Beginning on June 2, we invite those involved in and those who care for Catholic Education in the province of Ontario to pray together for nine days in preparation for the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Let us find our sure comfort and rest in the Sacred Heart of Christ’s love for each and every one of us.
The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the celebration of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus are part of our longstanding tradition in the Church. A novena is an ancient form of prayer in the Catholic tradition consisting of nine consecutive days of prayer leading up to a particular feast day where a particular blessing or grace is sought.
We have provided each day’s theme and prayer for you below, and the full prayer document is available to view on the Institute of Catholic Education website.
Wednesday, June 2
WE LOOK TO YOU, O LORD
On this day, before our Novena begins, we think of Psalm 25. Over the next nine days we will lift up our soul, lift up our hearts, lift up our prayers together knowing no matter what, the heart of Jesus is filled with love for us.
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust;
Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
Thursday, June 3
WE LOVE YOU IN THE LOVING OF OURSELVES AND OUR NEIGHBOUR
Let us pray +
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O my Jesus, I place my trust in you.
There is no greater commandment. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength and Love your neighbour as yourself. (Mark 28.29-31)
(pause for a moment of silent reflection)
Encouraged by your words we now ask for the grace to love ourselves and others as you love.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, we place all our trust in you.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, full of compassion and love, have mercy on us.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Friday, June 4
BLESSED ARE YOU GOD FOR YOUR MERCY ON US
Let us pray +
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O my Jesus, I place my trust in you.
Blessed be God, and blessed be his great name, and blessed be all his holy angels. May his holy name be blessed throughout all the ages, for he has had mercy upon me. (Tobit 11.14-15)
(pause for a moment of silent reflection)
Encouraged by your words we now ask for the grace of your forgiveness for times we have been unloving.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, we place all our trust in you.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, full of compassion and love, have mercy on us.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Saturday, June 5
WE OFFER YOU ALL WE HAVE AND ALL WE ARE | (TOBIT 13.1, 6A)
Let us pray +
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O my Jesus, I place my trust in you.
Blessed be God who lives for ever. If you turn to him with all your heart and with all your soul, to do what is true before him, then he will turn to you. (Tobit 13.1, 6A)
(pause for a moment of silent reflection)
Encouraged by your words we now ask for the grace of perseverance (not giving up hope). It has been a hard school year but we know you are with us always.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, we place all our trust in you.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, full of compassion and love, have mercy on us.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Sunday, June 6
YOU GIVE US YOUR VERY BODY AND BLOOD TO STRENGTHEN US
Let us pray +
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O my Jesus, I place my trust in you.
While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘Take; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them, ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
(Mark 14.22-24)
(pause for a moment of silent reflection)
Encouraged by your words we now ask for the grace of thankful hearts, especially for the gift of your body and blood in the Eucharist. This year we have often been unable to be together in Church. We miss being together in this way. We know you will bring us back together again soon.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, we place all our trust in you.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, full of compassion and love, have mercy on us.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Monday, June 7
YOU COMFORT US SO WE MAY COMFORT OTHERS
Let us pray +
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O my Jesus, I place my trust in you.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. (2 Corinthians 1.3-4)
(pause for a moment of silent reflection)
Encouraged by your words we now ask for the grace of your comfort when we are sad, frustrated, and worried. Help us to comfort others.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, we place all our trust in you.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, full of compassion and love, have mercy on us.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Tuesday, June 8
LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE IN US
Let us pray +
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O my Jesus, I place my trust in you.
You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5.14-16)
(pause for a moment of silent reflection)
Encouraged by your words we now ask for the grace to be a light for others. Let them see your light through us.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, we place all our trust in you.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, full of compassion and love, have mercy on us.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Wednesday, June 9
YOU ARE HOLY, LORD
Let us pray +
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O my Jesus, I place my trust in you.
Let them praise your great and awesome name. Holy is he!
The Lord our God is holy. (Psalm 99.3,9)
(pause for a moment of silent reflection)
Encouraged by your words we now ask for the grace of gratitude for all the people who have worked so hard to keep us safe in this difficult year, especially everyone in our school community, in the buildings and classrooms and online.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, we place all our trust in you.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, full of compassion and love, have mercy on us.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Thursday, June 10
YOU CALL US TO FORGIVE
Let us pray +
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O my Jesus, I place my trust in you.
Be merciful, therefore, as your heavenly Father is merciful.
Forgive, and you will be forgiven. (Luke 6:36, 37B)
(pause for a moment of silent reflection)
Encouraged by your words we now ask for the grace to be forgiving and loving to others.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, we place all our trust in you.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, full of compassion and love, have mercy on us.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Friday, June 11
TO KNOW YOUR LOVE IS THE BEST KNOWING WE HAVE
For nine days we have prayed together, placing our trust in Jesus and the love and compassion he has for us and for all people. This has not been an easy school year, but we have made it through together. As we come to the end of our Novena, may we feel the peace and comfort only God’s love can bring as we have drawn close to God in our prayer. And may we feel especially close to one another, even if we are apart, because our prayer can bring us together. On this, our final day of our Novena …
Let us pray +
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O my Jesus, I place my trust in you.
I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3.18-19)
(pause for a moment of silent reflection)
Encouraged by your words we now ask for the grace to know how deeply you love each of us – all our friends and family, everyone in our community, in our country and in our world. Let your love warm us, strengthen us, and help us to face the struggles in our lives and to celebrate the happy times.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, we place all our trust in you.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, full of compassion and love, have mercy on us.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.