(This Novena is prayed on nine consecutive days and involves lighting a candle. Pray 9 days prior to the Feast of Saint Martha that is celebrated on July 29 th.)
(Light a candle)
O admirable Saint Martha,
I have recourse to thee
and I depend entirely on thy intercession in my trials.
In thanksgiving,
I promise to spread this devotion everywhere.
I humbly beg thee to console me in all my difficulties.
By the immense joy that filled thy soul
when thou didst receive the Redeemer of the world
at thy home in Bethany,
be pleased to intercede for me and my family,
in order that we may keep God in our hearts and therefore,
deserve to obtain the remedy to our necessities,
especially the present situation that overwhelms me.
[Mention your intention(s) here…]
I implore thee, O Auxiliatrice in all needs;
help us to overcome our difficulties,
thou who so victoriously fought the devil.
Amen.
Say 3 Our Father…
Say 3 Hail Mary…
Say 3 Glory Be…
Saint Martha,
pray for us.
Saint Martha,
pray for us.
Saint Martha,
pray for us.
A novena is a devotion that involves praying for nine consecutive days. The prayer presented is directed to Saint Martha, who is known for her hospitality and her faith in Jesus Christ. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the faithful may ask for the intercession of the saints, and in particular, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels, and the saints, who are “the Church’s great cloud of witnesses” (CCC 2683).
The prayer begins with an invocation of Saint Martha, who is addressed as “admirable” and as a helper in times of trial. The person praying the novena depends entirely on her intercession for help, asking her to console them in all their difficulties. This is in accordance with the Catholic tradition of asking the saints to intercede for us, as stated in the Catechism: “The witnesses who have preceded us into the kingdom, especially those whom the Church recognizes as saints, share in the living tradition of prayer by the example of their lives, the transmission of their writings, and their prayer today. They contemplate God, praise him and constantly care for those whom they have left on earth” (CCC 2683).
The prayer goes on to express gratitude to Saint Martha, with a promise to spread this devotion everywhere. This is in line with the Catholic understanding of devotion to the saints, which is not worship but a sign of love and veneration for those who have lived a life of holiness. The Catechism teaches that “the saints have always been the source and origin of renewal in the most difficult moments in the Church’s history” (CCC 2683).
The person praying the novena then asks Saint Martha to intercede for them and their family, “in order that we may keep God in our hearts and therefore, deserve to obtain the remedy to our necessities, especially the present situation that overwhelms me.” This is a request for spiritual and material assistance, recognizing that all good things come from God. The prayer also mentions Saint Martha’s joy at receiving Jesus at her home in Bethany, which is a reference to the Gospel of Luke (10:38-42) where Saint Martha welcomes Jesus into her home and serves him while her sister Mary sits at his feet and listens to him. This episode emphasizes the importance of hospitality and attentiveness to God’s word.
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The prayer invites the person praying to mention their specific intentions for the novena, which may include physical, spiritual, or emotional needs. The prayer ends with an appeal to Saint Martha, who is called an “Auxiliatrice in all needs”, to help the person praying and their family to overcome their difficulties. This invocation recognizes Saint Martha’s victory over the devil, which is in accordance with the Catholic teaching that the saints have already achieved their eternal reward and have overcome the trials of this world.
The prayer concludes with the traditional Catholic prayers, Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be, said three times each. These prayers are an expression of faith in the Holy Trinity and of devotion to Mary, the Mother of God. Finally, Saint Martha is asked to pray for the person praying the novena, with the repetition of her name three times, which is a sign of respect and veneration for her as a saint in the Catholic Church.
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