As the Church invites us to live the 2025 Jubilee Year under the sign of Hope, we turn to Saint Rita, the saint of impossible causes, to rekindle in our hearts this virtue that gives us the strength to persevere. And for good reason—Saint Rita knew suffering in many forms: forced into marriage with a violent man, she later lost both of her sons. As a widow, she faced great opposition when she sought to enter the convent. Yet through it all, she never lost her trust in God. Amid life&#039;s trials, she continued to hope, finding in Him the source of her peace. This novena invites us to follow her example. With her, let us welcome the grace of this Jubilee Year, and allow Hope to shine in our hearts!<h3> </h3><h2>Program</h2>Day 1: The hope that God will reveal Himself – “What will become of this child?” Day 2: Hope shaken – Disappointment Day 3: Hope through perseverance – Paul&#039;s conversion Day 4: Hope in becoming like Christ – Dying a Christian death Day 5: Hope in God&#039;s promises – Entering the monastery: a grace from heaven Day 6: Hope through obedience – The miracle of the vine Day 7: Hope in God&#039;s love – Union with Christ Day 8: Hope through grace – Pilgrimage to Rome, the Jubilee Year Day 9: Hope in Heaven – The goodness of God<h3> </h3><h3>The Sanctuary of Saint Rita in Vendeville</h3>The reflections in this novena are offered by Father Jean-Pierre Roussel, rector of the <a href="https://sanctuairesainterita-vendeville.fr/">Sanctuary of Saint Rita in Vendeville</a>, located near Lille, France.A major pilgrimage site, the church houses a relic of Saint Rita—a small fragment of bone—gifted by the Basilica of Cascia in Umbria, Italy, where she has rested since her death in 1457.Since then, the people of Vendeville have had a deep devotion to her, and many pilgrims continue to come seeking her powerful intercession.

Saint Rita, Give Me Hope

Blessed Saint Rita,
You who always placed your trust in God,
You who knew how to love
And forgive in the name of Christ,
Letting yourself be guided each day
By the light of the Holy Spirit,
Hear the prayer we humbly and confidently offer you.
Intercede for us before God,
All-Powerful and Merciful.
May He grant us peace of heart,
So that we, like you,
May live in faith and love,
Without ever losing hope.
Then one day, we too may reach,
With you and all the saints,
The eternal joy of communion
With the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Saint Anthony of Padua (1195–1231) is one of the most beloved saints in the Catholic Church. He is known for his powerful preaching, deep knowledge of Scripture, and the countless miracles attributed to his intercession. Born in Lisbon, he first joined the Canons Regular of St. Augustine, but later became a Franciscan friar, inspired by the martyrdom of five brothers who had gone to evangelize in Morocco. Sent to Italy, Anthony quickly became recognized as an extraordinary preacher, capable of reaching even the hardest hearts. His love for Christ, his compassion for the poor, and his fight against heresy made him a radiant witness to the Gospel. He was canonized just one year after his death and continues to be invoked around the world today—not only to find lost items, but even more so to help people rediscover their faith. As we prepare for his feast on June 13, enter into this novena with confidence. Through Saint Anthony&#039;s intercession, may God rekindle in us the fire of the Holy Spirit and renew our passion for the Gospel. Day 1: Saint Anthony and prayer Day 2: A lamp cannot be hidden Day 3: Saint Anthony and preaching Day 4: Saint Anthony and mission Day 5: Saint Anthony and miracles Day 6: Saint Anthony, follower of Christ Day 7: Saint Anthony, defender of the poor Day 8: Saint Anthony the reformer Day 9: Saint Anthony, terror of demons  Meet the preacher: Brother Jack MardesicBrother Jack Mardesic is a Franciscan friar at the Saint Anthony friary in Brussels. Originally from Australia, he is a preacher and musician dedicated to youth formation and the new evangelization.Following the great Franciscan tradition, Br. Jack regularly goes on mission with another friar to underserved neighborhoods—carrying only a backpack, no plans, no money, and no idea where they will sleep that night.

9 Days with Saint Anthony to Awaken Your Faith

Saint Anthony, 

You whom no one ever calls upon in vain, 
I turn to you now, asking that you obtain from God the graces I am in great need of.
Especially what is most close to my heart: 
(please specify your personal intention).

You have always been my faithful and caring protector. Please hear my request, and through your intercession, may God grant my prayer if it is His will.

May the Lord increase my faith and keep my heart open and full of mercy!

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 
Amen.

<h2>What is the purpose of this community of prayer?</h2>The purpose is to find peace of mind and heart by putting our trust in God through prayer, meditation, and abandoning ourselves to the Lord. We will encourage you throughout this Novena and lift each one of you in prayer. <h2>&#34;What if....?&#34;</h2>Many of us suffer from worry, anxiety, and fear. These negative feelings can easily overwhelm us, up to the point where we begin struggling with our faith. Indeed, there are so many reasons to develop fear and worry today. Wars, violence, crime, natural disasters, unemployment, illness, future uncertainty... The list goes on. We keep asking ourselves &#34;What if?&#34; while imagining the worst outcomes; living under the weight of this uncertainty eventually takes its toll on both our physical and mental health. While there is no way to know what future will hold, we do have a powerful weapon against fear: trusting in God who loves us. Jesus came to save us, to set us free from all of our enemies. Putting our trust in God, we can gradually overcome all negative thoughts we&#039;re constantly fighting. No, it&#039;s not a miraculous cure, but God can work wonders in hearts that believe in His power. <h2>Every day, for the duration of the Novena, you&#039;ll receive:</h2><ul><li>A Bible verse to fight fear and anxiety.</li><li>A prayer.</li><li>A short meditation. </li></ul>if you are suffering from depression and/or anxiety, and/or having suicidal thoughts, please seek professional help. Prayer does help and accomplishes miracles, but no one in their right mind would tell a cancer patient to &#34;just pray their cancer away.&#34; The same applies to mental illnesses. Emergency international resources can be found <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_suicide_crisis_lines">here</a> and <a href="https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/">here</a>.  <h2>Click Join to receive the prayers</h2><a href="https://hozana.org/en/intentions">Click here to leave your prayer intention.</a> Photo by Gorjan Ivanovski on Unsplash.

Novena for Peace of Mind

Kneeling at your feet, sweet Mother of God and Queen of Peace, I, your loving child, confidently turn to you in my need, seeking your intercession for peace of mind and comfort to my troubled heart. (Mention your petition here.)
O listen to me, dear heavenly mother. Come to my aid and refuse me not as I cry to you. For you are my mother, and you fail no one who has recourse to you, O Consoler of the afflicted, O Queen of Peace. 
Amen.

<h2>A Walk of Faith for Valentine&#039;s Day!</h2>Now is the time to experience the spirit of Valentine&#039;s Day, by confidently entrusting our desires to live a Christian marriage to St. Valentine, a great martyr and the patron saint of lovers.Be assured that we share your hopes and keep your intentions in our hearts every day!<h2>The Grace of Love: a Gift from God</h2><ul><li>Pray for yourself: pray that you meet someone in accordance with the Lord &#039;s heart.</li><li>Pray for yourself: entrust God with your desire to live a fruitful Christian marriage.</li><li>Pray for a single person you know who suffers from loneliness.</li><li>Pray for all those who desire to get married.</li><li>Pray that marriages be based on the « Rock of Faith » .</li><li>Pray for young people who are not looking to commit to the Sacrament of Marriage </li><li>Pray that the world regains a deep sense of commitment to sacraments.</li></ul>… other ideas? Share them with us!St. Valentine will certainly be happy to hear them and present them to the Lord!<h2>Commitment</h2>Commit yourself to offer your thanks to St. Valentine: if you feel that he answered your prayers, celebrate his Feast Day in a spirit of gratitude for his intercession on your behalf!<h2>Click Join to receive the prayers</h2><a href="https://hozana.org/en/intentions">Click here to leave your prayer intention.</a>

Meet Your Soulmate with the Novena to St. Valentine

Loving Father,
You know that the deepest desire of my heart is
to meet someone that I can share my life with.
I trust in Your loving plan for me and ask that I may soon meet
the person that you have prepared for me.
Through the power of Your Holy Spirit,
open my heart and mind so that I recognize my soulmate.
Remove any obstacles that are in the way of this happy encounter,
So that I might find a new sense of wholeness, joy and peace.
Give me the grace too, to know and accept, if you have another plan for my life.
I surrender my past, present and future into the tender heart of Your Son, Jesus,
full of confidence that You will hear and answer my prayer.
AMEN.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You.
St Valentine, pray for me.