Saint Louise de Marillac – 15th March

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Introduction

In Louise’s day, serving the needs of the poor was usually a luxury only fine ladies could afford. Her mentor, Saint Vincent de Paul, wisely realized that women of peasant stock could reach poor people more effectively, and the Daughters of Charity were born under her leadership. Today, that order—along with the Sisters of Charity—continues to nurse the sick and aging and provide refuge for orphans. Many of its members are social workers toiling under Louise’s patronage.

Prayer in Honor of St.Louise de Marillac:

(Repeat the following Novena prayers every day for 9 consecutive days.)

O Gracious God, Saint Louise devoted her life to helping Saint Vincent de Paul serve the needs of the poor. She often taught: “Be diligent in serving the poor. Love the poor, honor them, as you would honor Christ Himself.” I lift up to You the programs in my church and community that help the needy, and the people who do the work. Multiply the donations. Teach me how to think generously. Give me a heart that desires to care for the poor as if I were serving Jesus directly, and help me to see Jesus in each person that begs on the street corner or church door. Saint Louise, pray for us.

Amen.

Saint Louise de Marillac Feast Day Prayer

Loving and compassionate God, we celebrate with great joy the faith and works of our patroness St. Louise de Marillac. Instill in us the fire of her love, the tenacity of her belief, and the tenderness of her care for the most abandoned. Draw us together into the light of your presence and help us to trust in the power of your Spirit, leading us to ever closer to you, who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

O God, through Louise, you taught us a deeper love and respect for those whom the world oppresses and so we pray: -help us to serve them with respect and dignity.
Christ Jesus, you inspired the daughters of Louise to be women of compassion and empathy in their service to the poor;
-help us to grow in mercy and understanding.
Loving Creator, we thank you for the example of untiring collaboration of Louise in giving flesh to the works of charity we aspire to emulate today;
-may we follow her example in our service to the Church and the world.
Louise transformed adversity into positive energy for the service of the poor.
-help us to see with the eyes of faith and the mind of Jesus.
Loving God, through the intercession of Louise, inspire more laborers to come to the vineyard to mirror the gospel values of justice and love that Louise mirrored in her life;
-may our lives and our service give you glory and praise.

May the God of Louise de Marillac be with us more and more each day, drawing us into ever deep union with the Holy One, quickening our hearts’ desire for love and sharpening our awareness of all that the world suffers. As the Charity of Christ impelled her, may we be moved with urgency to be women of the charism— witness and vision, justice and truth, passion and peace. May our response to the challenges our God and our world place before us reflect Louise’s vision of loving service and may the Charity of Christ impel us. May the blessing of Louise be upon us! Amen.

Closing prayer:

Leader: O God, you reveal that those who work for charity and justice will be called your sons and daughters. Like St. Louise de Marillac, help us to work without ceasing for that love and justice which brings true and lasting peace. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

Prayer for the Feast of St. Louise de Marillac:

Louise, you who so frequently were faced with events and circumstances that no one ever faced before, intercede for us and guide us as we face this new and perilous time.
Amen

Pause for silent reflection after each quotation:

“It is Divine Providence alone which must keep us and provide for all our needs, particularly those which human prudence can neither foresee nor meet.” (Spiritual Writings p. 164)

Pause and reflect

“Do not be upset if things are not as you would want them to be for a very long time to come. Do the little you can very peacefully and calmly so as to allow room for the guidance of God in your lives. Do not worry about the rest.” (Spiritual Writings p. 614–615)

Pause and reflect

“This, it seems to me is the road that God wills you to travel to reach him, however difficult it may appear. Enter upon it, then, wholeheartedly as we would a vessel that will carry you wherever you must go.” (Spiritual Writings p. 481)

Pause and reflect

“We should raise our minds to God and depend only on Him, remembering that, from all eternity, He has been sufficient to Himself; consequently, He can and should be sufficient for us.” (Spiritual Writings p.160)

Pause and reflect

Sharing: Share a word, phrase or thoughts from these quotations from Louise that you want to remember.

Let us pray
Response:Louise intercede for them

For all those suffering from Covid 19, we pray… For all those who fear death, we pray… For all those who work in hospitals and nursing homes, we pray… For all who provide food for the hungry, we pray… For all who mourn the loss of a loved one, we pray… For all leaders, that they might find the appropriate words and actions in this time of uncertainly, we pray…. For all who seek to find vaccines and cures, we pray… For all who must find new and creative ways of doing the ordinary, we pray… For those who suffer from mental illness, we pray…. For those who provide “essential” services that we rarely think about, we pray… For the poor throughout the world who have the least and suffer the most, we pray… For whom and what else do we need to seek Louise’s intercession….

Let us pray together:

Good and gracious God, you give us St. Louise as a model and intercessor. May we follow her example of trust in Your constant presence in our lives. May we place our uncertainty, fear and helplessness in your hands, as she did. Have mercy on our world. Amen

 

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