Novena: a Journey Toward Holiness Celebrating Black Catholic History

Novena: A Journey Toward Holiness Celebrating Black Catholic History

In order to move forward, we must look backwards. [Sankofa]

Saturday, October 24 – Sunday, November 1

From the West African proverb comes the word Sankofa, which means 'Go back and get it. ' The symbol of Sankofa is a bird moving forward but with its head turned backwards, in effect going forward yet remaining conscious of the past and the wisdom contained there.

Visually and symbolically, “Sankofa” is expressed as a mythic bird that flies forward while looking backward with an egg (symbolizing the future) in its mouth. This ties with our motto: “In order to understand our present and ensure our future, we must know our past.”

Saturday, October 24, 2020 – Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Novena: A Journey Toward Holiness Celebrating Black Catholic History This Novena Prayer Is For Private Use Only – Office of African American Pastoral Ministries – Archdiocese of Cincinnati

In order to move forward, we must look backwards. [Sankofa]

From the proverb comes the word Sankofa, which means 'Go back and get it. ' The symbol of Sankofa is a bird moving forward but with its head turned backwards, in effect going forward yet remaining conscious of the past and the wisdom contained there.

Silent Prayer

Confiteor I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; Therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God. Psalm 122 – Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Ephesians 4: 7 – 16

This Novena Prayer Is For Private Use Only – Office of African American Pastoral Ministries – Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Brothers and sisters: Grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore, it says: He ascended on high and took prisoners captive; he gave gifts to men. What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended into the lower regions of the earth? The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood to the extent of the full stature of Christ, so that we may no longer be infants, tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching arising from human trickery, from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming.

Rather, living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole Body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning of each part, brings about the Body’s growth and builds itself up in love.

Prayer: O my God, I love You above all things with my whole heart and soul, because You are good and worthy of all love.

This Novena Prayer Is For Private Use Only – Office of African American Pastoral Ministries – Archdiocese of Cincinnati

I love my neighbor as myself for love of You. I forgive all who have injured me, and I ask pardon for all whom I have injured.

Sunday, October 25, 2020 – Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Novena: A Journey Toward Holiness Celebrating Black Catholic History

In order to move forward, we must look backwards. [Sankofa]

From the proverb comes the word Sankofa, which means 'Go back and get it. ' The symbol of Sankofa is a bird moving forward but with its head turned backwards, in effect going

This Novena Prayer Is For Private Use Only – Office of African American Pastoral Ministries – Archdiocese of Cincinnati forward yet remaining conscious of the past and the wisdom contained there.

Silent Prayer

Exodus 22: 20 - 26

Thus says the LORD: "You shall not molest or oppress an alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt. You shall not wrong any widow or orphan. If ever

This Novena Prayer Is For Private Use Only – Office of African American Pastoral Ministries – Archdiocese of Cincinnati you wrong them and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry. My wrath will flare up, and I will kill you with the sword; then your own wives will be widows, and your children orphans. "If you lend money to one of your poor neighbors among my people, you shall not act like an extortioner toward him by demanding interest from him. If you take your neighbor's cloak as a pledge, you shall return it to him before sunset; for this cloak of his is the only covering he has for his body. What else has he to sleep in? If he cries out to me, I will hear him; for I am compassionate." Prayer: O my God, I love You above all things with my whole heart and soul, because You are good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for love of You. I forgive all who have injured me, and I ask pardon for all whom I have injured.

Monday, October 26, 2020 – Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Novena: A Journey Toward Holiness Celebrating Black Catholic History

In order to move forward, we must look backwards. [Sankofa]

Visually and symbolically, “Sankofa” is expressed as a mythic bird that flies forward while looking backward with an egg This Novena Prayer Is For Private Use Only – Office of African American Pastoral Ministries – Archdiocese of Cincinnati

(symbolizing the future) in its mouth. This ties with our motto: “In order to understand our present and ensure our future, we must know our past.”

Silent Prayer

Psalm 1 – Behave like God as his very dear children.

Ephesians 4: 32 – 5: 8

Brothers and sisters: Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones, no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving. This Novena Prayer Is For Private Use Only – Office of African American Pastoral Ministries – Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. So do not be associated with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.

Prayer: O my God, I love You above all things with my whole heart and soul, because You are good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for love of You. I forgive all who have injured me, and I ask pardon for all whom I have injured.

This Novena Prayer Is For Private Use Only – Office of African American Pastoral Ministries – Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Tuesday, October 27, 2020 – Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Novena: A Journey Toward Holiness Celebrating Black Catholic History

In order to move forward, we must look backwards. [Sankofa]

Silent Prayer

This Novena Prayer Is For Private Use Only – Office of African American Pastoral Ministries – Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God. Psalm 128 – Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Luke 13: 18 - 21

Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and the birds of the sky dwelt in its ranches.” Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”

Wednesday, October 28, 2020 – Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles This Novena Prayer Is For Private Use Only – Office of African American Pastoral Ministries – Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Novena: A Journey Toward Holiness Celebrating Black Catholic History

In order to move forward, we must look backwards. [Sankofa]

Silent Prayer

Confiteor I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; Therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God. Psalm 128 – Their message goes out through all the earth.

Ephesians 2: 19- 22

This Novena Prayer Is For Private Use Only – Office of African American Pastoral Ministries – Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Brothers and sisters: You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Prayer: O my God, I love You above all things with my whole heart and soul, because You are good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for love of You. I forgive all who have injured me, and I ask pardon for all whom I have injured.

Thursday, October 29, 2020 – Thirtieth Week In Ordinary Time

Novena: A Journey Toward Holiness Celebrating Black Catholic History

In order to move forward, we must look backwards. [Sankofa] This Novena Prayer Is For Private Use Only – Office of African American Pastoral Ministries – Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Silent Prayer

Luke 13: 31 - 35

Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.” He replied, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform This Novena Prayer Is For Private Use Only – Office of African American Pastoral Ministries – Archdiocese of Cincinnati healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose. Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.’ “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling! Behold, your house will be abandoned. But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Friday, October 30, 2020 – Thirtieth Week In Ordinary Time

Novena: A Journey Toward Holiness Celebrating Black Catholic History

In order to move forward, we must look backwards. [Sankofa]

This Novena Prayer Is For Private Use Only – Office of African American Pastoral Ministries – Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Silent Prayer

Luke 14: 1 - 6

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy. Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking, “Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?” But they kept silent; so he took the man and, after he had healed him, dismissed him. Then he said to them “Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?” But they were unable to answer his question.

This Novena Prayer Is For Private Use Only – Office of African American Pastoral Ministries – Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Saturday, October 31, 2020 – Thirtieth Week In Ordinary Time

Novena: A Journey Toward Holiness Celebrating Black Catholic History

In order to move forward, we must look backwards. [Sankofa]

Silent Prayer

This Novena Prayer Is For Private Use Only – Office of African American Pastoral Ministries – Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Psalm 42 – My soul is thirsting for the living God.

Luke 14: 1, 7 - 11

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. This Novena Prayer Is For Private Use Only – Office of African American Pastoral Ministries – Archdiocese of Cincinnati

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Prayer: O my God, I love You above all things with my whole heart and soul, because You are good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for love of You. I forgive all who have injured me, and I ask pardon for all whom I have injured.

Sunday, November 1, 2020 – Solemnity of All Saints

This Novena Prayer Is For Private Use Only – Office of African American Pastoral Ministries – Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Novena: A Journey Toward Holiness Celebrating Black Catholic History

In order to move forward, we must look backwards. [Sankofa]

Silent Prayer

Confiteor I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God. Psalm 24 – Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Revelation 7: 2 – 4, 9 - 14

This Novena Prayer Is For Private Use Only – Office of African American Pastoral Ministries – Archdiocese of Cincinnati

I, John, saw another angel come up from the East, holding the seal of the living God. He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who were given power to damage the land and the sea, “Do not damage the land or the sea or the trees until we put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” I heard the number of those who had been marked with the seal, one hundred and forty-four thousand marked from every tribe of the children of Israel. After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb.” All the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They prostrated themselves before the throne, worshiped God, and exclaimed: “Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor, power, and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen." Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me, “Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?” I said to him, “My lord, you are the one who knows.” He said to me, “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.” This Novena Prayer Is For Private Use Only – Office of African American Pastoral Ministries – Archdiocese of Cincinnati

This Novena Prayer Is For Private Use Only – Office of African American Pastoral Ministries – Archdiocese of Cincinnati