Blessed Mother’s Birthday Novena

Dear friends of St. Jude and the Blessed Mother, In celebrating Mary’s birthday, the Church celebrates an incredible moment in human history: the birth of the first human being since Adam and Eve free from the stain of original sin. It is the moment when the tide of salvation history begins to turn. As St. Augustine puts it: “ is the flower of the field, from her bloomed the precious lily of the valley. Through her birth the nature inherited from our first parents is changed. their sin is blotted out. That unhappy curse of Eve in which it was said: In sorrow shalt thou bring forth children, is, in the case of Mary, ended, for she bore the Lord in joy.” It makes perfect sense then, to turn to the Blessed Virgin at the commemoration of her birth and bring before her all the sin and sorrow in our own life, as well as our hope for a brighter future in closer union with her son, Jesus Christ. Just as Mary bore grace into the world, so may she bear grace in our hearts: “I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope. In me is all grace of the way and of the truth, in me is all hope of life and of virtue. Come over to me, all ye that desire me, and be filled with my fruits. For my spirit is sweet above honey, and my inheritance above honey and the honeycomb. My memory is unto everlasting generations.” (Eccl. 24, 24-28) We are happy to pray for your intentions during our Blessed Mother’s Birthday novena of masses, September 8-16. Please send us your prayer intentions using the form below so the Dominican Friars of the Rosary Shrine of...

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A Novena to Saint Jude

Rosary Shrine of Saint Jude 630 E Street SW, Washington, DC, United States

Dear friends of St. Jude & the Blessed Mother, Sometimes, even for those with strong faith, it can be very difficult to accept the depth and intensity of loss and suffering that sometimes comes into our lives. The passing of someone who is dear to us, the illness of a close friend or relative, or the loneliness we feel in the face of such sorrow can leave us shaken and confused. For over 800 hundred years, the Dominican Friars have made it a very special part of our mission to attend to the needs of the sick and the dying with loving care and compassion. Our Friars often serve in health care ministries, working as chaplains in hospitals, offering the Sacraments to the sick and providing comfort and support to those who are ill, to their families and to hospital staff. As someone who has either experienced an illness or seen a loved one suffer, you know the feeling of powerlessness or hopelessness that can sometimes take hold. But because of your devotion and trust in St. Jude, you also know that prayers are answered and miracles happen. Even in the darkest moments, or despite what appears to be insurmountable obstacles. We are happy to pray for your intentions during our St. Jude Novena of masses, October 20th — October 28th. Please send us your prayer intentions using the form below so the Dominican Friars of the Rosary Shrine of St. Jude can pray for you during this special novena! Thank you for being a loyal, faithful member of our Rosary Shrine of Saint Jude family. May the fullness of God’s blessings, through the aid of Our Lady of the Rosary and our trusted heavenly intercessor, St. Jude, be with you and your loved ones always. Sincerely in Our Lady...

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Christmas Novena

Dear friends of St. Jude & the Blessed Mother, Christmas greetings to you. I pray this holy season is a time of great blessing to you and all those you love. Two thousand years ago, another greeting set in motion the great miracle of God becoming human. The Archangel Gabriel appeared before the Blessed Virgin Mary and hailed her as “Full of grace.” He then gave her both news and a promise. The news was that the world’s dark night was ending. Mary would bear the long awaited Savior, the Son of God. The promise was that the news was real. It didn’t matter that Mary was young and had no husband. God would and could work a miracle to bring about the Incarnation. “For nothing is impossible with God,” Gabriel assured her. Assisting us in this work is our Shrine’s namesake, St. Jude, Patron Saint of Impossible Causes. If you have prayer requests that seem hopeless or impossible, please use the prayer intention form below to let us know your special intentions. Beginning on December 25th, the Dominican Friars in Jerusalem will offer a Christmas Novena of Masses at the Church of St. Stephen. During the Novena, we want to pray for you, as well as your friends and family. You, too, have been a faithful friend in this work. Your Christmas offering will help us carry on the 800-year Dominican tradition of proclaiming the love of God and reminding all who come to us that, with God, nothing is impossible. Thank you, again, for your faithful support. I pray our partnership continues in the New Year, and that this Christmas season is truly one of joy and light for you and all you love. Sincerely in Our Lady and St. Jude,       Fr. Gabriel Gillen, O.P....

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Infant of Prague Novena

Rosary Shrine of Saint Jude 630 E Street SW, Washington, DC, United States

Are you in need of a fresh start, freedom from old burdens, a new outlook on life? Join the Infant of Prague novena of the Rosary Shrine of Saint Jude and bring your struggles and hopes before the child King! After a destructive invasion of Prague in the 17th Century, the infant Jesus spoke to Father Cyril, a young priest who discovered His battered statue in the ruins of Our Lady of Victory Church. He promised, “The more you honor me, the more I will bless you.” What is remarkable about this devotion is that in it we go to Jesus in His infancy, in His littleness. It is a way for all of us to acknowledge that Christ came into the world as the smallest of human beings yet glorious in majesty. In His littleness we can come to see our own littleness before His great majesty, a great majesty that He wishes to bless us with! Fill out the form below to add your intentions to our upcoming Infant of Prague Novena of Masses at the Rosary Shrine of Saint Jude. ✠

A Novena for Our Lady of Lourdes

Rosary Shrine of Saint Jude 630 E Street SW, Washington, DC, United States

Dear Friend of Our Lady and St. Jude, What kind of healing do you need most? What illness, difficulties or concerns would you like to entrust to Our Lady of Lourdes this February? Whatever it is, Mary is your Heavenly Mother, and she wants you to come to her. She wants you to trust her. She wants you to let her, by the grace of Christ, give you what you need most, whether it’s a miraculous cure from cancer, infertility or high blood pressure, the healing of a loved one from an addiction . . . or a miraculous healing within your soul. In Our Blessed Mother’s loving embrace there is peace, comfort, strength and joy for all who come to her. Please enter the names of all those in need of healing you’d like the Friars to pray for in the form below; be sure to include your own ailments and difficulties so the Friars can include your intentions in the Special Novena for Healing that we’ll be praying at the Rosary Shrine from February 3rd through February 11th. May Our Blessed Lady of Lourdes assist you and all your loved ones with healings of mind and body, and all your hearts with hope in God’s compassionate, unconditional love. Thank you for your generosity and prayers. You and your loved ones will be remembered in the prayers of all the Friars at the Rosary Shrine of St. Jude, especially during the Novena honoring Our Lady of Lourdes. Sincerely in Our Lady of Lourdes,     Fr. Gabriel Gillen, O.P. Director, Rosary Shrine of St. Jude ✠

Lenten Remembrance

Rosary Shrine of Saint Jude 630 E Street SW, Washington, DC, United States

Dear Friend of Our Lady and St. Jude, On Ash Wednesday, February 14th, our Lenten journey begins once again. We often ask ourselves during this time: What will I give up for Lent? This usually involves refraining from treats like chocolate, desserts or other things we really enjoy. Perhaps, the question you and I should be asking is: What am I doing for Lent? The greater sacrifice in this case involves concrete actions we make to be a better person and a more faithful Christian. Lent is an especially good time for acts of personal prayer, reflection, and repentance. Beginning on Ash Wednesday and during the next 40 days, the Dominican Friars at the Rosary Shrine of St. Jude will also offer a special series of Lenten Masses for you and your loved ones. If you fill out the special prayer intentions form below, I’ll make sure your personal needs and petitions will be included in these daily Lenten Masses. As we begin our Lenten journey together, please be assured you are in my prayers and the prayers of all the Dominican Friars. It is our great hope that this Lent will lead you ever closer to Our Lord and His loving salvation. In Christ,     Fr. Gabriel Gillen, O.P. Director, Rosary Shrine of St. Jude ✠

Easter Novena

Rosary Shrine of Saint Jude 630 E Street SW, Washington, DC, United States

Dear Friend of Our Lady and St. Jude, You and I have been so richly blessed with faith. We’ve felt God’s love, His tender compassion, His mercy. Our lives have been greatly enriched. But so many others don’t feel as we do. Where we see God’s light, they see only darkness. Where we experience God’s truth, they feel lost and uncertain. Through our devotion to Our Blessed Mother and St. Jude, we know that the seemingly impossible can become possible. Others find it difficult to see what lies right in front of them. Miracles can and do happen. After all, isn’t Easter the greatest of all miracles, Christ’s triumph and victory over death! I invite you to send me your special intentions and prayer requests on the prayer request form below. The Dominican Friars at the Rosary Shrine of St. Jude will then pray for all these petitions during our special Easter Novena of Masses from April 2nd through April 10th. This Easter, the Dominican Friars have more young men preparing to serve Christ and the Church than we’ve had in over 50 years. Our formation house is bursting at the seams with faithful, intelligent and virtuous young men, seeking to give their lives to the service of God’s people. Your continued support will help provide the educational, spiritual and theological formation that they need. Your offering of $20, $15, $25, $50 or your most generous gift, will empower our young Friars to go forth and lead people to faith, hope and love through preaching and devotion to Our Lady and St. Jude. May God greatly bless you and your loved ones this Easter and always. Be assured that you are in my prayers and in the prayers of all of the Dominican Friars at the Rosary Shrine of St....

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Mother’s Day Novena

Rosary Shrine of Saint Jude 630 E Street SW, Washington, DC, United States

Loving God, as a mother gives life and nourishment to her children, so you watch over your Church. Bless these women, that they may be strengthened as Christian mothers. Let the example of their faith and love shine forth. Grant that we, their sons and daughters, may honor them always with a spirit of profound respect. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. — A Blessing for Mothers from the Book of Blessings (USCCB) The month of May, has long since been dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Here at the Rosary Shrine of St. Jude, the Dominican Friars will entrust your prayer intentions to the maternal care of Our Blessed Mother. Additionally, we're celebrating a special Mothers Day Novena of Masses at the Shrine starting on May 5th! You can send us your prayer intentions by clicking this link.

Father’s Day Novena

Rosary Shrine of Saint Jude 630 E Street SW, Washington, DC, United States

Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. — 1 Corinthians 13:4 In Saint Paul's moving Letter to the Corinthians, he shows us how to love each other rightly. When a father loves his children in this tender way, he grows in the virtue of charity and fulfills the noble vocation of fatherhood. At the Rosary Shrine of Saint Jude, we’re celebrating a special Father's Day Novena of Masses at the Shrine starting on June 9th. You can send us your prayer intentions by clicking this link.

Saints Anne/Saint Joachim Novena

Rosary Shrine of Saint Jude 630 E Street SW, Washington, DC, United States

We invite you to celebrate the Feast of Saints Anne and Joachim with a special Novena of Masses at the Rosary Shrine of Saint Jude, beginning on July 18 and concluding on July 26. If you have someone for whom you have persistently prayed and who you would like included in this Novena of Masses, please state their name on the prayer intention form after clicking this link. Thank you for your faithful support of the Rosary Shrine of Saint Jude!

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