Novena to St. Ignatius - Day Two - July 23, 2025

 

NOVENA TO ST. IGNATIUS – DAY TWO

WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2025

Hymn: O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, because he first loved me. To me Jesus is wonderful. To me Jesus is wonderful. To me Jesus is wonderful because he first loved me.

 

DEEP PERSONAL LOVE FOR GOD

The theme for our reflection today is “Deep Personal Love for God”. Love is not an emotion. It is the only reality. Love is not blind. It is clear sighted.

In his first letter, John makes many telling points about the reality of love. The first of these is that “We love because God first loved us.” (1 Jn 4:19). This means that all that we know about love has been revealed and taught to us by Jesus. He is the epitome of love. He is love incarnate. John then goes on to say, “in this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 Jn 4:10)

This love which God has for us is unconditional. The truth is that God loves us EVEN when we are sinners. God’s love is given as a free gift. This can be accepted or rejected. It is one thing for God to love us, and another thing for us to accept that love. We show that we accept this love when we love our brothers and sisters whom we can see. There is no other way. (1Jn 4:10-20)

The love that we have for others is often barter exchange. We keep expecting something in return for the love that we give. We pray that we will become aware that since God’s love for us is without conditions, the love that we profess will be selfless and without any expectation whatsoever. (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 may 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 make God known not only by our words but also by deeds

Lord, hear our prayer

2.     For the grace to give without counting the cost

Lord, hear our prayer

3.     For the courage to be more and more loving each day

Lord, hear our prayer

4.     For concern like that of God for those who are less fortunate than we are

Lord hear our prayer 5.     For our personal intentions 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 you in your generosity and wisdom know is best for us. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.   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 Heavenly Father, we pray for the grace to so open our hearts, that we will experience the tangibility of your love. Let our reception of that love, lead us to make the same love tangible for others.  May our love, be a love which shows itself in deeds. We ask this in your name. who live and reign with the Son and the Holy Spirit one God forever and ever. Amen.   Hymn: O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, because he first loved me. To me Jesus is wonderful. To me Jesus is wonderful. To me Jesus is wonderful because he first loved me.