Dear Friends of St. Gregory’s Academy,

The Season at hand offers us the perfect opportunity for sacrifice and prayer. Now is the time to engage our lenten practices with the mission at hand. We are approaching the high feast days of three powerful saints. Saints who are so closely connected to our cause; St. Gregory, St. Joseph and St. Benedict. Attached is a 9 day novena to each. Please join us in praying these novenas. Choose one, or two or by all means chose all! Please spread the word and pass the prayers around.

St. Gregory’s will begin on March 4th and end on his traditional feast, March 12th.
St. Joseph’s will begin on March 11th and end on his feast, March 19th.
St. Benedict’s will begin on March 13th and end on his feast March 21st.

We beg of you, please don’t just mark this email. Print these immediately and make several copies. Keep them hanging around to remind you when to begin. (SOON) Give them to anyone who would be interested and forward this message on to all, even if you think they’ve already received it!

We need as many voices as possible to be heard in Heaven. If you have children it is important to pray these with them! Their prayers are so innocent and unbiased.

Please pray for the intentions concerning the future for St. Gregory’s Academy, that God’s will be made evident and the graces granted to carry it out.

Prayer to Saint Gregory, Pope and Confessor

O invincible defender of Holy Church’s freedom, Saint Gregory of great renown, by that firmness thou didst show in maintaining the Church’s rights against all her enemies, stretch forth from heaven thy mighty arm, we beseech thee, to comfort her and defend her in the fearful battle she must ever wage with the powers of darkness. Do thou, in an especial manner, give strength in this dread conflict to the venerable Pontiff who has fallen heir not only to thy throne, but likewise to the fearlessness of thy mighty heart; obtain for him the joy of beholding his holy endeavors crowned by the triumph of the Church and the return of the lost sheep into the right path. Grant, finally, that all may understand how vain it is to strive against that faith which has always conquered and is destined always to conquer: “this is the victory which overcometh the world, our faith.” This is the prayer that we raise to thee with one accord; and we are confident, that, after thou has heard our prayers on earth, thou wilt one day call us to stand with thee in heaven, before the eternal High Priest, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth world without end. Amen. (Add your intentions)

Prayer to St Joseph

Oh, St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God. I place in thee all my interests and desires. (Your intentions) Oh, St. Joseph, do assist me by thy powerful intercession, and obtain for me from thy Divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So that, having engaged here below thy heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.

Oh, St. Joseph, I never weary of contemplating thee, and Jesus asleep in thy arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near thy heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me and ask him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls – Pray for Us.

Amen

Novena to St. Benedict

novena saint benedict”O Glorious St. Benedict, sublime model of all virtues, pure vessel of God’s grace! Behold me, humbly kneeling at thy feet. I implore thy loving heart to pray for me before the throne of God. To thee I have recourse in all the dangers which daily surround me. Shield me against my enemies, inspire me to imitate thee in all things. May thy blessings be with me always, so that I may shun whatever God forbids and avoid the occasions of sin.”

“Graciously obtain for me from God those favors and graces of which I stand so much in need, in the trials, miseries and afflictions of life. Thy heart was always so full of love, compassion, and mercy towards those who were afflicted or troubled in any way. Thou didst never dismiss without consolation and assistance anyone who had recourse to thee. I therefore invoke thy powerful intercession in the confident hope that thou will hear my prayers and obtain for me the special grace and favor I so earnestly implore (mention it), if it be for the greater glory of God and the welfare of my soul.”

“Help me, O great St. Benedict, to live and die as a faithful child of God, to be ever submissive to His holy will, and to attain the eternal happiness of heaven. Amen.”