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NINE-MONTH NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

NINE-MONTH NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
Start March 12 to December 12

Thursday, July 18, 2019


NELSON MANDELA DAY-

Nehemiah, Chapter 6, Verse 12-13
12 For on consideration, it was plain to me that God had not sent him; rather, because Tobiah and Sanballat had bribed him, he voiced this prophecy concerning me, 13 that I might act on it out of fear and commit this sin. Then they would have had a shameful story with which to discredit me.

Whenever you rebuild you will meet opposition. Here much like today those in opposition will conspire against you. Nothing seems to change with human nature. Just look at the current events with our own country being rebuilt. According to John Maxwell Commitment is needed before anything else in a leader’s life.

Summary of Nehemiah’s Action[1]

·         When Israel's enemies—Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem again—hear that the wall's been completed, they ask to meet with Nehemiah.
·         Nehemiah sees that they plan to do him harm. No fool, this guy.
·         He refuses, asking why he should take time off from his work to do this.
·         They ask him four times, and he answers in the same way. No dice.
·         The fifth time, they up the ante.
·         The enemies' servant brings a letter saying that they've heard that the Jews intend to rebel against the Empire and that Nehemiah wants to be their king, with the prophets supporting him.
·         Nehemiah knows they're just trying to intimidate him.
·         He tells them that they're making all this stuff up just to scare them away from rebuilding.
·         He still won't meet with them. Talk to the hand.
·         Nehemiah goes to visit a guy named Shemaiah who says (actually, falsely prophesies) that they should go hide in the temple, since men are coming to kill Nehemiah.
·         Nehemiah cleverly sees that Shemaiah's been hired by Sanballat and Tobiah to trick him and make him an object of ridicule.
·         Only priests are allowed in the temple, so obviously he's trying to get our man to break the law.
·         He asks God not to forget what Shemaiah and the wicked prophetess Noadiah and other prophets did to try to trick him.
·         The wall's finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month of Elul, impossibly fast.
·         The surrounding nations are all disheartened and scared by this.
·         They understand that God supports the Jews, since they haven't even been able to get their contractor to return their phone calls.
·         Nehemiah also mentions that some of the nobles were friends with Tobiah, due to his family's intermarrying with Jews.
·         The nobles try to make Tobiah sound good in Nehemiah's presence, while Tobiah sends Nehemiah letters designed to intimidate him.

Four Characteristics of Those Who Complete a Task[2]

Nehemiah drew out others and inspired them to complete the wall in 52 days: despite his adversities. When we complete a good work we can say with Nehemiah, “All our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things…they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God”. Leaders who complete tasks have:

1.      A compelling purpose: They make a great commitment to a great cause.
2.      A clear perspective: They don’t let fear cloud their view of the future.
3.      A continual prayer: They pray about everything and gain God’s favor.
4.      A courageous persistence: They move ahead despite the odds.

Nelson Mandela International Day[3]

Nelson Mandela Day seeks to celebrate the political and social achievements of former South African President Nelson Mandela. Mandela, who spent three decades in prison for his political activism, became the first black president of the Republic of South Africa in 1994. His presidency ended the long-standing apartheid in which whites ruled over blacks and saw the birth of democracy and equality among all citizens. He was also active in combatting poverty, encouraging land reform, expanding health services, supporting education and setting an example of peace, anti-racism and human rights adherence for other nations.

Nelson Mandela International Day was designated by the United Nations and the Nelson Mandela Foundation in 2009. It is celebrated on Mandela's birthday, July 18th, in an effort to recognize the impact of Mandela's values and his contribution to humanity.   Mandela passed away in December of 2013 at the age of 95.

Nelson Mandela International Day Facts & Quotes

·         Nelson Mandela has received several awards including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993, the Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order of St. John and the Order of Merit from the Queen Elizabeth II and the Order of Canada.
·         When Nelson Mandela was born his name was Rolihlalala Mandela, which meant, to pull a branch off a tree and trouble maker. He was given the name Nelson in school when he was seven years old.
·         Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life in prison and ended up spending over 27 years in prison. He was eventually released from prison due to secret talks he had with the president of South Africa at the time, F.W. de Klerk.
·         It is easy to break down and destroy. The heroes are those who make peace and build. - Nelson Mandela
·         We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right. – Nelson Mandela

Things to do

·         Devote 67 minutes of your day to helping others (volunteering, helping mom, cleaning, etc.). For 67 years, Nelson Mandela fought for humanity and on every July 18th, Mandela's birthday, the UN and the NMF ask citizens of the world to devote 67 minutes of time to helping others.
·         Watch one of the movies detailing the life of Nelson Mandela or apartheid. Some suggestions are: Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013), Invictus (2009), and Mandela and de Klerk (1997).
·         Nominate someone or an organization that you think serves every day.  If you think they make a positive change in your community, you can nominate those you think deserve acknowledgement as a Madiba Change Maker by sharing their stories on social media with the hashtag #Time2Serve.
·         Spread awareness by using the hashtags #NelsonMandelaInternationalDay, #MandelaDay and #mandela.
·         Research South African history to gain a better understanding of how the apartheid system came about, what it entailed and learn more about the segregation in the country. Books such as The History of South Africa and South African History shed light on the colonial periods and the beginning of state-run segregation.

Novena of St. Ann[4]

Daily Prayer to Saint Ann

O glorious St. Ann, you are filled with compassion for those who invoke you and with love for those who suffer! Heavily burdened with the weight of my troubles, I cast myself at your feet and humbly beg of you to take the present intention which I recommend to you in your special care.

Please recommend it to your daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and place it before the throne of Jesus, so that He may bring it to a happy issue. Continue to intercede for me until my request is granted. But, above all, obtain for me the grace one day to see my God face to face, and with you and Mary and all the saints to praise and bless Him for all eternity. Amen.

Our Father, . . . Hail Mary . . .

O Jesus, Holy Mary, St. Ann, help me now and at the hour of my death. Good St. Ann, intercede for me.

SECOND DAY

From the depths of my heart, good St. Ann, I offer you my homage this day and ask you to shelter me under the mantle of your motherly care. You know, good mother, how much I love you, how gladly I serve you, how happy I am to praise you, how eager I am to call on you in time of distress.

Good St. Ann be pleased to extend your helping hand in all my wants. Listen to my prayers, for I place my trust in your gracious bounty. Make all my thoughts and desires worthy and righteous.
Jesus, I thank You for all the graces which in Your infinite goodness You have lavished upon St. Ann; for having chosen her, among all women, to be Your grandmother on earth and exalted her in heaven with such great and miraculous powers. In the name of her merits, I humbly recommend myself to Your infinite mercy.

Daily Devotions
·         Drops of Christ’s Blood
·         Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus
·         Make reparations to the Holy Face
·         90 Days for our Nation, Total Consecration-Day 9
·         Spend some time in Eucharistic devotion.



[2]John Maxwell, The Maxwell Leadership Bible, 1982
[4]Blessed Sacrament Fathers, ST. ANN’S SHRINE, Cleveland, Ohio


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