|
|
|
Catholic Prayers &
Devotions
Novena to Find
Employment |
|
|
|
Opening Prayer
(Pray everyday)
O God, through human work
you continually perfect and direct the immense work of
creation. Listen to the prayers of your people, and grant to
everyone employment that ennobles and elevates. Thus, more
united with each other, we can serve our brothers and sisters
through our work. Through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in
the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.
Closing Prayer
(Pray everyday)
Thank you, Lord, for this
time of prayer for our loved ones and for ourselves. We are
certain that with your grace we will not remain without
dignified work. By participating in your creation, we will
build up your kingdom here on earth, a true society of
brothers and sisters, united together as your children.
Through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in the unity of the
Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.
Day 1:
We Are the Work of God
Day 2:
God is our Companion in Work
Day 3:
God Desires that We Work for the Glory of God
Day 4:
God Desires Us to Live Balanced Lives
Day 5:
God Desires that our Work Uplift Others
Day 6:
Our Work Builds Up God’s World
Day 7:
Our Work Fulfills the Plan of God
Day 8:
Let Us Unite Our Work to the Wondrous Work of God
Day 9:
Let Us Hand Over to God Our Work and Our Burdens
|
|
We Are the Work of God
(Pray First Day)
Opening prayer (above)
For meditation:
In the beginning when God
created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless
void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind
from God swept over the face of the waters. God saw
everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good . .
. (Genesis 1:1-2,31)
Yet, O Lord, you are our
Father; we are the clay and you are our potter, we are all the
work of your hand. (Isaiah 64:8)
In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was
in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be. (John 1:1-3)
To recall throughout
the day
“But first seek the
Kingdom and the will of God and all those things will be given
to you also.” (Matthew 6:33)
Closing Prayer (above)
|
|
God is our Companion in Work
(Second Day)
Opening prayer (above)
For meditation:
“I am the vine, you are
the branches. Whoever abides in me, and I in him, he it is
who bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
(John 15:5)
If it is not the Lord who
builds a house, its builders strain at it to no purpose. If
is it not the Lord who guards a city, guards keep watch to no
purpose. (Psalm 127:1)
When he finished speaking
he said to Simon, “Put out to deep and lower your nets for a
catch.” In response Simon said, “We have been at it all
night, working hard, and have caught nothing, but at your word
I will lower the nets.” And when they did this they took in a
tremendous number of fish, but their nets began to rip.
(Luke 5:4-6)
To recall throughout
the day
“But first seek the
Kingdom and the will of God and all those things will be given
to you also.” (Matthew 6:33)
Closing Prayer (above)
|
|
God Desires that We Work for the Glory of God
(Third Day)
Opening prayer (above)
For meditation:
“Let your light so shine
before others that they will see your good works and glorify
your Father in Heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
Whether you eat or drink
or whether you do not, do everything for the glory of God.
(1 Corinthians 10:31)
Whatever you do, let it be
from the heart, as if you were working for the Lord rather
than for men, in the knowledge that as your reward you will
receive an inheritance from the Lord. Serve Christ the Lord.
(Colossians 3:23-24)
To recall throughout
the day
“But first seek the
Kingdom and the will of God and all those things will be given
to you also.” (Matthew 6:33)
Closing Prayer (above)
|
|
God Desires Us to Live Balanced Lives
(Fourth Day)
Opening prayer (above)
For meditation:
For everything these is a
season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to
be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to
pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep,
and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a
time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones
together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from
embracing; . . . a time to keep silence, and a time to speak .
. . (Ecclesiastes 3:1-5,7)
Six days you shall labor
and do all your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the
Lord your God; you shall not do any work . . . (Exodus
20:9-10)
To recall throughout
the day
“But first seek the
Kingdom and the will of God and all those things will be given
to you also.” (Matthew 6:33)
Closing Prayer (above)
|
|
God Desires that our Work Uplift Others
(Fifth Day)
Opening prayer (above)
For meditation:
“Whoever obeys and teaches
the commandments, he shall be called great in the Kingdom of
heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-5,7)
Whatever you do, whether
in word or deed, do it all in the name of Jesus the Lord, and
give thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians
3:17)
Be a model of good works
in every respect; in your teaching demonstrate integrity,
seriousness, and sound speech which is beyond reproach.
(Titus 2:7-8)
To recall throughout
the day
“But first seek the
Kingdom and the will of God and all those things will be given
to you also.” (Matthew 6:33)
Closing Prayer (above)
|
|
Our Work Builds Up God’s World
(Pray Sixth Day)
Opening prayer (above)
For meditation:
So too is the smith,
sitting by the anvil, intent on his iron-work; the breath of
the fire melts his flesh, and he struggles with the heat of
the furnace; the sound of the hammer deafens his ears, and his
eyes are on the pattern of the object. He sets his heart on
finishing his handiwork, and he is careful to complete its
decoration. All these [workers] rely on their hands, and all
are skillful in their own work. Without them no city can be
inhabited, and wherever they live, they will not go hungry . .
. they cannot expound discipline or judgment, and they are not
found among the rulers. But they maintain the fabric of the
world, and their concern is for the exercise of their trade.
(Sirach 38:28, 31-34)
To recall throughout
the day
“But first seek the
Kingdom and the will of God and all those things will be given
to you also.” (Matthew 6:33)
Closing Prayer (above)
|
|
Our Work Fulfills the Plan of God
(Seventh Day)
Opening prayer (above)
For meditation:
May your plans be
disclosed to your servants and your majesty be upon their
children; and may the grace of the Lord our God be upon us.
For our sake, then, further the work of our hands for us; yes,
further the work of our hands. (Psalm 90:16-17)
Render service with
enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not to men and women, knowing
that whatever good we do, we will receive the same for the
Lord. (Ephesians 6:7)
To recall throughout
the day
“But first seek the
Kingdom and the will of God and all those things will be given
to you also.” (Matthew 6:33)
Closing Prayer (above)
|
|
Let Us Unite Our Work to the Wondrous Work of
God
(Eighth Day)
Opening prayer (above)
For meditation:
When I look at your
heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that
you have established, what are human beings that you are
mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? (Psalm
8:3-4)
Praise the Lord! Great
are the works of the Lord, Studied by all who delight in
them. Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his
righteousness endures forever. (Psalm 111:1,2-3)
To recall throughout
the day
“But first seek the
Kingdom and the will of God and all those things will be given
to you also.” (Matthew 6:33)
Closing Prayer (above)
|
|
Let Us Hand Over to God Our Work and Our
Burdens
(Ninth Day)
Opening prayer (above)
For meditation:
I relieved your shoulder
of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket. In
distress you called, and I rescued you; I answered you in the
secret place of thunder. (Psalm 81:6-7)
“Come to me, all you grown
weary and burdened, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon
you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble hearted, and
you will find rest for your souls; for my yoke is easy, and my
burden light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
To recall throughout
the day
“But first seek the
Kingdom and the will of God and all those things will be given
to you also.” (Matthew 6:33)
Closing Prayer (above)
|
|
|
|