For centuries, Christians have gone on pilgrimages to holy places, seeking grace and conversion. The Michaelmas Novena is such a pilgrimage — not measured in miles, but in prayer.Each day, Fr. Ambrose Criste and the entire abbey community will guide us as we ask God for a specific grace: to recognize the darkness, to turn back in conversion, to walk under angelic protection, to persevere with zeal, and to radiate Christ&#039;s light into the world.Our destination is the altar of God, where Christ&#039;s victory over sin and death is renewed in the Eucharist. The journey culminates on the Feast of St. Michael (Sept. 29), when Solemn Vespers fills the abbey church with chant, incense, and a glorious sign: the rose window&#039;s light falling directly upon the altar.This is the goal of our novena. This is our pilgrimage into the Light.

Michaelmas Novena: A Pilgrimage Toward the Light

Great Saint Michael, Prince of the Heavenly Host, your name is a question filled with awe: "Who is like God?" Your vocation is to reveal His power and His wisdom, and so your name teaches us that nothing can compare with His might and goodness.
 
What is there that we cannot hope to receive from God's hand through your intercession and care? We entrust to you the intentions we bring in this novena: for Holy Church in Her trials; for our homelands so much in need of healing and grace; for our families who are shielded by the angels who guard us on our way to heaven; for the sick; for sinners; for the dying; for our dear, departed loved ones; and for protection from all the forces of evil who oppose these intentions.
 
We expect great things and abundant blessings as we invoke you. Christ the Lord is your King and ours; we are safe under your shield and with your fiery sword of burning love for Him.
 
We thank you in advance for the gifts to be obtained in this novena and promise in our gratitude to make your name and devotion known as much as we are able.
 
Blessed be God, glorious in His fair hosts of angels led by you, Michael, the leader of the bodiless powers of heaven! Amen.

Meditations taken from <a href="https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/5cec74a9-6bca-435a-a77a-aeefdb23609a/Preparation%20for%20Death_St.%20Alphonsus%20Maria%20de%20L.pdf">PREPARATION FOR DEATH by St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori.</a> We will reflect on our own death and pray for a holy death, pray for the dead and celebrate the countless (named and unnamed) saints in Heaven.   The solemnity of All Saints was also known as All Hallows (hallow simply means ‘holy&#039;). Prior to the 1955 liturgical reforms, there was such a thing as Hallowtide, a kind of ‘triduum&#039; that began with All Hallows Eve (October 31st). While the Easter triduum revolves around the death and resurrection of Christ, this triduum was centered around the eternal destiny of our own souls. The vigil of All Hallows Eve was instituted by Pope Sixtus IV, who also turned it into an octave—a celebration lasting eight days, in AD 1484. It was the beginning of a liturgical celebration that turned people&#039;s minds towards the dead—not only to the saints in heaven but also to the suffering souls in purgatory.All Hallows also introduced a month of special prayers for the dead. The Commemoration of the Faithful Departed, All Souls. The Church is composed of the faithful living upon the earth and those who have gone before us. The latter includes the saints in Heaven and the faithful souls being purified in Purgatory.  Just as on November 1st we honor those who are with God, on November 2nd Catholics celebrate a Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed. Also known as All Souls&#039; Day, on this day we honor them for their fidelity in life, as well as pray for them since they are being purified before entering the All Holy Presence of God.

Novena For All Souls

In your hands, O Lord,
we humbly entrust our brothers and sisters.
In this life you embraced them with your tender love;
deliver them now from every evil
and bid them eternal rest.

The old order has passed away:
welcome them into paradise,
where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain,
but fullness of peace and joy
with your Son and the Holy Spirit
forever and ever. Amen.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon them
May their soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God,
rest in peace. Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace.
Our Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

Hi all,During the month of November, and indeed anytime throughout the year, we pray for our loved ones who have gone before us, and also especially pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.St. Gertrude the Great is invoked often for prayers for the poor souls in purgatory. Jesus Christ promised St. Gertrude that He would release 1,000 souls from purgatory every time this prayer is said with love and devotion.  (Source: http://midletonparish.ie/prayer-of-st-gertrude-for-all-the-holy-souls-in-purgatory-2/)Pray as many time as your circumstances allow.Blessings, Deacon David. 🙏

St. Gertrude's Prayer - Release Holy Souls from Purgatory 

Eternal Father, I offer thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus in union with all the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my own family. Amen.

Pray as many times as your circumstances allow you to.

St. Gertrude pray for us. 

Thank you for joining us here. 

Blessings, 

Deacon David.🙏

<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.