Saint Martha
by VP
Posted on Monday July 29, 2024 at 01:00AM in Saints
James Tissot: Mary Magdalene at the Feet of Jesus
"She was the sister of Mary Magdalen and Lazarus, who entertained Christ at her house at Bethania, and being busy in making preparation for him, asked that Mary, who sat at the feet of Christ, might be desired to help her. To whom Christ made answer: "Martha, Martha, thou art careful, and art troubled about many things. But one thing is necessary: Mary hath chosen the best part." After Christ's ascension, being seized by the Jews, as it is related in her life, she was forced on board a ship with all belonging to her, and having no other pilot but Providence, arrived at Marseilles, where she spent her days in prayer, and all the exercises of a holy life, and thus waited till death carried her to be his guest, whom, she had before entertained.
Pray for the spirit of Martha in all your labours; that whatever you do may be designed for the entertainment of Christ. This has been the practice of many servants of God,
who being obliged to an active and laborious life, have always
endeavoured to direct and offer all their labours to Christ, in the person of those whom they served, according to his own precept: "Whatsoever you do to any of these little ones, you do it to me." For this end, in all business avoid solicitude, as much as possible. Go on with peace and submission to the will of God, and often remember the one thing necessary. That is a happy family, where Martha calls in Mary to her help; where prayer and the love of retirement sanctify their labours and all exterior employments. For the mind is so easily taken up with these, either through desire of success, or the solicitude of giving satisfaction, or escaping reproof, or seeking the esteem of others,
that if it be not recalled by prayer and seasonable retreats, it will
be wholly dissipated, and so occupied with this world, as to lose the greater concern of the next. Be therefore watchful against this evil, and pray for remedy. Your time in this world is to be short, but your being in the next is to be eternal. Provision must be made for both; but let that which is the greater, be your greater concern: so that being busy about many things, you may still remember the one thing necessary." The Catholic Year, by Fr. John Gother
Novena Prayer to Saint Martha: O admirable Saint Martha, I have recourse to thee and I depend entirely on thy intercession in my trials. In thanksgiving, I promise to spread this devotion everywhere. I humbly beg thee to console me in all my worries and my difficulties. By the immense joy that filled thy soul when thou didst receive the Redeemer of the world at thy home in Bethany, be pleased to intercede for me and my family, in order that we may keep God in our hearts and therefore, deserve to obtain the remedy to our necessities, especially the present situation that overwhelms me. (mention request) I implore thee, O helper in all needs, help us to overcome our difficulties, thou who so victoriously fought the devil. Amen
Say one Our Father, one Hail Mary, one Glory Be and three times the invocation "Saint Martha, pray for us."
Novena for Priests to St. John Vianney Day 4
by VP
Posted on Monday July 29, 2024 at 01:00AM in Prayers
St. John Vianney, Greatly Devoted to Our Blessed Mother O holy Priest of
Ars, your life was
consecrated to the Blessed Mother. You prayed earnestly to her,
entrusting your Priesthood to her care. You begged all the faithful to
pray the rosary, the favorite prayer of Mary, our Mother. You summed up
the reason for your great love of our Lady by saying: We have only to
turn to the Blessed Mother to be heard. Her heart is all love.
O
great John Vianney, I ask you with all my heart through the merits of
Jesus and the intercession of Mary, the Virgin Mother to make Father
___ʼs life patterned after that of our heavenly Mother, full of love for
God and his neighbor. Obtain for him a deeper love for our Lady and a
filial confidence in her. She is the person to whom he can turn in times
of distress when lonely or upset or in times of temptation. Inspire
Father ___ to consecrate his life to his Mother in heaven. May he know
the powerful protection of Maryʼs Mantle all the days of his life.
Novena Prayer:
O holy Priest of Ars, St. John Marie Vianney, you loved God and served
Him faithfully as
His Priest. Now you see God face to face in heaven. You never despaired
but persevered in your faith
until you died. Remember now the dangers, fears and anxieties that
surround Father ___ and intercede for him in all his needs and troubles
especially console him in his most difficult moments, grant him serenity
in the midst of crisis, and protect him from evil. O St. John Vianney, I
have confidence in your intercession.
Pray for Father ___ in a special way during this novena.
