Today’s Scripture

Once Jesus cured a man on the Sabbath and he was criticised. He replied that he was only doing what he saw his Father doing.
Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished. Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomsoever he wishes. The Father judges no one but has given all judgement to the Son.’

( John 5:19-22 NRSV)

Today’s Scripture :: Reflection for Day 1 :: Today’s Prayer :: Daily Invocation :: Novena Prayer :: Today’s Music

Reflection for the Sixth Day

Cynically a writer thought that God must get bored with nothing to do all day. He could not imagine God being so involved in the lives of his people, God getting his hands dirty. St Ignatius said God labours constantly, but the word ‘labour’ here means to struggle, sweat and strain up to your knees in muck! Well the crucifixion is a good example of it.

Today’s Prayer

Lord, thank you for being so involved in our world, for bringing hope. Help me to see your hands at work in my days. Grant that all I do and all that I suffer may work with you to help and encourage all those in need of your love and compassion.

Daily Invocation

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Novena Prayer

You can use the novena prayer below or open your personalised novena prayer.

Lord work on my heart
until it becomes like your Sacred Heart.
Give me hope.
Then I can love you and all my sisters and brothers
with the respect, compassion, and forgiveness
that you have for everyone.
I ask this in your name.
Amen.

I ask you to grant
my special request during this novena
(here mention your intention).

If what I ask is not for my own good

and the good of others,
grant me what will most help
to build up your kingdom of justice, love and peace.
I make this prayer with confidence in your love.
Amen

Top

Today’s Scripture

Jesus defined his mission in his hometown of Nazareth.
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free.’
( Luke 4:18-19)
(NRSV)

Today’s Scripture :: Reflection for Day 1 :: Today’s Prayer :: Daily Invocation :: Novena Prayer :: Today’s Music

Reflection for the FIFTHDay

Jesus works today in the eyes and hands of the many people who come into our lives, to see our needs and teach us, heal us, protect us, need us, feed us, pick us up, sing to us, make us laugh and love us.

Today’s Prayer

Help me today to be in some way your eyes to see how you see, your hands to do what you do, your heart to feel the compassion you feel, and to love as you love me. Sacred Heart of Jesus I place all my trust in you.

Daily Invocation

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Novena Prayer

You can use the novena prayer below or open your personalised novena prayer.

Lord work on my heart
until it becomes like your Sacred Heart.
Give me hope.
Then I can love you and all my sisters and brothers
with the respect, compassion, and forgiveness
that you have for everyone.
I ask this in your name.
Amen.

I ask you to grant
my special request during this novena
(here mention your intention).

If what I ask is not for my own good
and the good of others,
grant me what will most help
to build up your kingdom of justice, love and peace.
I make this prayer with confidence in your love.
Amen

Top

Sixth Day : ‘Caution, God at work!’ Tuesday 16 shnovena2009_06 The Sixth Day of a Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the theme, ‘Christ is close to me and gives me hope.’ This day is entitled, ‘‘Caution, God at work!’’ The audio includes music from Traditional, K. Hine Stuart Public Domain Manna Music/James Kilbane.

Today’s Scripture

Once Jesus cured a man on the Sabbath and he was criticised. He replied that he was only doing what he saw his Father doing.
Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished. Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomsoever he wishes. The Father judges no one but has given all judgement to the Son.’
( John 5:19-22)
(NRSV)

Today’s Scripture :: Reflection for Day 1 :: Today’s Prayer :: Daily Invocation :: Novena Prayer :: Today’s Music

Reflection for the Sixth Day

Cynically a writer thought that God must get bored with nothing to do all day. He could not imagine God being so involved in the lives of his people, God getting his hands dirty. St Ignatius said God labours constantly, but the word ‘labour’ here means to

Today’s Prayer

Lord, thank you for being so involved in our world, for bringing hope. Help me to see your hands at work in my days. Grant that all I do and all that I suffer may work with you to help and encourage all those in need of your love and compassion. Sacred Hear

Daily Invocation

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Novena Prayer

You can use the novena prayer below or open your personalised novena prayer.

Lord work on my heart
until it becomes like your Sacred Heart.
Give me hope.
Then I can love you and all my sisters and brothers
with the respect, compassion, and forgiveness
that you have for everyone.
I ask this in your name.
Amen.

I ask you to grant
my special request during this novena
(here mention your intention).

If what I ask is not for my own good
and the good of others,
grant me what will most help
to build up your kingdom of justice, love and peace.
I make this prayer with confidence in your love.
Amen

Top

SeventhDay : God is close to all who are in any kind of need. Wednesday 17 The SeventhDay of a Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the theme, ‘Christ is close to me and gives me hope.’ This day is entitled, ‘God is close to all who are in any kind of need.’ The audio includes music from Sounds True.

Today’s Scripture

Jesus identified himself with those in need, and warned, ‘What you do to the least of these, who are members of my family, you do to me.’
“Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:40
( Jesus cares particularly for the many who suffer loss today, whether it be the loss of employment, of their home, of the means to provide for their families; the loss of their loved ones, their health, their peace of mind, or even their hope. He wants to t)
(NRSV)

Today’s Scripture :: Reflection for Day 1 :: Today’s Prayer :: Daily Invocation :: Novena Prayer :: Today’s Music

Reflection for the SeventhDay

Lord, give me a heart of compassion and teach me to treat all who suffer losses with respect and understanding. Sacred Heart of Jesus I place all my trust in you.

Today’s Prayer

Lie you still

Daily Invocation

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Novena Prayer

You can use the novena prayer below or open your personalised novena prayer.

Lord work on my heart
until it becomes like your Sacred Heart.
Give me hope.
Then I can love you and all my sisters and brothers
with the respect, compassion, and forgiveness
that you have for everyone.
I ask this in your name.
Amen.

I ask you to grant
my special request during this novena
(here mention your intention).

If what I ask is not for my own good
and the good of others,
grant me what will most help
to build up your kingdom of justice, love and peace.
I make this prayer with confidence in your love.
Amen

Top

EightDay : Pray for the world that feels betrayed. Thursday18 shnovena2009_08 The EightDay of a Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the theme, ‘Christ is close to me and gives me hope.’ This day is entitled, ‘Pray for the world that feels betrayed.’ The audio includes music from R. Loveland. Brendan Graham.

Today’s Scripture

As his passion was beginning Jesus knew how it would devastate his disciples, so he told Peter, ‘I have prayed for you.’ Peter found the strength to come through it and support the others.
‘Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!’ Jesus said, ‘I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me.’
( Luke 22:32 )
(NRSV)

Today’s Scripture :: Reflection for Day 1 :: Today’s Prayer :: Daily Invocation :: Novena Prayer :: Today’s Music

Reflection for the EightDay

The theologian Chardin speaks of the two hands of God: with one hand God holds you carefully, with the other he shapes your life and the whole universe. Notice how his wounded hand works to restore the damage done to us, like a painter carefully restoring a damaged masterpiece – remember you are that work of art!

Today’s Prayer

Imagine Jesus leaning forward, speaking your name and saying: ‘I have prayed for you.’ Feel the support of that prayer. Jesus might add, ‘When you pray for people you care about, I am praying beside you.’ We pray together for the whole world to have the strength to come through hard times knowing you are with us. Sacred Heart of Jesus I place all my trust in you.

Daily Invocation

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Novena Prayer

You can use the novena prayer below or open your personalised novena prayer.

Lord work on my heart
until it becomes like your Sacred Heart.
Give me hope.
Then I can love you and all my sisters and brothers
with the respect, compassion, and forgiveness
that you have for everyone.
I ask this in your name.
Amen.

I ask you to grant
my special request during this novena
(here mention your intention).

If what I ask is not for my own good
and the good of others,
grant me what will most help
to build up your kingdom of justice, love and peace.
I make this prayer with confidence in your love.
Amen

Top

NinthDay : Lord, make me grateful for your goodness. Friday 1 shnovena2009_09 The NinthDay of a Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the theme, ‘Christ is close to me and gives me hope.’ This day is entitled, ‘Lord, make me grateful for your goodness.’ The audio includes music from Liam Lawton.

Today’s Scripture

Jesus cured ten lepers but only one returned to thank him. Jesus was hurt, and asked: ‘Has no one returned to give thanks to God except this Samaritan?’
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ When he saw them, he said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, ‘Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then he said to him, ‘Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.’
( Luke 17:11-19)
(NRSV)

Today’s Scripture :: Reflection for Day 1 :: Today’s Prayer :: Daily Invocation :: Novena Prayer :: Today’s Music

Reflection for the NinthDay

St. Ignatius liked to say that God is good. He is like a lover, wanting to give everything including himself to his beloved. According to Jewish Tradition, God will ask us only one question when we meet him after death: ‘Did you enjoy my creation?’ Don’t wait till then to say ‘Thanks!’ Appreciate the now.

Today’s Prayer

Thank you Lord for your love, which will guide us through the darkest days and help us to bring hope and inspiration to others. Sacred Heart of Jesus I place all my trust in you.

Daily Invocation

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Novena Prayer

You can use the novena prayer below or open your personalised novena prayer.

Lord work on my heart
until it becomes like your Sacred Heart.
Give me hope.
Then I can love you and all my sisters and brothers
with the respect, compassion, and forgiveness
that you have for everyone.
I ask this in your name.
Amen.

I ask you to grant
my special request during this novena
(here mention your intention).

If what I ask is not for my own good
and the good of others,
grant me what will most help
to build up your kingdom of justice, love and peace.
I make this prayer with confidence in your love.
Amen

Top

Today’s Scripture

On their way to Emmaus the two disciples were talking about Jesus’ death, when Jesus himself joined them and walked with them, but they did not recognise him. Later they remembered, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us?’
Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’ That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
(NRSV)

Today’s Scripture :: Reflection for Day 1 :: Today’s Prayer :: Daily Invocation :: Novena Prayer :: Today’s Music

Reflection for the FourthDay

If the disciples had not invited Jesus to have supper with them they would never have known that it was he who had walked with them and talked with them. Have you realised that God has been at work in your life maybe bringing good out of even the bad thing

Today’s Prayer

Lord, you are so mysterious and so good! Let my heart be moved to thank you always and everywhere for the good things in my life, and to trust that you are busy also in its dark chapters, bringing good out of bad, always offering hope. Amen. Sacred Heart of

Daily Invocation

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Novena Prayer

You can use the novena prayer below or open your personalised novena prayer.

Lord work on my heart
until it becomes like your Sacred Heart.
Give me hope.
Then I can love you and all my sisters and brothers
with the respect, compassion, and forgiveness
that you have for everyone.
I ask this in your name.
Amen.

I ask you to grant
my special request during this novena
(here mention your intention).

If what I ask is not for my own good
and the good of others,
grant me what will most help
to build up your kingdom of justice, love and peace.
I make this prayer with confidence in your love.
Amen

Top

Today’s Scripture

The Prophet Isaiah, like all the Prophets in a time when the people were low, celebrated God as creator of all, and saw God tenderly holding us by our right hand, saying: ‘Do not be afraid, for I will help you.’
For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’
(NRSV)

Today’s Scripture :: Reflection for Day 1 :: Today’s Prayer :: Daily Invocation :: Novena Prayer :: Today’s Music

Reflection for the ThirdDay

The conviction that it is God who makes the difference between life and death, brings creation alive for us, whether it is in a flower bursting into bloom again in Spring, a new child being born, or our mobile phone bringing loved ones nearer.

Today’s Prayer

Comfort your people, O Lord, speak tenderly to us for it is you who makes the difference between life and death for us – you give us hope. Sacred Heart of Jesus I place all my trust in you.

Daily Invocation

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Novena Prayer

You can use the novena prayer below or open your personalised novena prayer.

Lord work on my heart
until it becomes like your Sacred Heart.
Give me hope.
Then I can love you and all my sisters and brothers
with the respect, compassion, and forgiveness
that you have for everyone.
I ask this in your name.
Amen.

I ask you to grant
my special request during this novena
(here mention your intention).

If what I ask is not for my own good
and the good of others,
grant me what will most help
to build up your kingdom of justice, love and peace.
I make this prayer with confidence in your love.
Amen

Top

Today’s Scripture

At the Last Supper Jesus gazed at the odd group he had gathered around him and spoke from his heart: ‘You are my friends!’
‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.
(John 15:12-17 NRSV)

Today’s Scripture :: Reflection for Day 1 :: Today’s Prayer :: Daily Invocation :: Novena Prayer :: Today’s Music

Reflection for the Second Day

Again picture the Lord close to you, speaking your name, gazing into your eyes and saying ‘You are my friend, and I love you!’ Talk with him about what that means to you. Perhaps you are often lonely and unsure of yourself. Let this word of Jesus capture y

Today’s Prayer

Lord, let me not spend my life lamenting what I have lost. Let me trust that I am your friend and let that fill me with hope. Sacred Heart of Jesus I place all my trust in you.

Daily Invocation

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Novena Prayer

You can use the novena prayer below or open your personalised novena prayer.

Lord work on my heart until it becomes like your Sacred Heart.
Give me hope.
Then I can love you and all my sisters
and brothers with the respect, compassion, and forgiveness that you have for everyone.
I ask this in your name.
Amen.

I ask you to grant my special request during this novena
(here mention your intention).

If what I ask is not for my own good and the good of others,
grant me what will most help
to build up your kingdom of justice, love and peace.
I make this prayer with confidence in your love.
Amen

Top

Today’s Scripture

‘Jesus looked at the rich young man and loved him.’
As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: “You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honour your father and mother.” ’ He said to him, ‘Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.’ Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!’
(Mark 10:17-23 NRSV)

Today’s Scripture :: Reflection for Day 1 :: Today’s Prayer :: Daily Invocation :: Novena Prayer :: Today’s Music

Reflection for the First Day

There was a French mystic who said: ‘Lord you gazed on me and you smiled!’ Imagine the Lord close to you and smiling. What better to do than to smile back? Allow yourself to do this and tell him how it makes you feel. Relax and enjoy being loved by him.

Today’s Prayer

Lord, I come to you full of needs. But my deepest need is to become more convinced of your love for me. Help me to believe that you do smile on me, now, tomorrow and always. Amen. Sacred Heart of Jesus I place all my trust in you.

Daily Invocation

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Novena Prayer

You can use the novena prayer below or open your personalised novena prayer.

Lord work on my heart until it becomes like your Sacred Heart.
Give me hope.
Then I can love you and all my sisters
and brothers with the respect, compassion, and forgiveness that you have for everyone.
I ask this in your name.
Amen.

I ask you to grant my special request during this novena
(here mention your intention).

If what I ask is not for my own good and the good of others,
grant me what will most help
to build up your kingdom of justice, love and peace.
I make this prayer with confidence in your love.
Amen

Top

‘The Lord waits to be gracious to you!’

Our God is a gracious God and will attend lovingly to your prayer over these nine days. While God knows the special grace you may be asking for in this novena, it is right that you ask him for it. In prayer we give our attention, our desire and our time; that is our contribution to the encounter: God does the rest.

Meeting the Lord

Try to set aside some regular time daily for your prayer. When you are settled in your prayer chair, draw up another chair for the Lord, and imagine him gazing at you lovingly and humbly, as Saint Teresa of Avila says.

If you are sick and in bed invite him to sit beside you in the visitor’s chair. You can spend time on this mutual gazing; it is consoling to gaze at someone who looks at you with great love. Next read the scripture text for the day slowly. Then ask the Lord to read it to you. Hear the tone of his voice, see his facial expression. He is speaking to you. Chat with him, as one friend would chat with another – as Saint Ignatius of Loyola puts it. Chat about what? About what he has read to you, about your relationship with him, your daily affairs, your hopes and fears, the persons and situations that you worry about. Imagine him responding to you.

At the end, don’t just drift out of your prayer: say goodbye to your Guest, thank him for coming, and plan together when to meet again. All of the above takes imagination. So in teaching us to pray, Ignatius says: ‘Imagine!’ Imagining brings you right into the scene: you can identify with the characters and feel as they must have felt, and learn about the mystery of Jesus as in no other way. Likewise you can imagine Jesus speaking the words of scripture to you personally. In this way we can let Jesus come closer to us and we can come closer to Jesus.

Remember Jesus said, ‘I stand at the door, knocking. If anyone opens the door I will come in and eat with them.’ (Revelations 3:20)

The days of the Novena will become available here from 11 June 2009.

• Sacred Heart Novena 2009
• The Novena CD for 2009
• The Days of the Sacred Heart Novena 2009
• First day: God smiles on me
• Second day: The Lord invites me to be his friend
• Third day: Thank God for creation
• Fourth day: God meets me in all that happens to me!
• Fifth day: Lord, help me to see you in people
• Sixth day: ‘Caution, God at work!’
• Seventh day: God is close to all who are in any kind of need
• Eight day: Pray for the world that feels betrayed
• Ninth day: Lord, make me grateful for your goodness

Monica Brown is an Australian composer, teacher, facilitator, story teller and community animator. Monica’s expertise is in religious education, worship and ritual, and scripture story telling through the integration of creative process.

A running stream forms the backdrop to birdsong and early-morning sounds. This track was recorded in Saint Anne’s Park, Raheny, Dublin, in June 2008.

Artist:	Sacred Space
Track:	Stream and birdsong
Album:	Sacred Space (2008)
Preview:
More information:	Sacred Space’s website

A variety of birds contribute to this recording made in Cappamore, County Limerick in June 2009.

Artist:	Sacred Space
Track:	Dawn chorus
Album:	Sacred Space (2009)
Preview:
More information:	Sacred Space’s website