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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Novena to St. Joseph	John R.	Thursday, June 21, 2012
Question: Brother Ignatius, Last Sunday, “Father’s Day”, my parish church gave all father’s a St. Joseph Novena Prayer Card. Below the prayer, were written these words: “This prayer was found in the fiftieth year of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In 1505 it was sent from the Pope to Emperor Charles when he was going into battle. Whoever shall read this prayer or hear it or keep it about themselves shall never die a sudden death, or be drowned, nor shall poison take effect on them; nor shall they fall into the hands of the enemy, or shall be burned in any fire or shall be overpowered in battle.” This statement was followed by: Say for nine mornings for anything you may desire. It has never been known to fail, so be sure you really want what you ask. Bro. Ignatius this is very troubling to me. It reminds me of a problem in my former parish church some 15 years ago. At that time, there were prayer requests left in the pews instructing us to say this St. Jude Novena Prayer for nine days, and to make eight copies which were to be left in the church pews. The St. Jude Novena gave the same guarantee. "Whatever you ask for will be given to you, this has never been known to fail". Bro. Ignatius, the St. Joseph Novena Prayer Card, other than indicating, “Made in Italy” had no reference to its origin, particular group, printing house, publisher, or religious organization responsible for the making and distribution of these novena prayer cards. I believe them to be harmful, misleading, and destructive. My question is, because I feel that these guarantees are more of a supernatural occult, magical nature, and far beyond the authority of anyone, saint or mortal, other than God himself, no one has, or has had, such power. I belileve that this could be associated with the New Age Movement that has surfaced once again. Such danger exists, and there are to many of Christ's sheep who remain vulnerable. Bro. Ignatius, should I confront our Pastor, or should I just keep silent? In the past, confronting our Pastor with what I know he also knew was wrong, managed to cause me pain, since the Pastor had more of a liberal ideology. I value your council. God bless you and your ministry. John R.
Question Answered by Dear John: This has nothing to do with the "New Age" as these prayers were written, in some cases, hundreds of years ago. But, for some reason there seems to be a "tradition" of superstitution among many Catholics. Superstition is a sin. While some of these old promises attached to prayers or sacramentals are not technically problematic when properly understood, they are worded in a way that pretty much "guarantees" misinterpretation by contemporary man. If the writer of the promises was with superstitious intent, or if the promises are interpreted superstitiously by someone today, believing that the promises guarantee some spiritual, personal, or material benefit, then it is nothing more than superstition and patently improper and sinful. Prayers are not magic. Alleged promises are not talismans. If we treat these prayers or sacramentals like magical talismans, and this especially includes the Brown Scapular and the St. Joseph Statue buried upside down to sell a house, then we spit on God by violating the First Commandment as this is not faith but superstition. As for informing the pastor, I would, even if I figured the pastor is too liberal to care. If he didn't care, then I would be inclined to write the Bishop. But then, that is me. Whether or not you should talk to your pastor is something you will need to decide for yourself. If there really is no point to talk with him as he will not be receptive, then commit it to prayer. Under no circumstances, however, should you decide against talking to him out of fear of personal pain. Fear is not of God, and the pain that comes from standing up for the Truth is a blessing and a privilege. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Novena to St. Joseph

John R.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Question:

Brother Ignatius,

Last Sunday, “Father’s Day”, my parish church gave all father’s a St. Joseph Novena Prayer Card.

Below the prayer, were written these words:

“This prayer was found in the fiftieth year of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In 1505 it was sent from the Pope to Emperor Charles when he was going into battle. Whoever shall read this prayer or hear it or keep it about themselves shall never die a sudden death, or be drowned, nor shall poison take effect on them; nor shall they fall into the hands of the enemy, or shall be burned in any fire or shall be overpowered in battle.”

This statement was followed by:

Say for nine mornings for anything you may desire. It has never been known to fail, so be sure you really want what you ask.

Bro. Ignatius this is very troubling to me. It reminds me of a problem in my former parish church some 15 years ago. At that time, there were prayer requests left in the pews instructing us to say this St. Jude Novena Prayer for nine days, and to make eight copies which were to be left in the church pews. The St. Jude Novena gave the same guarantee. "Whatever you ask for will be given to you, this has never been known to fail".

Bro. Ignatius, the St. Joseph Novena Prayer Card, other than indicating, “Made in Italy” had no reference to its origin, particular group, printing house, publisher, or religious organization responsible for the making and distribution of these novena prayer cards.

I believe them to be harmful, misleading, and destructive.

My question is, because I feel that these guarantees are more of a supernatural occult, magical nature, and far beyond the authority of anyone, saint or mortal, other than God himself, no one has, or has had, such power. I belileve that this could be associated with the New Age Movement that has surfaced once again. Such danger exists, and there are to many of Christ's sheep who remain vulnerable.

Bro. Ignatius, should I confront our Pastor, or should I just keep silent? In the past, confronting our Pastor with what I know he also knew was wrong, managed to cause me pain, since the Pastor had more of a liberal ideology.

I value your council.

God bless you and your ministry.

John R.

Question Answered by

Dear John:

This has nothing to do with the "New Age" as these prayers were written, in some cases, hundreds of years ago.

But, for some reason there seems to be a "tradition" of superstitution among many Catholics. Superstition is a sin.

While some of these old promises attached to prayers or sacramentals are not technically problematic when properly understood, they are worded in a way that pretty much "guarantees" misinterpretation by contemporary man. If the writer of the promises was with superstitious intent, or if the promises are interpreted superstitiously by someone today, believing that the promises guarantee some spiritual, personal, or material benefit, then it is nothing more than superstition and patently improper and sinful.

Prayers are not magic. Alleged promises are not talismans. If we treat these prayers or sacramentals like magical talismans, and this especially includes the Brown Scapular and the St. Joseph Statue buried upside down to sell a house, then we spit on God by violating the First Commandment as this is not faith but superstition.

As for informing the pastor, I would, even if I figured the pastor is too liberal to care. If he didn't care, then I would be inclined to write the Bishop. But then, that is me.

Whether or not you should talk to your pastor is something you will need to decide for yourself. If there really is no point to talk with him as he will not be receptive, then commit it to prayer. Under no circumstances, however, should you decide against talking to him out of fear of personal pain. Fear is not of God, and the pain that comes from standing up for the Truth is a blessing and a privilege.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum