7 Quick Takes {No. 14} & St. Gianna Novena {Day 6}

{1}

We are celebrating around here this week, friends! Why, you ask? Because on Wednesday, Michael passed his qualifying exams for his Ph.D. program! Woooooohoooo!! He spent hours and hours studying for these and I am just. SO. stinkin' proud of him. Way to go, love! Thank you, Lord!

{2}

Yesterday I found myself with two overripe bananas. Something needed to be done with them, and quickly. So...

Voila!

Banana Chocolate Chip bread! This recipe minus the walnuts, plus chocolate chips. #sorrynotsorry

{3}
While we're on the topic of delicious...I pinned this a few days ago:

{via}

Yep, that's strawberry, lime, cucumber & mint water. Doesn't that look refreshing? I'll let you know how it is when I try it. :)

{4}

This has been shared in several places around the Catholic blogosphere, but if you haven't yet seen SoulPancake's interview with Blythe about being Catholic, I highly recommend it.

It left me feeling inspired and happy to be a practicing Catholic (I like the term practicing because by no means am I perfect, but I am trying my best! Also - if you're interested, Kendra wrote a post today in response to some of the video's YouTube comments.)

{5}

If you've been by the blog in the last five days, you may know that we are in the middle of a novena to St. Gianna Beretta Molla. I have shared what I learned about her childhood, her vocation, and her experience as a mother. She is a wonderful intercessor for us! As promised, today I'm sharing a little on her canonization (for much more information, click here).

{6}

Gianna was canonized a saint on May 16, 2004. Her husband, Pietro, was present, marking the first time in the history of the Catholic Church that a husband witnessed his wife's canonization. I can't begin to imagine how that must have felt for him!

I'd love to share this short excerpt from Blessed (very-soon-to-be-Saint) John Paul II's homily from St. Gianna's canonization Mass.

Gianna Beretta Molla was a simple, but more than ever, significant messenger of divine love. In a letter to her future husband a few days before their marriage, she wrote: "Love is the most beautiful sentiment the Lord has put into the soul of men and women". Following the example of Christ, who "having loved his own... loved them to the end" (Jn 13: 1), this holy mother of a family remained heroically faithful to the commitment she made on the day of her marriage. The extreme sacrifice she sealed with her life testifies that only those who have the courage to give of themselves totally to God and to others are able to fulfill themselves. 

Through the example of Gianna Beretta Molla, may our age rediscover the pure, chaste and fruitful beauty of conjugal love, lived as a response to the divine call! 

Can I get an Amen?!

{7}

I'd be delighted if you would pray with me today. If you have any intentions you would like to pray for, please share them in the comments section.

Novena prayer:

God, our Father, You have granted to Your church the gift of Gianna Beretta Molla. In her youth she lovingly sought You and drew other young people to You, involving them, through apostolic witness and Catholic Action, in the care of the sick and aged, to help and comfort them.

We thank You for the gift of this young woman, so deeply committed to You. Through her example grant us the grace to consecrate our lives to Your service, for the joy of our brothers and sisters. 

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

Jesus, Redeemer of mankind, You called Saint Gianna to exercise the medical profession as a mission for the comfort of bodies and souls. In her suffering fellow men and in the little ones, deprived of all support, she saw You. 

We thank You for having revealed Yourself to this servant as “one who serves” and who soothes the sufferings of men. Treasuring her example may we become generous Christians at the service of our brothers and sisters, especially those with whom You deign to share Your Cross.

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

God, Sanctifying Spirit, who love the Church as Your Bride, You poured into the heart of Saint Gianna a share of Your Love so that she could radiate it in her family, and thus cooperate with You in the wonderful plan of creation, and give life to new children who could know and love You.
We thank You for this model wife and, through her encouraging witness, we beg You to grant to our families the serene and Christian presence of mothers committed to transform their homes into cenacles of faith and love, rich with generous activity and sanctifying service.

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

O God, Creator and lover of mankind, You were close to Saint Gianna when, affected by illness, she was in the painful dilemma of choosing between her own life and the life of the child whom she was carrying in herself, a gift long-awaited. Trusting You alone, and aware of Your Commandment to respect human life, Gianna found the courage to do her duty as a mother and to say “yes” to the new life of her baby, generously sacrificing her own. Through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Jesus, and after the example of Gianna, inspire all mothers to welcome with love the sparkle of new life. Grant us the grace we are praying for {say your intentions} and the joy to find an inspiration in Saint Gianna who, as a model spouse and mother, after the example of Christ, gave up her life for the life of others. 

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

{novena source}

•     •     •

Thanks so much for praying. Only three days of our novena left!

And, as always - linking up these takes with Jen. I can hardly stand the wait for her book release
on Tuesday! Have you pre-ordered your copy?

Have a great Friday.

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