Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
John 14:27
We are living in a moment when our world, our nations, our cities, and even our homes and our hearts are threatened by forces that seek to rob us of Christ’s gift of peace. In the Old Testament, the prophet Jeremiah warned against listening to false messengers of peace and security: “They have treated the wound of my people carelessly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14).
Even today, it is tempting for us to seek peace in all the wrong places and to search for soothing voices that promise peace. But are we bargaining with the “false messengers” of which Jeremiah speaks? Are we settling for less than the message of Jesus, the Prince of Peace? Are we permitting the Queen of Peace to lead us to her Son?
In this novena, we will seek the wisdom of Saint Teresa of Avila, Saint John of the Cross, and other saints of the Teresian Carmel as they teach us where we may seek and find true peace. May God bless us all as we pray together.
Day One
St. Teresa of Avila, “Don’t be afraid”
Day Two
St. John of the Cross, “Awareness of God”
Day Three
St. Edith Stein, “An angel of peace”
Day Four
Blessed Constance of Compiègne, “I am completely at peace”
Day Five
Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, “Peace that the soul enjoys”
Day Six
St. Teresa of the Andes, “What peace, what joy”
Day Seven
St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, “Be at peace”
Day Eight
Servant of God Père Jacques de Jésus, “Abandonment, the key to peace”
Day Nine
Servant of God Hermann Cohen, “The world cannot give peace”
NOVENA PRAYER
O Most beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel,
Fruitful Vine, Splendor of heaven,
Blessed Mother of the Son of God,
Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity.
O Star of the Sea, help me
and show me herein that you are my Mother.
O Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Queen of heaven and earth,
I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart
to succor me in this necessity.
There are none that can withstand your power!
O help me and show me herein that you are my Mother.
Our Lady, Queen and Beauty of Carmel,
pray for me and obtain my requests!
Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands!
All scripture references are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America as accessed from the Bible Gateway website.
Don’t become discouraged and give up prayer, says St. John of the Cross. We offer varying novenas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as novenas to St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, St. Edith Stein, and St. Joseph.
Let us unite in prayer
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