St. Gianna Novena

Day 1: Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

Reflection

Having lived in our era, St. Gianna knew well the threats in our times to holiness, and sought to be a wife who was truly “poor in spirit.” Battling the spirit of materialism and trusting in God’s providence, she related, “With God’s help and blessing, we will do all we can to make our new family a little cenacle, where Jesus will reign over our affections, desires and actions.”

“‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ To be poor in spirit is not to be materially impoverished, but to be humble. St. Augustine explains that ‘whoever is puffed up is not poor in spirit.’ The poor in spirit are not weak; they are strong enough to be detached from the material riches of this world.”

- “St. Augustine On the Beatitudes,” by Steven Jonathan Rummelsburg

Intention

Let us ask St. Gianna to help bolster our resolve
to practice the Beatitudes in our daily lives.

Novena Prayer to St. Gianna

(Composed by His Eminence, Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke)

Saint Gianna, heroically Christlike wife, mother and physician, I ask the help of your prayers, as I strive to follow your holy example in my physical and spiritual trials.

Help me, by your prayers, to recognize the suffering of the Cross as the way to pure and selfless love of God and my neighbor. May your practice of medicine with priestly care of both body and soul inspire physicians to see the Face of the suffering Christ in their patients.

May your loving acceptance of illness and death help patients to know and do God's will in all things, uniting their sufferings to the Passion and Death of Christ for the salvation of the world.

Saint Gianna, pray for us always that we may have a heart, meek and courageous, like the Heart of Jesus, in Whom we find our healing and strength.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord. AMEN

St. Gianna Beretta Molla,
Pray for us!

Day 2

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