NOVENA TO ST. IGNATIUS – DAY ONE
TUESDAY, JULY 22, 2025
Hymn: Listen, let your heart keep seeking, Listen, to his
constant speaking, listen to the Spirit calling you. Listen to his inspiration,
listen to his invitation. listen to the Spirit calling you.
LISTENING
TO THE LORD

The theme for our reflection today is “Listening to
the Lord”. The words of the hymn that we sang direct our minds and hearts
to what it is that we need to listen to.
The first exhortation is to let our hearts keep
seeking. In the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord is emphatic when he says that if
we SEEK, we WILL find (Mt 7:7). We seek God’s will. For Jesus, his food and
drink were to DO God’s will (Jn 4:34). In other words, his very sustenance (his
reason for living) was to accord his will with that of God.
The fact is that God is constantly speaking with us.
God speaks with us in silence and through the events which occur every day. God
speaks when things go as we plan and even when our plans go awry. God is
constantly speaking, if we only open our hearts and minds to listen, we WILL
hear God’s voice.
To what is the Spirit calling us. Since the Spirit is
the Spirit of freedom, love and peace, it is evident that this is what the
Spirit calls us to. We are not slaves, because Jesus has redeemed us and set us
free. We love, because God first loved us (1Jn 4:19) and in our war-torn world,
the Spirit is inviting us to be instruments of peace and love when and where we
can. This peace and love are not merely
the absence of war and an emotion, but wholeness as represented by the word
Shalom. It is a peace/wholeness which encompasses every aspect of lives.
(SILENCE)
INTERCESSORY PRAYER
1.
That
like you we too may always seek to do God’s will in our lives
St. Ignatius intercede for us
2.
That
like you we may always strive for the Magis, the greater glory of God
St. Ignatius intercede for us
3.
That
like you, we may seek and find God in all things and all things in God
St. Ignatius intercede for us
4.
That
like you we may realise the temporariness and impermanence of things in this
world
St. Ignatius intercede for us
5.
That
like you we may be gifted with the gift of perseverance and never giving up
St. Ignatius intercede for us
6.
That
like you we may be men and women for others
St. Ignatius intercede for us
7.
That
like you we may be optimistic and positive about people and situations
St. Ignatius intercede for us
8.
That
like you we may be responders and not reactors
St. Ignatius intercede for us
9.
That
like you we may be men and women of discernment
St. Ignatius intercede for us
10. That like you we
may keep seeking the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit. St. Ignatius
intercede for us
11. That like you we
make God the centre of our lives
St. Ignatius intercede for us
12. That like you we
may constantly turn to our Blessed Mother Mary for her intercession
St. Ignatius intercede for us
(SILENCE)
PETITIONARY PRAYER
1.
For the grace to silence our minds
and hearts.
|
Lord hear
our prayer
|
2.
For the grace to rid ourselves of
all that keeps us from accepting God’s will.
|
Lord hear our
prayer
|
3.
For the courage to wait on the
Lord, confident that we will hear his voice if we are attentive.
|
Lord hear
our prayer
|
4.
For a heart that is empty of
self-love and selfish interest.
|
Lord hear
our prayer
|
5.
For the intentions of our hearts.
|
Lord hear
our prayer.
Let us Pray:
Loving Father you always listen to our
prayers. We place these petitions before you to acknowledge that we are
dependent on you. Grant what in your generosity and wisdom you know is best
for us. We ask this through the intercession of St. Ignatius of you, the Son
and Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen
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NOVENA PRAYER
Ø St. Ignatius, like Jesus your Lord and Master, you always desired to
do God’s will. May we through your intercession and the intercession of our Blessed
Mother learn to imitate Jesus in always seeking to do God’s will. (Make your
petition)
Ø St. Ignatius, like Jesus your Lord and Master you always sought the
greater glory of God and were not content with the status quo, the tried and
tested. May we through your intercession and the intercession of our Blessed
Mother learn to imitate Jesus in seeking the greater glory of God (make your
petition)
Ø St. Ignatius, like Jesus your Lord and Master you strove to become a
man for others. May we through your intercession and the intercession of our
Blessed Mother learn to imitate Jesus in becoming men and women for others.
(Make your petition).
We make
this prayer through Christ our Lord.
CONCLUDING
PRAYER
God of revelation, you reveal your will to us
through the daily events of life, the people we encounter, the things we use
and the situations of life. We pray for the grace of open and receptive
hearts. Let our one desire be to listen
attentively to what you would have us do and have the courage to do it. We ask
this through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn: Listen, let your heart keep seeking, Listen, to his
constant speaking, listen to the Spirit calling you. Listen to his inspiration,
listen to his invitation. listen to the Spirit calling you.