On Separation by Rumi

We know separation so well because we've tasted the union. The reed flute

makes music because it has already experienced changing mud and rain and light into sugarcane. Longing becomes more poignant if in the distance you can't tell whether your friend is going away or coming back. The pushing away pulls you in.

the Guest House

This being human is a guest house.

Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,

some momentary awareness comes

as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,

who violently sweep your house

empty of its furniture,

still, treat each guest honorably.

He may be clearing you out

for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,

meet them at the door laughing,

and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,

because each has been sent 

as a guide from beyond.

~Rumi

Day 9

Thank you St. Jude for listening to my prayers in my time of need this past month. I do not understand all that has happened, but I thank you for giving me loving friends to help me. I still have hope my petition will be granted. Thank you. And, I promise to publish my thanks and your prayer.

St. Jude, glorious apostle, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the name of the traitor has caused you to be forgotten by many. But the Church honors and invokes you universally as the patron of hopeless cases and of things despaired of. Pray for me who am so distressed. Make use, I implore you of that particular privilege accorded you to bring visible and speedy help where help was almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and succor of Heaven in all my necessities, tribulations and sufferings, particularly (mention your request) and that I may bless God with you and all the elect throughout eternity. St. Jude, apostle, martyr, and relative of our Lord Jesus Christ, of Mary and of Joseph, intercede for us!

Amean

Day 8

Not much has happened this week in regards to my petition. I am still sad, but the depression has abated some...I feel flat. No crying, though. I know I am supposed to accept God's will, but it is hard. On top of everything, it is the holiday season which makes things worse. I want to be grateful for the comforts I have, but it's all so depressing I just go home from work and sleep...it's really the only way I can find peace. Nothing makes sense. I'm tired and tired of being hurt.

To be said when problems arise or when one seems to be deprived of all available help, or for cases almost despaired of.

Most holy apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of hopeless cases, of things almost despaired of. Pray for me. I am so helpless and alone. Make use I implore you, of that particular privilege given to you, to bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly (here make your request) and that I may praise God with you and all the elect forever. I promise, O’ blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor, to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you Amen.

Novena Prayer must be said nine times each day for nine consecutive days leaving nine copies in Church each day. Prayer will be answered on or before the ninth day and has never been known to fail.

Day 7

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised, blessed, loved, adored and glorified

Throughout the whole world now and forever. Amen.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us

St. Jude, worker of miracles, helper for the helpless, pray for us.

Thank you St. Jude and God for listening to my prayers and helping me through a difficult time.

Day 6

Holy Saint Jude, Apostle and Martyr

Great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ

Faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need

To you I have recourse from the depths of my heart

And humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance

Help me in my present and urgent petition

In return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked

Saint Jude Pray for us and all who invoke you aid. Amen

(follow this with 3 Our Father's, 3 Hail Mary's and 3 Glory Be's)

Day 5

My demeanor has taken on a sort of low apathy, and others notice. Not the best for my job, but what can I do? Well, pray is what I seem to be doing all day.

Saint Jude, we have problems in our relationship. Beg Almighty God to give us the light to see ourselves and each otgher as we really are. Help us to grow daily in self knowledge and mutual respect while at the same time developing our potential to love and be loved. Help us, Saint Jude to seek and root out every manifestation of selfishness, vanity and childish self seeking - those hidden enemies of love and maturity. Show us that by learning to love and being filled with love, we now complement and nurture each other as we share our lives together. Amen.

O Saint Jude, apostle and companion of Christ Jesus you have shown us be example how to live a life of zeal and devotion. We humbly entreat you today to hear our prayers and petitions. Especially do we ask you to obtain for us the following favor (mention favor). Grant that in praying for present and future favors we may not forget the innumerable ones granted in the past but often return to give thanks. Humbly we resign ourselves to God's holy will, knowing that he alone knows what is best for us especially in our present needs and necessities. Amen.

St. Jude pray for us

My Jesus mercy

Day 4

As I surf the net I find more and more varieties of the St. Jude prayer. Some say to leave copies in church but others say that it really doesn't matter, the point is to open up a prayer dialog with God/St. Jude (Universe) and open your heart. The promise is to publish your thanks at the end of the novena. I am doing a bit better, but still sleeping a lot (though at least I'm sleeping better at night)...still negative thoughts going around and around, but that should be expected. Need to contact a therapist, I guess. Need to do Art, walk dogs and yoga. Especially given my birthday and holidays coming up. In the end, I feel so stupid...I STILL HAVE HOPE THIS RELATIONSHIP WILL SOMEHOW WORK OUT...but all the signs point to a person with problems. How could I have been so stupid, yet again? Two heartaches in 7 months. No wonder I'm depressed.

To be said when problems arise or when one seems to be deprived of all available help, or for cases almost despaired of.

Most holy apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of hopeless cases, of things almost despaired of. Pray for me. I am so helpless and alone. Make use I implore you, of that particular privilege given to you, to bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly (here make your request) and that I may praise God with you and all the elect forever. I promise, O’ blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor, to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you Amen.

Novena Prayer must be said nine times each day for nine consecutive days leaving nine copies in Church each day. Prayer will be answered on or before the ninth day and has never been known to fail.

Day 3

One day at a time. Energy is very low. Definitely depressed. Anxious about the unfinished business. It's also Sunday, and back to work tomorrow. Not looking forward to that, but maybe it will help. Who knows. Nothing seems to help. I force myself and may feel ok, not good, but not depressed, for a bit, but then that sinking feeling. Please St. Jude, help me and those who need your help.

St. Jude, glorious apostle, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the name of the traitor has caused you to be forgotten by many. But the Church honors and invokes you universally as the patron of difficult and desperate cases. Pray for me who am so miserable. Make use, I implore you, of that particular privilege accorded to you to bring visible and speedy help where help was almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations and sufferings particularly (here make your request) and that I may praise God with you and all the elect throughout all eternity.

I promise you, o blessed Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor. I will honor you as my special and powerful patron and encourage devotion to you.

St. Jude pray for us and for all who honor and invoke thy aid.

Day 2

Yesterday was a horrible day. Enough said. Better today.

Left 9 copies of this prayer in church today. I don't know if I should feel silly or what. The first 9 day novena I did didn't work to my exact specifications.

Novena to the Most Sacred Heart of St. Jude

May the most Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised, blessed, loved, adored, and glorified

Throughout the world now and forever. Amen

Most sacred heart of Jesus pray for us

St. Jude, worker of miracles, helper for the helpless, pray for us.

say 9 times a day for 9 days. Prayer will be answered by the 8th day. it never failed.

Thank you very much most Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. Jude for the favor granted (even though I can't see it yet)

Thank you Sacred Heart of Jesus and immaculate heart of Mary

Thank you Holy Spirit

Day 1

I left 9 copies of this novena at St Jude's shrine today:

May the most sacred heart of Jesus be praised, blessed, loved, adored, and glorified

throughout the whole world now and forever. Amen.

Most sacred heart of Jesus, pray for us.

St Jude, worker of miracles, helper for the helpless, pray for us.

say 9 times a day for 9 days. prayer will be answered by the 8th day. it never failed.

Thank you very much most sacred heart of Jesus and St. Jude for favor granted.

Thank you Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate heart of Mary.

Thank you Holy Spirit.

Thank you again, St. Jude

Well, I've decided to do another 9 day novena but this time I'm going to incorporate going to the St. Jude shrine everyday. It gives me a sense of peace to light a candle and I can leave my novena there and maybe it can help someone else.

My prayer was not answered, btw. So, I can only trust that St. Jude, God, the Universe is working behind the scenes on my behalf so I can find joy again. I had the worst Thanksgiving ever and spiraled into a pretty bad depression marked with no sleep, anxiety, fear and really negative thoughts. I woke up crying and I couldn't stop. Two dear friends called me to check on me and urged me to go to the hospital. I didn't want to go, but I did, crying the whole time. The psychiatric nurse was very kind to me and was able to adjust some medications to help me feel better while I work through this difficult time. So, I guess St. Jude sends angels when he can...who knows?

I don't know what to ask for with this novena...the same thing? peace? for the hurt to go away? lots of money? maybe all of the above. I am so sad and hopeless.

So, while I am disappointed I did not get what I wanted I am thankful for these prayers to St. Jude as I know they will work, one way or another.

Thank you Saint Jude

Well, my prayer has not been answered exactly...but I am trusting that St. Jude/God/the Universe is working on my behalf behind the scenes. I have read that sometimes things take longer than 9 days. I had a good day yesterday, until last night. This morning, the depression is still there and a sense of hopelessness.

Today is thanksgiving and I want to be grateful for all I have...my son, my health, my job, my family, a home, animals, friends. It will be a tough day, spent alone. I have lost about 10 pounds these past few weeks, so that is one bonus of depression. It's just that this sadness is not my natural state, I don't know what to do with it. I guess just feel it, and move on.

The day is still ahead of me, so maybe there will be an answer to my prayer but I am grateful to st. Jude anyway for giving me a place to 'go' and to help stop the spinning.

St. Jude Novena: Day 9

O holy Saint Jude, apostle and martyr, grant that we may so dispose our lives that we may always be pleasing to God. In working out our salvation in this life we have many needs and necessities. Today we turn to you, asking you to intercede for us and obtain for us the favors we ask of God. Especially do we petition for (mention your request). May we not so much seek temporal good but rather what will avail our souls therefore, may we incline ourselves toward the divine will, seeing God's good and gracious purpose in all our trials. Amen.

St. Jude pray for us

My Jesus Mercy

Prayer for relationships:

St. Jude, we are having problems in our relationship. Beg Almighty God to give us the light to see ourselves and each other as we really are. Help us to grow daily in self-knowledge and mutual respect while at the same time developing our potential to love and be loved. Help us, St. Jude, to seek and root out every manifestation of selfishness, vanity and childish self seeking...those hidden enemies of love and maturity. Show us that by learning to love and being filled with love we now complement and nurture each other as we share our lives together.

St. Jude Novena: Day 8

I woke up with some energy and cleaned my closet. That led me to clean my room and now I am on to the kitchen. Then art. Then yoga. I have an enormous amount of hope in me today but I don't really trust hope much...a therapist once said, "Hope is the hook..." Sometimes I think it keeps you stuck. I'm not doing a dang thing for Thanksgiving but I will be giving thanks. I need to get into nature somehow. My dogs have been neglected. I still have the hurt but I guess this is where trust and faith come in, huh? I heard some terrible news about an acquaintance yesterday who is dying...10 brain tumors...any day she will be dead leaving behind two little girls and a loving husband. This life makes no sense sometimes. I feel guilty praying for my relationship to work out but, if anything, her dying makes me want to grasp life and love even more. I pray for both.

One thing doing this novena and blog has given me is some rest, peace and time for myself...something I have not had since school started. I need that time to reflect and as winter approaches, we go within. I thank St. Jude, the Universe, my family and dear friends for being there for me during my darkest times. I only hope I've made a difference in their lives or others. One thing I know, it was never a mistake to love with an open heart.

O Holy Saint Jude, apostle of Christ, pray that we may ever imitate the Divine Master and live according to His will. May we cooperate with the grace of God and ever remain pleasing in His sight. Especially do we ask you to plead for us and obtain whatsoever is necessary for our salvation. Forget not our special petitions. (mention request) May we always be thankful to God for the blessings we have received in the past. Whatsoever we ask for the present or future, we submit to the divine will, realizing that God knows best what is good for us. We know He will respond to our prayers and petitions in one way or another. Amen.

I will strive to be more understanding of the things that do not go as expected today. I need You near me God to remind me that mistakes are made, but life goes on when I look to You for guidance. Amen.

I will reach out to others today, God, as I have been taught I ought to do May I give comfort to someone who is in need. Amen.

Thank You St Jude

Thank you, Saint Jude, for past intentions granted. Thank you, for helping me in my times of need...giving me a place to go to seek refuge from pain and confusion. I am trying to have faith and trust that everything is happening as it should. Thank you for listening to my prayers and honoring my intention. I trust in your ability to give miracles. I promise to publish your prayer and give thanks so others may learn of you and seek your guidance.

Please help others who are also suffering, who may  not know to turn to you or have anyone to love and guide them.

Pray for all of us lost souls so we may find our rightful path.

St. Jude Novena: Day 7

What use is a broken heart? They say it gets stronger in the broken places...well, mine should be made of granite as I've put it back together so many times. I need to pray for acceptance of the situation if things don't turn out as I hope, but that is hard. I feel apathy. Trying to find the energy to make it through the day. I was so happy...I cannot recall a time in my life where I felt so happy, so full of joy I just wanted to make everyone else happy...that things in my life were finally coming together on many levels. What happened? I have nothing left to give. I know, I know, this, too, shall pass.

Holy Saint Jude, Apostle and Martyr,

great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ,

faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need

To you I have recourse from the depths of my heart

and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance.

Help me in my present and urgent petition,

in return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked.

Sait Jude pray for us and all who invoke your aid. Amen.

Unconditional

I've had this poem stuck on my refridgerator for at least 10 years. I found it in my weekly horoscope by Free Will Astrology that is printed online with SF Weekly, of all places. It is by psychotherapist Jennifer Welwood.


"Willing to experience aloneness,
I discover connection everywhere;
Turning to face my fear,
I meet the warrior who lives within;
Opening to my loss,
I gain the embrace of the Universe;
Surrendering into emptiness,
I find fullness without end.

Each condition I flee from pursues me,
Each condition I welcome transforms me..."

St. Jude Novena: Day 6

Well, had a crappy weekend. Friday was fine and had a good time at the movies with friends, but ended up in bed Sat and Sun. At least no drinking or drugs, just my good friend depression. I woke up at 4am and cleaned some of the house so my son doesn't have to live in a pig stye. Will go to work and go through the motions. I really hope I can force myself to do some sort of art today. It doesn't help that the holidays are upon us. I was so looking forward to them; Thanksgiving, my birthday, Hawaii, Xmas with my cousin, hopefully some dog training clients...Now I just want to get through it. I try not to think about it. I've lost 5-6 pounds and that is one good thing. Now, art and yoga and dog walks....if I can only force myself to do these things then I think I will heal faster.

St. Jude, glorious apostle, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the name of the traitor has caused you to be forgotten by many. But the Church honors and invokes you universally as the patron of hopeless cases and of things despaired of. Pray for me, who am so miserable. Make use, I implore you of that particular privilege accorded to you to bring visible and speedy help where help was almost despaired. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and succor of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations and sufferings, particularly (here make your request) and that I may bless God with you and all the elect throughout all eternity.

I promise you, O blessed Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor and I will never cease to honor you as my special and powerful patron and do all in my power to encourage devotion to you. Amen.

St. Jude, pray for us and for all who honor and invoke thy aid.

St. Jude Novena: Day 5

I try to have faith that if my intention is not granted exactly, that the Universe (God) knows best. But this is very hard, very hard. I am still depressed and want to just sleep so I don't have to face the pain of the day. I have no energy to do the things I used to love doing, let alone the things I have to do (like, clean my house! a clean house helps clear the mind and soul). So, my goals for today is to help someone is some way, to may a difference in someone else's difficult time AND to clean my house. But, I won't beat myself up if I can't achieve this things. I have no energy but hopefully I will find some.

O Holy St. Jude, apostle and companion of Christ Jesus, you have shown us by example how to live a life of zeal and devotion. I humbly entreat you today to hear my prayer and petitions. Especially do I ask you to obtain for us the following favor (mention your request). Grant that in praying for present and future favors I may not forget the innumerable ones granted in the past but often return to give thanks. Humbly I resign myself to God's holy will, knowing that he alone knows what is best for us especially in my present needs and necessities. Amen.

St. Jude, pray for us.

My Jesus, mercy

St. Jude Novena: Day 4

I am still depressed and ended up sleeping all day today. I hope tomorrow I can start clearing some clutter and cleaning my space to make room for the light and good things the Universe wants me (all of us, really) to have. I know all of this is part of the grieving process, but, with the holidays approaching (never a good time for me...the darkness and all), it is just...well...hard. I need to do one good thing to help someone else today. So many others have helped me. I will report back tomorrow.

Here is my St. Jude prayer for today.

Saint Blessed Jude, you were called to be one of Christ's chosen apostels and labored to bring men to a knowledge and love of God; listen with compasson to those gathered together to honor you and ask your intercession. In this troubled world of ours we have may trials, difficulties and temptations. Plead for us in the heavenly court, asking that our petitions may be answered, especially the particular one we have in mind at the moment (mention your request). May it please God to answer our prayers in the way that he knows best, giving us grace to see his purpose in all things. Amen.

St. Jude, pray for us.

My Jesus, mercy.

St. Jude Novena: Day 3

Sadness still prevails my day. I have to use a medication to calm me down so I can sleep and meditate to stop the bad thoughts. I feel sad, disappointed, shocked, hurt beyond belief, confused, angry, disillusioned but, despite all this, I still have a ray of hope this relationship will somehow work out...it was so full of love, light and joy. I don't know what happened. BUT, I have to trust the Universe is working for the goodness of all involved...I still have hope my relationship with the love of my life will miraculously work out...it just sucks right now. I am blessed with a good job, supportive friends and a loving family. I need to reach into the depths of my being to bring forward my creative energies that have always helped me through these dark nights of the soul. I need to help others. Towards this end, I started this blog to spread the word of St. Jude's miracles...I have been praying to him via Novenas for over 25 years...granted, I have been lapse for at least 10 years, though maintain a spiritually loose practice of reverence for all life. While I no longer consider myself Catholic, I do hold a special place for St. Jude in my life.

Here is another prayer you may try during your 9 day novena. Follow it with 3 Our Fathers, 3 Hail Mary's and 3 Glory Be's.

I hope you find peace and happiness and overcome the pain of your inquiry. I will post at the end of the novena if my prayers have been answered. I know that not all prayers are answered exactly as we have hoped, but we are given something that is better.

Prayer to St. Jude Thaddeus
St. Jude, glorious apostle, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the name of the traiter has caused you to be forgotten by many. But the church honors and invokes you universally as the patron of of difficult and desperate cases. Pray for me, who am so miserable. Make use , I implore you, of that particular privilege accorded to you to bring visible and speedy help where help was almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations and sufferings, particularly (here make your request)- and that I may praise God with you and all the elect through out all eternity.

I promise you, O blessed JUDE, to be ever mindful of this great favor. I will honor you as my special and powerful patron and encourage devotion to you.

St. Jude, pray for us and for all who honor and invoke thy aid.

Thank you St. Jude, for listening to my prayers.

Novena to Saint Jude: Day 2

Holy St. Jude, Apostel and Martyr,
great virture and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus
Christ,
faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need.
To you I have recourse from the depths of my heart
and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance
Help me in my present and urgent petition,
in return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked.
Saint Jude pray for us and all who invoke your aid. Amen.

Say this prayer each day, for 9 days. Follow this with 3 Our Father's, 3 Hail Mary's and 3 Glory Be's. You must promise to publish your prayer/message of thanks with the intention of spreading the word of St. Jude and his mercy and help.

**************************************
Our Father
Our Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary
Hail Mary
Full of grace
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and belssed is the fruit
of they womb, Jesus,
Holy Mary
Mother of God
Pray for us sinners now
and at the hour of our death.
Amen

Glory Be
Glory be to the FAther,
the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now,
and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen

St. Jude Novena: Day 1

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus
be adored, glorified, loved and
preserved thorught the world,
now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us.
St. Jude, worker of miracles, pray for us.

Say this never fail novena 9 times a day for 9 days. It has never been known to fail in granted a request.

Blessed Be