Day 7 of the IFS-based Surrender Novena

(To see the original text go here).

Jesus to a soul: Recall, dear one, how many times I have encouraged you to ‘Be Not Afraid’ in my Word.  My tender love speaks in John’s Gospel, most especially when I say, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me” (Jn 14:1).

Believe in Me, and ask Me for what you need.  I notice a part of you is working so hard to figure things out.  Of course you are working so hard! The crosses you carry feel very heavy, and, here is the truth: I accompany you and lighten the load with My loving presence, patience, and divine power. I love you, and I encourage you to  remember what St. Paul says to the Corinthians: “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (v. 18); and, ”For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (v. 25).

Bring all of your needs to Me, and you will see great continual silent miracles. Hope in Me, and I will take care of things, I promise this to you.

A soul’s prayer: O Jesus, I surrender my Self to you; in You, Lord, is my hope! (10 times) (cf Psalm 39:7).

Jesus, You gave us your Mother from the Cross, saying, “Behold, your Mother” (cf John 19:27). With you, Mother Mary, I always want to be completely united to Jesus.

Day 6 of the IFS-based Surrender Novena

(To see the original text go here).

Jesus to a soul: Dear one, I created you so that these two things go together: divine wisdom and human intuition.  Grace and nature. You are experiencing agitation, even to sleepless nights.  I invite you to be curious with Me about this.  Are there many problems to solve?  What would it be like to be still with Me for one moment, with no problem to solve?  Do this with me, in My Presence, for one minute… and then another… and then another. And listen for my guidance.

The enemy of your soul loves to agitate you into self-reliance, and does not want you to remember My gifts of patience, presence, compassion and curiosity that flow into you through my Holy Spirit.  In your imagination place your head on my chest, like the apostle John did, and feel My love and wisdom flowing into you.  My Holy Spirit will guide you to all truth about any situation.

A soul’s prayer: O Jesus, I surrender my Self to you; in You, Lord, is my hope! (10 times) (cf Psalm 39:7).

Jesus, You gave us your Mother from the Cross, saying, “Behold, your Mother” (cf John 19:27). With you, Mother Mary, I always want to be completely united to Jesus.

Day 5 of the IFS-based Surrender Novena

(To see the original text go here).
Jesus to a soul: Dear one, are there some opposing thoughts that you are trying to discern?  There may be excitement about following the path I lay out for you, and yet perhaps you notice fear? Can you direct attention to both of these thoughts in your mind’s eye, and ask them to turn towards you, the one who notices them?  Be with them and send them My peace, which flows into you by the Holy Spirit.  

I may lead you on a path different from the one you thought you would be on, and I will prepare you. “I am the good shepherd,” (Jn 10:1), and I will carry you in my arms.  Notice all the thoughts and feelings around what comes next—the future.  Rest in my spiritual embrace, like children who have fallen asleep in their mother’s arms, and then magically find themselves resting comfortably in their bed. 

Even so, you may have thoughts bringing all sorts of reasons not to trust Me.  I welcome all of your thoughts and feelings, and I validate the good and noble intentions of your questions and worries. As you learn to rest in Me, the wisdom, understanding, and courage of Holy Spirit will heal and bring peace to your body, mind, and spirit.

A soul’s prayer: O Jesus, I surrender my Self to you; in You, Lord, is my hope! (10 times) (cf Psalm 39:7).

Jesus, You gave us your Mother from the Cross, saying, “Behold, your Mother” (cf John 19:27). With you, Mother Mary, I always want to be completely united to Jesus.

Day 4 of the IFS-based Surrender Novena

(To see the original text go here).

Jesus to the soul:Do I notice a fear that things are getting worse?  The world seems crazy as ever, and evil seems to be growing.  (see Ps 57:4 below). Pray as David did, “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! (Ps 57:5).  Close your eyes and say to Me with faith: “Thy will be done, in You, Lord, is my hope!” I say to you that all is within My permissive will, and that I will intervene as does a doctor and I will accomplish many miracles. Do you see that the sick person is getting worse?  Your presence with them is also My Presence with them — a Presence that brings peace and inner healing. Close your eyes and say, “Thy will be done.” I say to you that “I make all things new,” (Rev 21:5), and that there is no medicine more powerful than My loving intervention. By My love, I promise this to you.

A soul’s prayer: O Jesus, I surrender my Self to you; in You, Lord, is my hope! (10 times) (cf Psalm 39:7).

Jesus, You gave us your Mother from the Cross, saying, “Behold, your Mother” (cf John 19:27). With you, Mother Mary, I always want to be completely united to Jesus.

My soul is in the midst of lions;   

 I lie down amid fiery beasts—

the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows,

    whose tongues are sharp swords (Ps 57:4). 

Day 3 of the IFS-based Surrender Novena

(To see the original text go here).

Jesus to the soul: Rest in My loving Presence.  Rest, My dear one.  I am the King of your heart, your Creator, your Love.  “Let not your heart be troubled, believe in God and believe in Me” ( Jn 14:1).  How many things I do when the soul, in so much spiritual and material need, turns to Me, looks at Me, and says to Me, “Thy will be done; in You, Lord, is my hope” and then closes its eyes and rests? 

I notice the emotional pain in your prayers to Me.  Is there a fear that I don’t hear you?  Is there a fear that your feelings do not matter to Me?  Pray as I taught you in the Our Father: “Hallowed be thy Name;” that is, be glorified in my need, Abba! 

“Thy kingdom come;” that is, let all that is in me and in the world be in accord with Your kingdom. 

“Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven;” that is, in my need, decide as You see fit for my temporal and eternal life. 

If you say to Me truly: “Thy will be done,” which is the same as saying: “In You, Lord, is my hope” I will intervene with all My omnipotence, and I will resolve the most difficult situations.

A soul’s prayer: O Jesus, I surrender my Self to you; in You, Lord, is my hope! (10 times) (cf Psalm 39:7).

Jesus, You gave us your Mother from the Cross, saying, “Behold, your Mother” (cf John 19:27). With you, Mother Mary, I always want to be completely united to Jesus.

Day 2 of the IFS-based Surrender Novena

(To see the original text go here).

Jesus to the soul: Do I noticing fretting and hopeless thoughts? It doesn’t feel very good to have these thoughts take over your mind, and even your body, does it?  The stress can take its toll with tension and anxiety.  I invite you to turn your mind’s eye toward these thoughts and feelings, notice them, and say “Hello.”  Let them know they are not alone. These thoughts and feelings are parts of you that need tenderness and healing.

Is there another thought that comes in and hurriedly prays  — asking Me to take away all your difficulties? “Be still and know that I am God” (Ps 46:10).  I am always here with you and I accompany you in all things.

Imagine this with Me: there is a little one who asks her mother to see to her needs, and then she tries to take care of those needs for herself. Do you know a little one like this?  Does she live inside of you? 

Let her know that patience gains all things and you and I are with her. Invite her to be open to my Presence and creative care.  In whatever way seems best, convey to her that My divine power works through you  — the person whose soul I created in my image and likeness — and together we will bring her hope and peace.

A soul’s prayer: O Jesus, I surrender my Self to you; in You, Lord, is my hope! (10 times) (cf Psalm 39:7).

Jesus, You gave us your Mother from the Cross, saying, “Behold, your Mother” (cf John 19:27). With you, Mother Mary, I always want to be completely united to Jesus.

IFS SURRENDER NOVENA INTRODUCTION

Link to Day 1 – First Sunday of Advent 2023; Link to Day 2; Link to Day 3; Link to Day 4; Link to Day 5; Link to Day 6; Link to Day 7

A few years ago during my walks I began praying the Surrender Novena as a way to bring calm to my system (body, soul, spirit) and direct my mind’s attention towards trusting God. Covid lockdown was in its prime, and growing in trust of my Creator and Source of life and love was needed. Prayer is the means to grow in relationship with God, and there are many ways to approach God in prayer. For me during the time of Covid the Surrender Novena was a good choice.

Also at this time I was implementing the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model for my mental health. My inner system was becoming accustomed to the IFS manner of kindness directed interiorly. Sometimes the words of the Novena, as I was hearing them through my audio app, started to feel shaming. The manner in which the words were expressed in the audio app was angry in tone, much like my own inner critic. Through further discernment I concluded that God’s intention for me is to be closer to Him, and He doesn’t speak to my heart as a critic. That is not God’s character (see Luke 15:11-32). God lovingly draws us towards union with Him, because God is Love. In particular, God is a loving Trinity of persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Shaming is not loving. In fact, God created human love to image Trinitarian love, which is vulnerable, and without shame (cf Gen 2:25).

To make a long story short, I have attempted to rewrite the Surrender Novena using language that I imagine Jesus is speaking to me. I will be posting the 9 days of the novena, beginning today, on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday leading up to the 4th Sunday of Advent —Christmas Eve Day. As I rewrite this novena, I want to mention that I am not doing a anything different than its original author. This novena is what is called a private revelation given to Fr. Dulindo Ruotolo. It is not something that has been officially approved by the Church for private prayer, and it has not been officially discouraged (as far as I know, and I am open to correction). This is important to remember. Fr. Ruotolo is no different from you and me, in terms of baptismal character; that is, we are all given the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity and a capacity to be in relationship with our Creator. It could be said that this is my own private revelation that I am sharing with all of you, with Fr. Ruotolo’s novena as a guide for my own prayer.

First a note about the changes I have made: I have attempted to make the prayer more scriptural because Sacred Scripture is the basis for all Christian Prayer. The change in the repeated words in the prayer reflect this goal to make the prayer more scriptural. I have also attempted to reflect God’s character to a soul as I personally imagine it, and based on how God has revealed God’s character in Sacred Scripture. It is my belief that God’s character will manifest the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit into my heart: gentleness, kindness, patience, goodness, faithfulness, peace, love, self-control, and joy (cf Gal 5:22-23).

Without further ado… 

Day 1 of the IFS-based Surrender Novena

(To see the original text go here).

Jesus to the soul: Dear one, I notice that you have some worried and anxious thoughts and feelings. Are you confused by all that is happening in your life? I am here to be with you, and to accompany you in everything.  I see those anxious thoughts and I welcome them with My open arms and merciful love.  Turn your heart to them with Me, and I invite you to ask inside, “What if?  What if there were Someone bigger who could take care of you and bring you hope and peace?  Would you be open to that?”  

I am that Someone.  I invite you to be open to My merciful love and the power of the Holy Spirit, which in time will resolve all difficult situations.

A soul’s prayer: O Jesus, I surrender my Self to you; in You, Lord, is my hope! (10 times) (cf Psalm 39:7).

Jesus, You gave us your Mother from the Cross, saying, “Behold, your Mother.” With you, Mother Mary, I always want to be completely united to Jesus. (cf John 19:27).

Novena to Blessed Solanus Casey-Day 9

Day 9 — Feast of Blessed Solanus — The Potter and the Clay

Throughout this Novena we have learned about the lives of the many saints whose feasts led up to this day, as well as the faith and holiness of Fr. Solanus Casey.  Today let us consider these themes together in the light of the first reading.  The themes from the past 8 days:

• Recognizing Jesus in others;
• The blessings of marriage and family-life;
• Conversion of heart leading to unity, peace, and joy;
• Suffering well with Jesus; giving our trials in every moment;
• Living in gratitude and thanking God ahead of time;
• Noticing little blessings that grow our lives in Christ;
• Simple faith that encourages others;
• Giving hospitality to others and listening to Jesus in them.

All of these themes were manifest in the life of Blessed Solanus.  He was like the potter in the first reading today, and he allowed the grace of Jesus Christ to flow through his actions and words into other people. 

“This word came to Jeremiah from the LORD: Rise up, be off to the potter’s house; there I will give you my message. I went down to the potter’s house and there he was, working at the wheel. Whenever the object of clay which he was making turned out badly in his hand, he tried again, making of the clay another object of whatever sort he pleased. Then the word of the LORD came to me: Can I not do to you, house of Israel, as this potter has done? says the LORD. Indeed, like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, house of Israel” (Jer 18:1-6).

Fr. Solanus did the work of God day-by-day, greeting people, feeding them, listening to them, and interceding for them.  Were all his prayers answered right away?  No, but God, the true Potter, continued to work the clay to form it according to His will.  This is how prayer works.  Saint Paul says “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28). God will take every part of our lives and make it into something good. There is nothing that He cannot use for our good.

We are the clay, but we can also be the potter!  The families that we grow up in are the trinitarian image of God’s love that continually form us, pick us up when things are going badly, and start anew.  The saints we meet in our everyday lives are God’s forming hands that encourage us and pray for us.  (Blessed are we to have even one of these saints of God in our lives!).  Just as God showed Jeremiah what He can do through the example of a potter, God shows us what He can do through everyday saints like Blessed Solanus.  We are called to be imitators!

Today, on his feast day, let us ask Blessed Solanus to intercede for our Church, that we will be the image of the most loving and merciful Jesus to our families and to our world.  Let us pray that as the potter, in the image of the divine Potter, we will be patient and gentle;  and that as the clay we will receive with joy and gratitude the blessings the Potter gives.  Amen.  Alleluia!

Prayer for the Canonization of Father Solanus Casey

O God, I adore You.  I give myself to You.

May I be the person You want me to be,

and may Your will be done in my life today.

I thank You for the gifts You gave Father Solanus.

If it is Your will, bless us with the Canonization of

Father Solanus so that others may imitate

and carry on his love for all the poor and suffering of our world.

As he joyfully accepted Your divine plans,

I ask You, according to Your will,

to hear my prayer for…(your intention)

through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

“Blessed be God in all His designs.”

Novena to Blessed Solanus Casey-Day 8

Day 8 — Saint Martha, patroness of Christian hospitality, invites us to open the doors of our hearts to a life of warm and gracious hospitality, especially in times that can be too self-centered, exaggerating the need for privacy.

“Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.” (Lk 10:38-39).

The passage from Luke is the optional Gospel for today’s feast of Saint Martha; it is fitting for the petition for today.  The Scriptures do not say if Jesus knew Martha and Mary yet, but it was clear that He was not only welcomed by a woman, but sat at table in the home of the two sisters.  Something radical is going on: in this instance openness to Jesus requires letting go of social norms.  In fact, openness to Jesus will require letting go of something.  In return, Jesus gives Himself, life-giving water through His words.  There is a communion established when we listen to Jesus. There is a continuous giving and receiving through our listening and hearing. Martha welcomed and provided the food to eat.  Jesus spoke. Mary listened.

This form of gracious hospitality was not foreign to Blessed Solanus.  As the Porter of the Capuchin Monastery, he welcomed, fed, and listened to all who knocked on the door.  He saw Jesus in everyone and treated them as Martha and Mary treated Jesus in the Gospel.  There are two stories that illustrate his hospitality charism, as well as his extraordinary faith.  One day during the Great Depression the soup kitchen had run out of bread.  Fr. Solanus was greeting the 200 souls still in line.  He prayed an Our Father, and soon a baker’s truck pulled up to deliver bread and all were fed.  In another story, Fr. Solanus was suffering from a cold, yet he continued his ministry of listening and counseling. Fr. Solanus said (and I paraphrase), “Jesus stopped to comfort the weeping women while carrying His cross; this is the least I can do.”

Indeed, today it is difficult for us to practice this kind of radical hospitality.  Let us pray today for the grace to see Jesus in everyone we meet, to listen to His (their) stories, and to give them what they need.

Prayer for the Canonization of Father Solanus Casey

O God, I adore You.  I give myself to You.

May I be the person You want me to be,

and may Your will be done in my life today.

I thank You for the gifts You gave Father Solanus.

If it is Your will, bless us with the Canonization of

Father Solanus so that others may imitate

and carry on his love for all the poor and suffering of our world.

As he joyfully accepted Your divine plans,

I ask You, according to Your will,

to hear my prayer for…(your intention)

through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

“Blessed be God in all His designs.”

Just for fun, listen to the Queen of Soul tell the story of Jesus, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus!

Aretha Franklin sings the story of the Rising of Lazarus (Mary, Don’t You Weep; Martha, Don’t You Moan)