Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Novena To St. Sylvester

St. Sylvester, who obviously shares Sly's name, has his feast day coming up on December 31st.  A friend reminded me of this, and suggested starting a novena (nine days of prayer) in honor of St. Sylvester, asking for Sly's healing.

Don't know anything about St. Sylvester?  That's alright, because neither did I, until I found myself with a son named after him (see explanation of how Sly got his name as well as some info about the Saint in this past post).

Since he is a somewhat obscure Saint, despite having been Pope, it's not easy to find existing prayers to him.  So my friend Karla kindly wrote one herself for our purposes:


Novena to St. Sylvester for Baby Sly
pray once daily December 22nd to December 30th (the vigil of St. Sylvester's feast)

(sign of the cross)
O admirable St. Sylvester, you lived through the persecutions of Diocletian and not only survived but flourished. Intercede for your namesake Sly and lay before the throne of Jesus our prayers for his recovery.

Heavenly Father, Almighty God, you chose St. Sylvester to be your pope, who would guide your Church into an era of peace. Through his intercession, kindly grant our petition that baby Sly will safely pass through this time of suffering and be completely restored to health.

Pater noster. Ave Maria. Gloria Patri. [Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be.]

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
St. Sylvester, pray for us.

(sign of the cross)


Tom and I will be praying this prayer over the next nine days.  If anyone would like to join the novena, or pray in your own way, we would all appreciate it.

Can't wait to see my little man happy again







21 comments:

  1. Wishing for full and quick recovery for you and Sly. Y'all have been on my mind.

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  2. We will be joining you. Hoping to stop by the hospital sometime tomorrow, if that is okay (if not just let us know--I'll send you a text later today when my phone isn't dead). God bless.

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  3. my prayers are with you and your family

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  4. Glad that you like the prayer. I've always liked composing them, so I was happy to have an opportunity to do so. Let me know if there's anything else I can do. :)
    http://dustthouart.livejournal.com is my actual blog (for some reason it's not letting me log in)

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  5. Gladly will join in this novena for your little Sly. Thinking of you and praying for your family. Many blessings,
    Christina

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  6. That link should be like this: Dust Thou Art
    --Karla, your sometimes technically challenged friend

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  7. Joining! I will GLADLY pray this novena for your little one!

    God be with you all in this difficult time.

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  8. I just printed off copies of the Novena so B and I and our 6 children can pray the novena.

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  9. Definitely will pray the Novena for Sly. Prayers also to you and your husband. I also tweeted this page to my followers and gave another update in my reflection for today: http://cinhosa.wordpress.com/2011/12/21/one-baptist-leaping/

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  10. Sending you prayers from Los Angeles.

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  11. Wishing Sly a full and speedy recovery. Please contact me through my blog if you'd like me to send you some free Barefoot Books for Sly.
    I wish you could post updates...I keep thinking about the both of you!
    Blessings,
    Liz

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  12. I don't know you all, but my sister-in-law forwarded the first post about Sly. My heart hurts for what you all have suffered, and my prayers for miraculous healing are intense. May God restore every cell of his body. May he continue to have a blessed, wonderful life! God bless you all! A couple of weeks ago, we had a scare which has kept me from blogging, just because I've been too busy trying to figure it out! Our 5-yr-old daughter's blood sugar was spiking high, and we learned she may be diabetic. Doctors were worried she was in ketoacidosis. Anyway, our pastor and elders lay hands on her and we all prayed, after pastor anointed her temples with oil, and so far, whatever happened/happens in her body, it is not as terrible as we originally feared. At least not yet. God can perform mercies. I know He can and often does. My prayer, if He chooses not to heal Wendy's issue, is that it become a part of her testimony in Christ. I know God loves you all. Never doubt that. He is with you now.

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  13. You will see him well and smiling before you know it. Keeping him (and your family!) in my thoughts and prayers.

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  14. We'll be joining you in the novena. Can't wait to hear that Sly is all better.
    Love and Prayers,
    Aunt Kathy

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  15. Our family will be praying with you!

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  16. I've been praying with y'all. I'm so sorry you can't blog about it. That would make me insane. Our hearts are with you all.

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  17. A friend of mine told me about your blog and all that has happened. Please know you have my prayers and I will join you in saying the novena. I am a fellow Catholic mama with a little boy around the same age as yours...and as we mama of toddler boys know, they are so resilient! Many, many prayers for you and your little one.

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  18. Praying this too. I'll be leaving for my hour at Adoration in a bit and will say the first day then. Praying, praying, praying for him!!

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  19. Such a sweet little boy! Cheers to HEALING!

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  20. It is Christmas eve.... day three of the novena for Sly

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