Mar11

Novenas in Scripture

Novenas in Scripture The 2nd Annual Evangelium Vitae novena is less than a week away, so I though it might be interesting to look at the origins of novenas. The word novena is derived from the latin word meaning ‘nine’, and a novena consists of some form of prayer involving nine parts. Novenas, as we know them, have been around since the 17th century. But are novenas just a Catholic thing, or do they have some basis in...

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Mar11

Evangelium Vitae Novena 2016

Evangelium Vitae Novena 2016 Last year, I co-hosted the inaugural Evangelium Vitae novena with Birgit Atherton-Jones, my blogging friend from Designs by Birgit. (You can like Birgit’s Facebook page here) We wanted to celebrate the 20th anniversary of St. John Paul II’s landmark encyclical, ‘The Gospel of Life.’ This year we hope to have even more faithful pray-ers on board, from even more far-flung corners of...

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Mar01

Origen: On Prayer

Origen: On Prayer   The coming of the kingdom of God, says our Lord and Saviour, does not admit of observation and there will be no-one to say “Look here! Look there!” For the kingdom of God is within us and within our hearts.  And so it is beyond doubt that whoever prays for the coming of the kingdom of God within himself is praying rightly, praying for the kingdom to dawn in him, bear fruit and reach perfection. For...

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Apr23

Defend My Life - a prayer from the womb -

Defend My Life - a prayer from the womb - This pro-life poem was sent to me by a young Australian mother of seven.         Defend My Life - a prayer from the womb -   A baby in your womb is so precious so small so vulnerable and once conceived uniquely created for all eternity   A baby in the womb has a heartbeat just like you and me A baby in the womb is a human life just like you...

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