

or of shared life and experience. 

It is essentially a holy and religious bond. 

Marriage and the family are sacred realities."

~Pastoral Visit to the Unties States 1987

The Marriage Novena Prayer

We come before You, God our Father, 

and ask through the intercession of your servant, 

Saint Pope John Paul II, that Heather and Ryan's 

hearts be united in love and in union with Your will.

We pray for the graces necessary  for them 

to live lives worthy of the vocation of marriage.  

May they imitate the example of Saint John Paul 

by serving others with love and humility 

through a generous donation of their time, talent and treasure.  

We ask this in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. 

The Bavarian Madonna

This image of our Blessed Mother is very special to Heather.

Before their Wedding Mass is ended, 

Heather and Ryan will be taking a moment to offer prayers to our Blessed Mother, 

while Heather presents a beautiful bouquet of roses.  

These roses will be placed before the Bavarian Madonna present in their parish.

any couples who have a devotion to Mary want to take a moment before the conclusion of the liturgy to offer prayers to Mary as they begin their life together. Mary is a wonderful model of how we are to live out our faith and trust in God. - See more at: http://togetherforlifeonline.com/wedding/flowers-to-mary-catholic-wedding/#sthash.vFGhpt9f.dpuf

any couples who have a devotion to Mary want to take a moment before the conclusion of the liturgy to offer prayers to Mary as they begin their life together. Mary is a wonderful model of how we are to live out our faith and trust in God. - See more at: http://togetherforlifeonline.com/wedding/flowers-to-mary-catholic-wedding/#sthash.vFGhpt9f.dpuf

During this moment of prayer, Heather's friend will be singing the  Ave Maria (linked)

I have placed a link to a beautiful rendition by Michal Lorenc.

The video is from footage of the time when Mary left her home 

to be with her cousin Elizabeth.

In the opening video, 

Saint Ann is there and in the end, Saint Joseph.

Watching this was so prayerful and serene, 

a very timely review on the eve before the wedding.

many couples who have a devotion to Mary want to take a moment before the conclusion of the liturgy to offer prayers to Mary as they begin their life together. Mary is a wonderful model of how we are to live out our faith and trust in God - See more at: http://togetherforlifeonline.com/wedding/flowers-to-mary-catholic-wedding/#sthash.vFGhpt9f.dpuf

Latin Catholic prayer version

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Maria, gratia plena, Maria, gratia plena, Ave, Ave, Dominus, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus, Et benedictus fructus ventris (tui), Ventris tui, Jesus. Ave Maria! Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, Ora pro nobis peccatoribus, Ora, ora pro nobis; Ora, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, Nunc et in hora mortis, In hora mortis nostrae. In hora, hora mortis nostrae, In hora mortis nostrae. Ave Maria!

Hail Mary, full of grace, Mary, full of grace, Mary, full of grace, Hail, Hail, the Lord The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed, Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Thy womb, Jesus. Hail Mary! Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners, Pray, pray for us; Pray for us sinners, Now, and at the hour of our death, The hour of our death. The hour, the hour of our death, The hour of our death. Hail Mary!

 

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Prayer Intentions, Quotes and Marriage Novena

Taken from Novena for Engaged and Married Couples

In Honor of Saint John Paul II's Theology of the Body

Imprimatur

Rev. Michael F. Burbidge

Bishop of Raleigh

October 22, 2009

Published by Lumen Press

www.lumenpress.com

info@lumenpress.com

Phone: 919-460-4333

Wedding Novena~Eighth Day, Thursday, December 4th, 2014

Our Lady, Undoer of Knots

Our prayer intention for Ryan and Heather:

"May they live long, blessed lives together. 

May their love grow stronger each and every day.  

May they build a family 

rooted in faith and unconditional love."  

Heather and Ryan chose for their Wedding Mass Psalm:

Psalm 148:1-2,3-4,9-10,11-12,13-14

Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens,
praise Him in the heights!
Praise Him, all his angels,
praise Him, all his host!

Praise Him, sun and moon,
praise Him, all you shining stars!
Praise Him, you highest heavens 
and you waters above the heavens!

Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
Beasts and all cattle,
creeping things and flying birds!
Young men and maidens together,
old men and children!

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for His name alone is exalted;
His glory is above earth and heaven.
He has raised up a horn for His people,
praise for all His saints,
for the people of Israel who are near to Him.
Praise the Lord!

†

Make the Sign of the Cross

Pray the Act of Contrition

Preparation Prayer                                             

O Blessed Mother, who in submission to God,

 lived a life of humility and service, visit me with your grace.

Through your intercession, instill in my heart

a love for all members of the human family,

Especially those whom I have the most trouble loving 

and those whom I have the most trouble serving.

Pray with me now, beautiful intercessor, and with your grace,

help me to untie the knots that bind your children on Earth.

Through prayer and service to others, 

May I live according to your example 

and be brought ever closer to your Son, Jesus.

Eighth Day

Praying for the Pope

Starting this First Sunday of Advent, Pope Francis has called for the observance the year of the Consecrated life.  The observance will end on the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, 2 February 2016.
I have linked his letter for the Year of the Consecrated Life for our advent reading. 
 He calls us all to look to the past with thanksgiving, 
the present with passion and to the future with hope.

John 21:15

"After they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, '

Simon, son of John, 

do you love me more than these others do?'

'Yes, Lord,' he answered, 'you know that I love you.'  

Jesus said to him, "Take care of my lambs.'"

Daily Intention

Queen of the Apostles and Mother of the Church,

I ask for your intercession on behalf of our Holy Father,

the Bishop or Rome.  

Lead him ever closer to you and to your Son, Jesus.  

Together with Saint Peter, loose whatever binding and knots 

that can be found in the Church that would hinder our Holy Father 

in his exercise of the Petrine ministry.  

Guide him with your wisdom 

and pray for God's blessings upon his pontificate.

Lastly, Mother, look into my heart and undo whatever 

knots of irreverence and pride I have 

concerning the Holy Father and teach me 

to pray for him and for the Church.

Our Father

Hail Mary
Glory Be   

Concluding Prayer

Powerful Mother who unties our knots,

hear these prayers and the prayers of all the faithful.

Intercede for my brothers and sisters, and with your influence,

loose the entanglements and knots which hold them captive.

  

Forgive the human race for its unbelief 

and lead us all to faith in your Son, Jesus Christ the Lord.

Last of all, most Blessed Virgin, pray for me, 

who is most in need of your grace and mercy.

Untie the knots in my own heart and in my own life, 

and free me to love as Christ loves.

Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for us.

Pope Francis' Prayer to Mary, Undoer of Knots

Holy Mary, full of God's presence during the days of your life, 

you accepted with full humility the Father's will,

and the devil was never capable of tying you up with his confusion.

Once with your Son you interceded for our difficulties 

and full of kindness and patience, 

you gave us example of how to untie the knots of our life.

By remaining forever Our Mother, 

you put in order and make more clear 

the ties that link us to the Lord.

Holy Mother, Mother of God and our Mother, 

to you who untie with a motherly heart the knots of our life, 

we pray to you to receive in your hands, 

the marriage of Heather and Ryan…

Through your grace, your intercession and your example,

deliver us from all evil, Our Lady, 

and untie the knots that prevent us from being united with God, 

so that we, free from sin and error, may find Him in all things, 

may have our hearts placed in Him, 

and may serve Him always in our brothers and sisters.

Amen.

Wedding Novena~Seventh Day, Wednesday, December 3rd, 2014

Our Lady, Undoer of Knots
Our prayer intention for Ryan and Heather:

"May they live long, blessed lives together. 

May their love grow stronger each and every day.  

May they build a family rooted in faith and unconditional love."  

For their Wedding Mass Gospel Reading,

Heather and Ryan chose:

Matthew 5:1-12

Seeing the crowds, He went up on the mountain 

and when he sat down his disciples came to Him.  

And He opened His mouth and taught them saying:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 

for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you 

and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven,

for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you. " 

†

Make the Sign of the Cross

Pray the Act of Contrition

Preparation Prayer                                             

O Blessed Mother, who in submission to God,

 lived a life of humility and service, visit me with your grace.

Through your intercession, instill in my heart

a love for all members of the human family,

Especially those whom I have the most trouble loving 

and those whom I have the most trouble serving.

Pray with me now, beautiful intercessor, and with your grace,

help me to untie the knots that bind your children on Earth.

Through prayer and service to others, 

May I live according to your example 

and be brought ever closer to your Son, Jesus.

Seventh Day

Praying for Christians outside the Catholic Church

John 10:14-16

"I am the good shepherd.  

As the Father knows me and I know the Father, 

in the same way I know my sheep and they know me.

And I am willing to die for them.

There are other sheep which belong to me 

that are not in this sheep pen.  

I must bring them, too;

they will listen to my voice, 

and they will become one flock with one shepherd.  

†

Daily Intention

Mary, Queen Mother of Jesus and Queen of Heaven, 

look with kindness and compassion upon Christians separated from us, 

who are in full communion with the Catholic Church.  

See the knots of division that prevent unity
 and full communion with each other.  

Together with Blessed John Henry Newman, 
undo these knots for the glory of God and His Church.  

Call us and our Separated Brothers and Sisters together 

in unity in the One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.  

Lastly, Mother, untie my knots of misunderstanding or arrogance 
towards these brothers and sisters.  

Help me to love them as the Good Shepherd does.

Our Father

Hail Mary
Glory Be   

Concluding Prayer

Powerful Mother who unties our knots,

hear these prayers and the prayers of all the faithful.

Intercede for my brothers and sisters, and with your influence,

loose the entanglements and knots which hold them captive.

  

Forgive the human race for its unbelief 

and lead us all to faith in your Son, Jesus Christ the Lord.

Last of all, most Blessed Virgin, pray for me, 

who is most in need of your grace and mercy.

Untie the knots in my own heart and in my own life, 

and free me to love as Christ loves.

Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for us.

†


Novena of Service to Mary, Undoer of Knots
NIHIL OBSTAT
Alan Schreck, Ph.D
Censor Librorum

IMPRIMATUR
*Most Reverend Jeffrey M.Morforton
Bishop of Steubenville