Houses of Healing
A Novena to be Prayed March 17th - 25th
The span of days from March 17th through March 25th is rich with feast days, anniversaries, and the coming of Spring. I'll be praying with a wide assortment of material in order to enter into this beautiful time of year with my whole self.
Please be aware that the materials I've chosen come from my specific tastes and comfort levels - there is no need to listen to music or watch movies that you hate. You should also know that many of my movie recommendations have mature content, so proceed with caution if that is something that concerns you. Links to the prayer material for the day as well as a daily playlist and movie scene can be found in the top right hand corner of each day. (Assume spoilers for all movie scenes)
"Memory and imagination are powerful tools for knowing the truth and it is important to use them."
You are most welcome to join me!
Daily Novena Prayer
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy Faithful and enkindle in (_name of the person you are particularly praying for today_) the fire of thy love. Send forth thy Spirit and we shall be recreated and Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
St. Patrick, pray for me to have courage like you, courage to face the darkness of my own heart and the darkness of the suffering world, confident in the power of Christ’s love to redeem and restore.
St. Joseph take me under the protection of your holy cloak. I entrust my broken heart to you knowing that in the shelter of your care God will unfold the blossoming of Spring within me.
Dear Mother, help me to be always attentive and obedient to the Holy Spirit and show me how to be a tabernacle of the Incarnate Word in every moment of my ordinary life.
The hands of the King are the hands of healer and so I come before You Jesus in all my brokenness and pain (_insert any specific hurt you wish to bring to Jesus_). I submit myself to Your care trusting that, held in your pierced Heart, I and all your creation will be made new.
Father, teach me to live in the glorious freedom of being your beloved child. I entrust to You today (_whatever is on your heart today_) as well as my intention for this novena ______.
Daily Specifics
March 17th
Feast of St. Patrick
Ask for the gift of: Hope
Pray with: Homily on The Breastplate of St. Patrick (scroll down to March 17th)
Fill it out with: Listening to live Irish music; drinking a Guinness, a whiskey or a shamrock shake; watching Riverdance; or any other Irish themed activities.
March 18th
Reconciliation
Ask for the gift of: true repentance
Pray with: Make an examination of conscience and go to Confession if you can
Fill it out with: Watching or reading a tragedy and reflecting on the nature of sin.
March 19th
Feast of St. Joseph
Ask for the gift of: trust in the Father
Pray with: Homily for the Feast of St. Joseph
Fill it out with: Feasting - eat good food, spend time with friends, have a dance party, watch A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, A Quiet Place, The Book Thief or Episode 1, Season 1 of Modern Love "When the Doorman is Your Main Man".
March 20th
First Day of Spring - St. Joseph Celebrated
Ask for the gift of: Life in abundance
Pray with: Tangled, The Lion King or any other story focused on the identity of being a beloved child
Fill it out with: going on a walk, spending time with friends, getting flowers for your house, gardening, spending time outside.
March 21st
Beloved
Ask for the gift of: Knowing that I am Beloved
Pray with: the first half of Chapter 5 of Book VI of The Return of the King called "The Steward and the King"
Fill it out with: writing a love letter or poem (whether a romantic or a friendship one), watch a romantic movie or the wedding episode of the Office.
March 22nd
Do whatever He tells you
Ask for the gift of: Courage
Pray with: The Wedding Feast at Cana (John 2)
Fill it out with: ask the Holy Spirit to help you use your imagination to enter into the scene of the Wedding Feast at Cana, make a list of people you admire and reflect on what they have in common, watch Dunkirk, A Hidden Life, or Wonder Woman.
March 23rd
Remain in Me
Ask for the gift of: the ordering of my loves
Pray with: John 15
Fill it out with: watching Mr. Smith Goes to Washington or Moana, explicitly asking God to be with you in the very specific details of your day.
March 24th
Saying Yes
Ask for the gift of: being able to give my Yes
Pray with: The Annunciation (Luke 1)
Fill it out with: rock climbing, making a list of times you have felt fully alive and ask God what He wants to show you about that, watching Nine Months, Avengers, Les Miserables, or the episodes of The Office Season 3: Business School, Beach Games and The Job.
March 25th
Incarnation
Ask for the gift of: Christ being born in me
Pray with: the Prologue of John's Gospel
Fill it out with: Celebrating! also making something with your hands (painting, pottery, carving, knitting etc.), watching The Return of the King, Stranger than Fiction, or It's a Wonderful Life, doing something Christmasy, reading about the tradition surrounding the celebration of March 25th.