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.

This novena is dedicated to the wounds and struggles that are specific to family life. It addresses the problems that affect the heart of the family—emotional blockages, conflicts, and all the suffering that weighs on family relationships and individual members.These wounds are many and can give rise to a wide range of difficulties: jealousy, poor communication, unspoken resentments, disagreements, frustration, rivalry, marital struggles, challenges integrating new family members after remarriage, grief, divorce, illness, financial stress, lack of time, unemployment… Entrust your family knots to Mary Let her lead you on the path of healing and forgivenessAre there tensions in your family that weigh on your heart? Broken relationships, unspoken resentments, misunderstandings that never seem to heal? Through this novena, we invite you to bring those wounds to Mary, the one who lovingly unties the knots in our lives.This novena is especially for anyone carrying burdens within their family: communication breakdowns, conflicts, rivalries, marital struggles, grief, illness, divorce, financial stress, stepfamily tensions, unemployment, or simply the feeling of growing apart. These knots take many forms—but Mary sees them all, and she holds them in her heart. What will this novena bring you spiritually? Praying this novena will strengthen your faith and renew your trust in God&#039;s plan. The daily commitment over nine days fosters perseverance and inner discipline—qualities that help us grow in holiness.As we entrust our knots to God through Mary, we also learn to surrender to His will, even when answers don&#039;t come in the way we imagined. Through this journey, we come to believe more deeply that God listens to our prayers and desires to bring healing. Mary walks with us, interceding each day.You may receive the grace of reconciliation, the healing of relationships, or clarity around wounds you hadn&#039;t even fully identified. God is always at work, even in silence. Structure of the novena Each of the nine days includes:<ul><li>An Act of Contrition, to begin in humility, acknowledging our need for God&#039;s mercy</li><li>A daily prayer of supplication to Mary, asking her help as a mother who listens tenderly to her children</li><li>The Rosary, which is the heart of this novena. Through the mysteries, we meditate on key moments in salvation history while offering our own lives to God</li><li>A short reflection and prayer in the middle of the Rosary to help us refocus when our minds wander</li><li>The Prayer to Mary, Undoer of Knots, made known to many through Pope Francis, closes each day&#039;s prayer</li></ul> If possible, begin your day with the novena—it will stay with you and bear fruit throughout the hours ahead. Who is behind this novena? This novena is offered by the Mary of Nazareth Association, a community of laypeople and religious who work to make Mary known and loved throughout the world. Founded in 2001, the association uses modern media to evangelize and help others discover the richness and truth of the Christian faith.Our mission follows in the footsteps of Saint Louis de Montfort, with a special care for unity among Christians, &#34;so that the world may believe&#34; (John 17:21).The novena texts were created in collaboration with Father Celeiro, who wrote the original prayers to Mary, Undoer of Knots—now prayed by people around the world. He has also approved these thematic novenas as faithful paths of prayer.

Novena to Mary Undoer of Knots

Holy Mary, you were filled with God's presence throughout your life; you accepted the Father's will with total humility, and because of this the devil was never able to ensnare you with the knots of his confusion.
You have already interceded with your Son on our behalf during our trials. With utmost kindness and patience, you gave us an example of how to undo the knots in our life. You are Our Mother forever: help to straighten and reveal the deeper ties that bind us to the Lord.
Pope Francis

<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.