Are you familiar with the Surrender Novena? This novena is based on private revelations from Servant of God Don Dolindo Ruotolo. It is a very simple prayer with a short text, the words of Jesus as told to Fr. Dolindo, and then the repetition of the phrase “Oh Jesus, I surrender myself to you. Take care of everything.”
Snippet from the Show
“Oh Jesus, I surrender myself to you. Take care of everything.”
Shownotes
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I have been praying this novena regularly for a few months now and I love how it has really helped me worry less and trust God more. This week, in the hopes of inspiring you to pray it also, I am sharing 4 ways the Surrender Novena can change your life:
1. It helps you align your will with God’s will.
This is what it’s all about, isn’t it? By praying this novena regularly, we grow in our understanding of what prayer actually is — seeking to know and do God’s will in all things, as that is the source of our eternal happiness.
2. It helps you see the goodness of God.
Sometimes, we might say we believe God is good and wants good things for us, but in reality, we are hesitant, and we do not trust God to give us what is good. We think we need to make things happen for ourselves. This novena helps us to focus on the ultimate goodness and superiority of God’s plans over our plans all the time and in all things.
3. It helps you have a personal relationship with Jesus.
The words of this prayer are so beautiful and intimate. They describe the closeness and personal connection that Jesus longs to have with each of us. He wants us to trust him like a child in his mother’s arms. The simple beauty of that relationship is a beautiful invitation to grow closer to God.
4. It helps you to pray without ceasing.
St. Paul tells us to “pray without ceasing,” but how can we do that? Well, one way is by taking small prayers like this one and repeating them throughout our busy days. This novena has a way of sticking with you, even when you are done praying it, so that you might find yourself praying that simple phrase “Jesus, I surrender myself to you” in moments of need throughout your day.
Try the Surrender Novena yourself, and let me know what fruit it bears in your life!
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At the end of today’s show, we continue our mini book club for Whisper: Finding God in the Everyday. This week we focus on chapter 7, all about meeting God in prayer.
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Danielle Bean
Danielle Bean is the author of many books on Catholic marriage, motherhood, and women’s spirituality, and a well-known Catholic podcaster and media figure. In all of her efforts, Danielle encourages and celebrates all women on their unique vocational paths. She is the host of the Girlfriends podcast as well as the author of Momnipotent: The Not-So-Perfect Woman’s Guide to Catholic Motherhood, Whisper: Finding God in the Everyday, and You Are Enough.
Danielle is a dynamic retreat leader and an engaging speaker on a variety of subjects related to Catholic family life, education, marriage, and motherhood. She has been married to her husband, Dan, for 26 years and together they have 8 children.
Dearest Catherine,
Your words resonated with me. I want you to know I will be thinking of you and including you in my daily prayers. Please update your post when things change.
With Love,
J
I feel cheated by God. Promises of “calm” and “peacefull”. Promises that God will carry me in arms like a child. I surrendered everything to God, been praying this in cycles for 1 year now and my situation has only worsened….considerably. No calm, no peace and no “motherly arms”. I feel cheated, ignored and lied to. The worst of all feelings.
I’m so sorry you feel abandoned. I know these words might not have any meaning but I will keep you in my prayers. I too have felt abandoned at times. Rest assured God does hear our prayers. Please don’t give up hope.
Catherine, the very fact you have prayed this prayer for 1 year, every day that is amazing! Just imagine how your commitment has spread to others known or unknown. Only God knows! He loves your commitment❤️
My dear Catherine. I addressed you as such because right away I felt close to you after reading what you wrote. Yes, I know that all too familiar feeling of abandonment.. You feel “cheated”. Yes. I did too.
I surrendered without hoping that things are going to change. Now I feel resigned to my situation. I have accepted that my life is not going to change. By God’s grace I was led to the scripture 2Corinthians 12:9: “my grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness”.
St. Paul asked Jesus 3 times to remove the thorns from his side. And that was Jesus’ reply. Now, instead of praying for God to solve my problems I just live my life totally resigned. I live without bitterness because I believe that this is the life God wants me to live. How do I know that ? Because that is what Jesus said to Paul. “Live with the thorns on your side. My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Now I am able to embrace my cross everyday as I follow Him as Jesus said to do. I am sorry if this sounds like a lecture. My intention is to share my experience with you hoping it will help you, as you and I seem to be on the same boat. I will include you in my prayers. May God’s grace abound in your life sister Catherine.
I forgot to say there have been many miracles say this prayer it is beautiful!
I am so grateful to Jesus for the little miracle I have received since continuously say this beautiful novena!!
Nice to read Four ways in which don Dolindo’s novena can change our life. It is so nice to read from others what you have been experiencing yourself.
I go introduced to this Novena of Surrender for about a bit short two years. I can not say how far ahead it has carried me, but I am still doing it, and that in itself is great, it keeps me on the path Jesus, our Father and The Holy Spirit intend for me.