St. Elizabeth of the Trinity Novena 2022, Day 6: Martha and Mary

SCRIPTURE READING
Hebrews 4:9–11

Sabbath rest for God’s people

So then, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; for those who enter God’s rest also cease from their labors as God did from his. Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs.

MEDITATION
Letter 158 to Abbé Ch., 24 February 1903

Martha and Mary

Yet do you not find that in action, when we are apparently doing Martha’s work, the soul can remain buried in its contemplation like [Mary] Magdalen, staying very near Him? It is thus that I understand the apostolate both for the Carmelite and for the priest. In this way, both can radiate God and give Him to souls if they remain at the source of divine life.

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