Celebrating Grandparents and the Elderly

World Day For Grandparents and Elderly

Pope Francis has established throughout the Church the celebration of the World Day for Grandparents and Elderly beginning in 2021 on the fourth Sunday of July, near the liturgical memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus. The announcement of this celebration coincides with the celebration of the Year of Amoris Laetitia Family, which began on the Solemnity of Saint Joseph the husband of Mary, on March 19, 2021, and will conclude at the World Meeting of Families in Rome in June of 2022.

 

“The pastoral care of the elderly is a priority that can no longer be postponed by any Christian community. In the encyclical Fratelli tutti, the Holy Father reminds us that no one is saved alone. With this in mind, we must treasure the spiritual and human wealth that has been handed down from generation to generation.

  

Prayer for the First World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

I thank you, Lord, for the comfort of your presence: even in times of loneliness, you are my hope and my confidence, you have been my rock and my fortress since my youth! 

I thank you for having given me a family and for having blessed me with a long life. I thank you for moments of joy and difficulty, for the dreams that have already come true in my life and for those that are still ahead of me. 

I thank you for this time of renewed fruitfulness to which you call me. Increase, O Lord, my faith, make me a channel of your peace, teach me to embrace those who suffer more than me, to never stop dreaming and to tell of your wonders to new generations. 

Protect and guide Pope Francis and the Church, that the light of the Gospel might reach the ends of the earth. Send your Spirit, O Lord, to renew the world, that the storm of the pandemic might be calmed, the poor consoled and wars ended. Sustain me in weakness and help me to live life to the full in each moment that you give me, in the certainty that you are with me every day, even until the end of the age. Amen.

Video for the First World Day for 

Grandparents and the Elderly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDCo3vNhJZU

Pope Francis' message for the First World Day

for Grandparents and the Elderly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFUSwj3fjLA

 

170th Celebrations

 The Cluny Family

Celebrates 170th Anniversary

Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey

Liberator  of  Slaves

 

Comments

Our Cluny Associates shared how Anne Marie Javouhey communicated so much with the Sisters and everyone else… family, clergy, civic leaders…. for the good of the mission.  Many found the Novena Blog a positive enriching experience of Cluny Communications today, uniting the Cluny Family… Sisters, Associates, Affiliates, and Cluny Collaborators all over the world.

We are grateful to all who shared their Cluny Charism and Spirituality and how you continue to live today, the charism in your lives.  Celebrating Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey, the Year of Prayer for her Canonization and the 170th Anniversary Novena, has graced our lives and abundantly blessed us.  May God be praised and glorified.  It is God’s work that we do.

The Cluny Family

Around the World Celebrates

As the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny celebrated the feast of Blessed Anne-Marie Javouhey on July 15, the 170th Anniversary of her death, we have enjoyed the many photos and accounts of the celebrations around the world.  We began the celebrations nine days before the feast, joining our Novena to Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey with the conclusion of this special Year of Prayer for the Canonization of Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey.

I invite you to explore both Anne Marie and the Congregation’s history and her relevance to the cries of our world today! Enjoy the videos of her early life, the founding of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny, and hear from our Superior General, Sister Clare Stanley, of our call to be ‘Missionary Disciples in a New World’.

Videos & Photos from our

Congregational Website… Scroll down and Enjoy!

https://sj-cluny.org/July-15-Feast-of-Blessed-Anne-Marie-Javouhey-1089?lang=en

Let us pray

"Lord our God, you raised Blessed Anne-Marie Javouhey to found a congregation that met the greatest needs of her century. May her life teach us to serve, the children, the sick, the poor and all those held in the bondage of modern day slavery, with the same creative intelligence and the same love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus. Amen "

Happy  Feast  of  Blessed  Anne-Marie!

July Stop Trafficking Newsletter

 

Awareness

Indicators of Forced Labor: The most common way traffickers control domestic worker victims is financial.

Advocacy

In the United States, domestic workers are not protected even under the most basic labor laws.

Action

Convention (C189), the United States government must take steps to protect the rights of women, migrants, and domestic workers.

Read The Newsletter

https://sistersagainsttrafficking.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2021_07_Stop-Trafficking-EN.pdf

Novena Prayer Day Nine

 Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey

Novena Day Nine

 

Today's Thought of

Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey

Vocation

When God’s call first came to Anne Marie Javouhey as a vague urge to ‘do a little good,’ she didn’t know the details or even the general lines of her life’s work. Even when she made the decision to dedicate her life to God she had no idea of where that call would lead her. However, she did know that she was not alone because God was “calling” her parents and siblings too. 

Their “dedicated responses” would be very connected to her life’s work. In order for us to follow in Anne Marie’s footsteps, we, too, must say “yes” to God’s call each day so that ‘a little good’ may be done. Then, we are all invited to ponder on what she wrote to her father: “God has chosen us – even more, God has preferred us to the great and powerful - for the accomplishment of his plans. How can we ever respond to so many graces?”

Happy Feast Day Cluny Sisters

Today, 2,600 Cluny Sisters living in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands, serve in 57 countries.  The dynamism of diverse languages, cultures and mission experiences strengthens our unity and sense of belonging.  It calls us to live more authentically our charism as missionary disciples in a new world, by participating in the Mission of Jesus to evangelize, heal and liberate all peoples, especially the poor, the least the lost and the last.  Going to the peripheries and beyond boundaries, the mission includes the whole of God’s creation.

‘O, how happy we are

to have so beautiful a vocation’

- Anne Marie Javouhey

Anne-Marie Javouhey was born in France on November 11, 1779. In 1807, she founded the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny who dedicated themselves to the care of the sick and to teaching. 

 

Called to minister to the colonies, Anne Marie devoted herself to the emancipation of the slaves and the liberation of Peoples from all forms of enslavement.  She died July 15, 1851.

Join Us In Our Novena Prayer

July 15th 

        L ord our God,

 

You enabled Blessed Anne Marie to

consecrate herself to the carrying out

of Your Holy Will in all things and to

be ever attentive to Your calls as

manifested through the poorest of her

brothers and sisters.

Grant that we, in the Church of our

day, may zealously continue the work

you confided to her.

Through her intercession hear the

prayers we address to You …

 

 Canonization of Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey

 Those suffering from the Global Pandemic

 The Province of the U.S.A. & Canada unfolding future

                 

                       (your special intentions mentioned here)

In Your goodness grant us the favor of

her canonization for Your glory and to

promote Your Reign of love, justice

and peace.                                  

                                                        A men.

Beata Anna Maria

Ora pro nobis

Novena Prayer Day Eight

 Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey

Novena Day Eight

 

Today's Thought of

Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey

Love of Neighbor

“Why do you want me to put limits to my love

when God puts no limit to his graces?”

Anne Marie Javouhey’s love for her neighbor was of the same degree as her love for God. She extended it to the needy of the whole world, regardless of color, class or creed. “People have a right to our charity; do not miss any opportunity of showing your love.” The first ingredient of her love was respect. Her work for the negroes was successful because she sincerely valued them as she valued herself. Such love and devotedness to others means sacrifices. Anne Marie Javouhey was ready for them. Are we?  In Anne Marie’s spirit, we pray for the Congregation, the Church, all Peoples of the world.

Join Us In Our Novena Prayer

July 14th 

        L ord our God,

 

You enabled Blessed Anne Marie to

consecrate herself to the carrying out

of Your Holy Will in all things and to

be ever attentive to Your calls as

manifested through the poorest of her

brothers and sisters.

Grant that we, in the Church of our

day, may zealously continue the work

you confided to her.

Through her intercession hear the

prayers we address to You …

 

 Canonization of Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey

 Those suffering from the Global Pandemic

 The Province of the U.S.A. & Canada unfolding future

                 

                       (your special intentions mentioned here)

In Your goodness grant us the favor of

her canonization for Your glory and to

promote Your Reign of love, justice

and peace.                                  

                                                        A men.

Beata Anna Maria

Ora pro nobis

Novena Prayer Day Seven

 Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey

Novena Day Seven

 

Today's Thought of

Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey

Humility

“It is God…who puts both the will and the action into you.” 

Letter to the Philipians 2:13

The humble person sees things as they are in truth - sees God as the creator of all good and sees oneself as invited by God to co-operate in carrying out God’s plans. Anne Marie Javouhey saw her Congregation as God’s work, and herself as merely an instrument in God’s hands. However, when she did view herself as an instrument, it was as a poor one, unfit for the work. 

She wrote: “How glad I am that God is showing me how much I lack the ability necessary for such a holy and important undertaking!” Actually, it was precisely because her spiritual vision was so clear that Anne Marie was able to give all the glory to God. Hopefully, the same will be true for us!

Join Us In Our Novena Prayer

July 13th 

        L ord our God,

 

You enabled Blessed Anne Marie to

consecrate herself to the carrying out

of Your Holy Will in all things and to

be ever attentive to Your calls as

manifested through the poorest of her

brothers and sisters.

Grant that we, in the Church of our

day, may zealously continue the work

you confided to her.

Through her intercession hear the

prayers we address to You …

 

 Canonization of Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey

 Those suffering from the Global Pandemic

 The Province of the U.S.A. & Canada unfolding future

                 

                       (your special intentions mentioned here)

In Your goodness grant us the favor of

her canonization for Your glory and to

promote Your Reign of love, justice

and peace.                                  

                                                        A men.

Beata Anna Maria

Ora pro nobis

Novena Prayer Day Six

 Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey

Novena Day Six

 

Today's Thought of

Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey

Confidence

The divine virtue of hope has in it two elements, desire and expectation. Its object is God. We desire to attain to God, to find God, to be united to God in heaven, and we expect that to happen with God’s grace. Undoubtedly, Anne Marie Javouhey had this kind of hope. When she spoke so often about confidence in her letters, she was referring to a quality that’s somewhat different from, but also related to, hope. 

For Anne Marie, confidence basically meant: God was her Father; she was working for him; he was caring for her concerns; she knew his help would always be there; God would work out his plan for the Congregation; and in the end all would be well. Throughout her life, her confidence bore on great and small matters because she knew God would support his own work. How is confidence expressed in our lives?

Join Us In Our Novena Prayer

July 12th 

        L ord our God,

 

You enabled Blessed Anne Marie to

consecrate herself to the carrying out

of Your Holy Will in all things and to

be ever attentive to Your calls as

manifested through the poorest of her

brothers and sisters.

Grant that we, in the Church of our

day, may zealously continue the work

you confided to her.

Through her intercession hear the

prayers we address to You …

 

 Canonization of Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey

 Those suffering from the Global Pandemic

 The Province of the U.S.A. & Canada unfolding future

                 

                       (your special intentions mentioned here)

In Your goodness grant us the favor of

her canonization for Your glory and to

promote Your Reign of love, justice

and peace.                                  

                                                        A men.

Beata Anna Maria

Ora pro nobis

Novena Prayer Day Five

 Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey

Novena Day Five

 

Today's Thought of

Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey

The Will of God

Union with the Will of his Father was the goal of Jesus’ life from the first moment to the last. This is what he said on coming into the world… “God, here I am. I am coming to obey your will.” (Heb. 10:3,7) “Father…let your will be done, not mine…” (Lk. 22:42)

Anne Marie Javouhey had the mind of Christ in this matter. She dedicated herself wholly to God and to the doing of his Will. Because of this total availability, God led her to become a founder and a missionary. Today, God is just as ready to “do great things” for anyone who is united to him. Devotion to God’s Will is the beginning and the end of holiness. But true devotion must avoid the errors of either fatalism or passivity. All that affects us and that does not originate in our will may and should be looked on as coming from God – as God’s will for us.

Join Us In Our Novena Prayer

July 11th 

        L ord our God,

 

You enabled Blessed Anne Marie to

consecrate herself to the carrying out

of Your Holy Will in all things and to

be ever attentive to Your calls as

manifested through the poorest of her

brothers and sisters.

Grant that we, in the Church of our

day, may zealously continue the work

you confided to her.

Through her intercession hear the

prayers we address to You …

 

 Canonization of Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey

 Those suffering from the Global Pandemic

 The Province of the U.S.A. & Canada unfolding future

                 

                       (your special intentions mentioned here)

In Your goodness grant us the favor of

her canonization for Your glory and to

promote Your Reign of love, justice

and peace.                                  

                                                        A men.

Beata Anna Maria

Ora pro nobis

Novena Prayer Day Four

 Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey

Novena Day Four

 

Today's Thought of

Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey

Prayer

All of Anne Marie Javouhey’s confidence was in God. She wished those who followed in her footsteps to look for the same support through intimate union with God: “God alone can take the place of all… We need to acquire a spirit of prayer.” At another time she wrote: “Let us pray, pray a lot. We will find our strength in prayer, in union with God; let us seek only to do his divine Will.” 

O God, we want to follow in the footsteps of Anne Marie Javouhey and seek only to do your Will. Help us to deepen our spirit of prayer. Help us to remember that you are closer to us than breathing – and that you are always with us, no matter what. We also remember that you are Love. So we pray to Love, with Love, because it is in Love that we all live, move and have our being.

Join Us In Our Novena Prayer

July 10th 

        L ord our God,

 

You enabled Blessed Anne Marie to

consecrate herself to the carrying out

of Your Holy Will in all things and to

be ever attentive to Your calls as

manifested through the poorest of her

brothers and sisters.

Grant that we, in the Church of our

day, may zealously continue the work

you confided to her.

Through her intercession hear the

prayers we address to You …

 

 Canonization of Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey

 Those suffering from the Global Pandemic

 The Province of the U.S.A. & Canada unfolding future

                 

                       (your special intentions mentioned here)

In Your goodness grant us the favor of

her canonization for Your glory and to

promote Your Reign of love, justice

and peace.                                  

                                                        A men.

Beata Anna Maria

Ora pro nobis

Novena Prayer Day Three

Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey

Novena Day Three

 

Today's Thought of

Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey

Love of God

“Only by the light of faith and by meditation on the Word of God, can one always and everywhere recognize God in whom we live and move and have our being, seek his will in every event, and see Christ in all whether they be close to us or strangers.”

This statement from the Document of the Apostolate of the Laity, would seem to have been lived out in advance by Mother Javouhey. Her spirit of faith made her recognize God everywhere. 

God was the beginning and end of all she did: “If God and religion are not the beginning and end of our actions, we are wasting our time, and we have no merit before God; it is important that all of us be penetrated with this truth.”

Join Us In Our Novena Prayer

July 9th 

        L ord our God,

 

You enabled Blessed Anne Marie to

consecrate herself to the carrying out

of Your Holy Will in all things and to

be ever attentive to Your calls as

manifested through the poorest of her

brothers and sisters.

Grant that we, in the Church of our

day, may zealously continue the work

you confided to her.

Through her intercession hear the

prayers we address to You …

 

 Canonization of Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey

 Those suffering from the Global Pandemic

 The Province of the U.S.A. & Canada unfolding future

                 

                       (your special intentions mentioned here)

In Your goodness grant us the favor of

her canonization for Your glory and to

promote Your Reign of love, justice

and peace.                                  

                                                        A men.

Beata Anna Maria

Ora pro nobis

Novena Prayer Day Two

 Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey

Novena Day Two

 

Today's Thought of

Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey

Our Founder

“We can justly consider that the future of humanity lies in the hands of those who are strong enough to provide coming generations 

with reasons for living and hoping.” 

The Church Today

God gave Anne Marie Javouhey some quite remarkable gifts: intelligence, breadth of vision, initiative and strength of character. He gave her a mission, and to enable her to fulfill it, he gave her faith, hope and charity in no ordinary degree. The story of her life as we know it, and which is reflected in her 1,041 letters, is the story of her use of God’s gifts and her correspondence with his grace. 

She used every ounce of effort her whole life through. At seventy, she was still trying, still making a fresh start.

As Sisters, Affiliates and Associates who follow in the footsteps of Anne Marie Javouhey, how have we used our God-given gifts? Are we fulfilling our mission in faith, hope and love?

Join Us In Our Novena Prayer

July 8th 

        L ord our God,

 

You enabled Blessed Anne Marie to

consecrate herself to the carrying out

of Your Holy Will in all things and to

be ever attentive to Your calls as

manifested through the poorest of her

brothers and sisters.

Grant that we, in the Church of our

day, may zealously continue the work

you confided to her.

Through her intercession hear the

prayers we address to You …

 

 Canonization of Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey

 Those suffering from the Global Pandemic

 The Province of the U.S.A. & Canada unfolding future

                 

                       (your special intentions mentioned here)

In Your goodness grant us the favor of

her canonization for Your glory and to

promote Your Reign of love, justice

and peace.                                  

                                                        A men.

Beata Anna Maria

Ora pro nobis