4 Magdalene: “Woman, why are you crying?”

St Mary Magdalene, pray for us.

Reflection Novena day four:

I have heard that each question that Jesus asks in the Bible is for us to answer. Here it is angels that ask the question to St. Magdalene, which could be a question our guardian angels ask us when we are upset, “Woman, why are you crying?” How many times have we cried feeling overwhelmed especially with the grief of having lost someone we dearly love, like Mary Magdalene cried.  In the silence of our hearts, when that grief of loss comes up, may we not be silent to our guardian angel asking “Why are you crying” and our response be one of prayer, essentially a conversation with our loving God. 

"Why are you crying?"

On this third day of the novena, I continue to pray for those most vulnerable and the ones in relationship to them. I am praying from smallest to oldest and today I would like to pray for babies in utero, for their protection especially for those in danger of death from illness, illness of their mothers, and danger of abortion. 

I pray that their mothers receive quality medical care, spiritual care and when they cry that they know there is a loving God who loves them and the little life their body is holding. I pray for fathers of these children to be consoled in their worries and pain. I pray for the dignity and purity of women in childbearing years. 

Day four: 

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

St Mary Magdalene, intercede for us.

Lord have mercy,

Christ have mercy,

Lord have mercy,

Christ hear us,

Christ graciously hear us,.

God the Father of heaven,

Have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the World,

Have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit, Holy Trinity one God,

Have mercy on us.

Mary of Magdalene, you cried with grief at losing your beloved friend and Lord. Please intercede in our prayer for the vulnerable and for the conversion to deeper faith to those who protect them. Today we pray for the safety of all babies in utero. We pray that their mothers are in good health, that they grow closer to our Lord and see the miracle of life that He has bestowed upon them. We pray that you intercede for women in difficult pregnancies for them to feel the consoling presence of their guardian angels and the guardian angel of their baby. Through your story of conversion, we pray for the change of men and women to grow in the virtue of purity and for women and men to see their bodies and life as a gift from God. 

Hail Mary full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art though among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory for ever.

All glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be a world without end. Amen.