St. Elizabeth of the Trinity Novena 2022, Day 5: The secret of peace and happiness

SCRIPTURE READING
2 Corinthians 4:7–12

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed

But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

MEDITATION
Letter 249 to Madame A., 24 November 1905

The secret of peace and happiness

Yes, I believe that the secret of peace and happiness is to forget oneself, to cease to be concerned with oneself. That does not mean ceasing to feel physical or spiritual sufferings; the saints themselves have endured these crucifying states; only they did not stop there, but constantly put these things behind them. When they felt themselves affected by them, they were not surprised, for they knew ‘that we are dust,’ as the Psalmist sings, but that with God’s help, ‘I shall be spotless and shall keep myself from my iniquity.’

NOVENA PRAYER

O Saint Elizabeth!
In your great love of God,
You were always so close
to your friends’ needs.
Now, in Heaven,
Face-to-face with the Lord,
Do intervene near Him
for the needs that we recommend to you.

(Mention these here)

Teach us how to abide,
in Love and Faith,
with the Holy Trinity
in the utmost of our hearts.
Teach us how to radiate God’s Love
amongst men, in our everyday life
just as you did yourself,
so that we may be a praise of God’s glory.

Our Father…

(pray slowly, offering Him “the cell of your heart”)

Glory be…

(three times, in praise of the indwelling Trinity)

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Carmelite Quotes welcomes Father Quang D. Tran, S.J., who prayerfully composed our 2022 St. Elizabeth of the Trinity Novena. Father Tran is a Jesuit priest of the Central Southern Province. He is originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, and is currently a doctoral candidate in counseling psychology at Boston College. His profound devotion to St. Elizabeth and his rigorous training—not only in theology but also in the interior life of the human person—enable him to share great insights for our Novena. You can follow Father Tran on Instagram at @lemetellusumtin.

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.

Philipon. M. M. 1961, The Spiritual Doctrine of Sister Elizabeth of the Trinity, Newman Press, Westminster MD.

The portrait of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity in our featured image for this novena is used through the kind permission of the artist, Belita William (© Belita William, all rights reserved). You can view more of Belita’s artworks at belitawilliamart.com.

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. Joseph, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, and St. Edith Stein.

Let us unite in prayer