I don’t know what my problem is, but I have a problem with novenas. I guess I’m overly cautious about superstition — maybe I’ve seen too many of those classified ads: “Force the Sacred Heart of Jesus to grant your top wishes!” I may be an idiot, but even I know better than to drag the Holy Spirit into a pyramid scheme.
But seriously, I do understand the theology behind a novena. You’re just kind of proving to God that you really, really mean it, like the woman in Luke 18 who wouldn’t leave the judge alone, so he finally said, “[B]ecause this widow is troublesome to me, I will avenge her, lest continually coming she weary me.” My kids know this method, too, and that is how I found myself at the cash register at Walmart, shelling out genuine cash dollars for three hideous Lisa Frank lunch boxes that they really, really, really, really wanted a lot.
Recently, someone heard that my husband was out of work, and she suggested a novena to Edith Stein. I don’t know what the connection could be between Edith Stein and employment, and I couldn’t actually find a very good novena online. The one that we ended up with turned out to be kind of a sacrifice in itself: it’s so awkwardly and pretentiously written, I can’t decide if it was translated by a computer from another language, or just written by a sadist.
But my husband had been out of work for eight months, and we happened to get this tip about the novena on the day before Edith Stein’s feast day. Not wanting to annoy God, who was clearly trying to get our attention, we started the novena.
He got a job on day 2. We added a couple of other guys on, and they both got interviews — and they didn’t even get the full nine days!
So–what can I say? As Edith Stein’s old Jewish grandmother used to say,* “It couldn’t hoit!” Here’s the novena we’re saying. Maybe someone can suggest a better one?
*probably
I didn’t start with a photo of Edith Stein, because I couldn’t find the only nice one I’ve ever seen. Normally, she looks crabby and irritated–not at all someone you’d ask for help–but I once saw a photo of her playing with a baby niece or someone, and she looked relaxed and happy.
Here’s an explanation of the picture at the top, according to the CASE website:
This beautiful painting of Our Lady protecting Europe illustrates the Christian roots of Europe, and shows Our Lady surrounded by six patron saints of Europe: SS Cyril and Methodius , St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), St Benedict, St Bridget of Sweden, and St Catherine of Siena. Robert Schumann, one of the founding fathers of the European Union, looks on. St Benedict offers the monastery of Canterbury to the Blessed Virgin, and St Cyril writes of the conversion of the Slavs.
The painting is by John Armstrong, who is involved in a forthcoming celebration of religious art in Liverpool: see Vision of Hope.
(Cross posted yesterday, due to me being not used to getting up this early, at I have to sit down)
being a devoted of Padre Pio, I use this one:
http://www.padrepio.catholicwebservices.com/ENGLISH/Novena.htm
I personally see the value of the Novena in the fact that I do it; that it is another little brick building the edifice meant to keep me away from Hell.
The balance between confident expectation of a grace and acceptance of God’s will (an only apparent contradiction) is something which in my eyes becomes more and more natural as one becomes more acquainted with Novenas.
Mundabor
My mom used to say novenas all the time, which probably explains why I have always had an overactive guardian angel. It’s a habit I should probably pick up for myself.
“Robert Schumann, one of the founding fathers of the European Union, looks on.”
I thought it was Ben Kingsley at first. Mr. Schumann looks a bit underdressed, doesn’t he?
Ah, if only the Europeans would remember their Christian roots. Whether it’s a novena, an ornate Orthodox celebration, or a simple Protestant service, any of these would be preferable to the hotbed of atheism and dhimmitude that much of Europe has become.
The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
I have trouble with novenas, too, but only because I’m easily distracted and never manage to finish them. Still, ol’ Saint Joseph came through for us.
I’ve tried novenas, but I am easily forgetful. Sigh. I’ve subscribed to Magnificat (thank you Anchoress) and use it to pray every day. I think I will try a novena to Edith Stein for a cause dear to my heart. I’ve been reading about her and she was an admirable woman
Elizabeth,
Is a cure for your arthritis by any chance one of the petitions of your novena? This should do the trick and it will only cost you $6.95 (and I’ll even ship you a copy as a donation if you email me an address or P.O. box where I can send it). Johanna Budwig, like Edith Stein was a German doctor, though a doctor of medicine. Stein was 17 years her senior.
http://www.amazon.com/Against-Arthritis-Infarction-Cancer-Diseases/dp/0969527217/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1283532370&sr=1-1
In the meantime, this should help you get started learning about her work.
http://www.life-enthusiast.com/news/s_johanna_budwig.htm
Cheers,
Mike
I’m curious, when you did this, did you and your husband print off the pages, or did you sit in front of the computer.
I’ve not quite got the hang of online novenas yet ( or any novenas really I suppose)
I’m curious about this though, becaause I have a bit of a thing for St Teresa Benedicta ( my number 7, who’s 10 months old has Teresa Benedicta for her middle name) It was partly my fascination for the Jews that brought me back to the church nearly three years ago.
And it’s funny that you think she looks stern, because I think part of the reason ( shallow alert!) that I like her so much is because I find her so attractive. I love this one .
And here she looks every inch the boffinaceous Thoroughly Modern Millie.
My non-Catholic sister in law didn’t quite get the concept of a novena, but did (kind of) once she read that it is in remembrance and imitation of the 9 days the Blessed Mother and Apostles prayed in the upper room from the Ascension to Pentecost. That somewhat removed it from Superstition to Biblical.
I personally am horrible at keeping novenas for the full 9 days. I did manange ONE novena, which was a novena of nine Tuesdays to St Anthony. I kept the novena on the calendar so I’d remember it, and did. But that never works for the 9-days-in-a-row kind.
I figure since God made my wonderful, if somewhat absent mind, and since He knows I fully intend on making all 9 days but my faulty wiring prevents it, He won’t ignore me for my defects but like the beautiful Father He is, blesses me.
But for some reason He still leaves a good number of those synapses unconnected…
Thank you for this, Simcha! While very ill, I had prayed a rosary novena, which is 27 days in petition followed immediately by 27 days in thanksgiving. I got a lot out of it, not just the protections and healing during and after surgery.
A prayer journal is helpful, not only to keep track but to write about your meditations after prayer.
I will try this!
Along this same thread, earlier this year my husband accepted a job offer in another state, so we placed our condo for sale. As an evangelical convert to catholicism, I wasn’t comfortable doing the “bury St. Joseph statue upside down” bit, but for three months I prayed every night to him. But in the back of my mind, I kept thinking that I’ll have to do the deed. Our condo sat with no takers.
Eventually, I broke down and buried St. Joe. The next day we got an offer on the condo.
I remember the grandmotherly cashier at the catholic bookstore who, when I mentioned my embarrassment about buying the tiny statue, replied, “Honey, in this market, you need all the help you can get.”
I credit Edith Stein with giving me my thesis topic when I was at the end of my rope. I was in a Carmelite church on her feastday, begging for some help. By the time I got home, I had my topic, and it was in her field, phenomenology. I’m just about to defend it, and you can bet I’ll be asking her for some help!!
So–what can I say? As Edith Stein’s old Jewish grandmother used to say,* “It couldn’t hoit!” -
Edith’s old Jewish grandmother would be mortified, to see her granddaughter a nun, and and surprised to see you describe her speech as caricature.
Hmm . . . well, if her grandmother is in heaven or purgatory, I know she’s rejoicing to see how her granddaughter served the One who turned out to be the Messiah.
As far as the speech caricature, well, that’s why MY old Jewish grandmothers used to say – so maybe old Mrs. Stein will give me a pass.
–Simcha
Looking at the picture, I’m reminded that only a miracle can save Europe now.
Re the connection between Edith Stein and unemployment a google search reveals this as first entry: (from http://www.helpfellowship.org/edith/edith_stein__st.htm)
One cannot help admiring how she went on practically discerning those “signs of the times” and thus kept in touch with the ups and downs, the ins and outs of salvation history’s current moment running through her life. Many a disappointment and contretemps encountered along the way had offered her ample reason to disconnect from the flow she was in or to close in on herself: employment was denied her for the sole reason she was a woman, then unemployment was thrust upon her by the Nazi racist regime in pursuit of its “final solution.” And yet, she went on seeking to observe and plumb the hidden meaning of it all. The motivational force that led her to remain open is described in a letter she wrote to a friend while still a laywoman. That letter proves Stein is a shining example of that admirable being Pope John Paul II calls “The Acting Person.”
Novenas work. Two recent examples; a friend asked for prayer for her two nephews who have shown signs of mental disorders. The third day into a
Novena to St Dymphna they shows signs of major improvement. Prayers to the same Saint with regards to my wife’s sleep disorders have shown wonderful results.
Thank you, Simcha! So timely. aka St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (which, I’m sorry, is way too long) came up for me as my ‘saint of the year’ last year. I started the novena yesterday (after 3 days of fasting) and today got a HUGE breakthrough in a work-related problem that someone said probably couldn’t be solved. So thank you, Edith Stein and thank You, Lord!
I’m with Clare: I always thought St. Edith was a bit of a babe.
I’ve prayed this novena more than once, and have always found it profoundly moving and powerful as it takes the supplicant along St. Edith’s own Calvary path to Auschwitz. If you’re unhappy with its writerly qualities, you could always write your own.
Simcha, thank you so much for this novena! I am praying it and am having a good week of interviews.
I have been adding people to the novena each day.
I also have been praying employment prayers to Our Lady of Miraculous Medals, to God the Father and to Saint Joseph the Worker.
I end the prayers with the Angelus.
For reasons I do not understand, it seems right to say each of these prayers three times.
I’m a Christian. Your praying to Edith just doesn’t seem right. Doesn’t saying a Novena and the rosary 50 times, and things like that, sound very much like the Pharisees back in Jesus’ time ? shouldn’t Jesus and God be the “protector” of Europe…not some lady named Edith. Wasn’t Edith just a fallen soul equal to the rest of us…? …a person in need of the grace of God ? why are we praying to her? ..and when the church priests and bishops get dressed up in their ornate clothing and have processions of people following behind them, and have people kiss their rings…doesn’t that also seem a little weird to you…like the Pharisees that Jesus’ so much despised ?? Christians have moved away from the man-made traditions (very Pharisee-like) and moved back to the roots…a strong faith and personal relationship with my personal Savior, Jesus Christ…
Dan, we pray to ask St. Edith to pray with and for us and we also pray directly to God the Father. We also pray to Mary to ask that she please help us with our prayer.
Saying a prayer more than once can have a personal meaning, such as to develop more closeness to God.
Furthermore, upthread I noted that I keep a prayer journal. That’s not just writing down that I said whatever prayers, but notes what meditations about God that I thought about during or after prayer.
BTW when I was very ill, I prayed a Rosary Novena which I believed helped when I underwent major surgery and post surgical therapy. That’s 27 days in petition, followed immediately by 27 days in thanksgiving, regardless as to whether you’ve seen what you’ve asked for. I have gone back to re-read some of the meditations that I’d written as I found them meaningful in my relationship with God.
When you feel as though you ought to pray, that is God calling you to do so. God doesn’t force you, but this feeling is due to God’s presence.
God knows everything. Perhaps God knows that on a third prayer, I will finally understand something better. I know that on one day, on the third set, I cried for what St. Edith suffered as expiation for sins. If you noticed in the prayers, there are Gospel readings, which show that St. Edith looked to Christ as her inspiration.
BTW Dan before you beat up on St. Edith Stein, you might want to find out about her.