A Prayer for Hope

Amelia's Christmas Novena - Day 4

St. Nathaniel (also known as Bartholomew) is the patron saint of those with neurological diseases,¹ like Amelia’s. He was also one of the Twelve Apostles, and witnessed a minor miracle when he was called—Jesus knew him from a distance.

Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?”

Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

Faith is trust in God; hope is that trust extended into the future. Jesus offered Nathaniel hope, and he offers it to us, as well.

St. Nathaniel, pray for us that we may maintain hope even through difficult times.

Amelia’s Christmas Novena - Day 4

O Lord, Word of God, You, whose glory is complete, came to us in perfect humility as a child in the womb. Your love for us and Your humility is unsurpassed and brings us to our knees in prayer and worship.

Your incarnation forever changed the world.

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, world without end. Amen.

O Lord, infant Jesus, bring us the Hope that saves! Your birth to the Virgin Mary brought a Hope to the world that continues to sustain us. We pray for a saving Hope this Christmas.

We also pray for the healing of Amelia, and that her miraculous cure will bring all who know her closer to You.

May Your Holy Will be done in our life and with these intentions.

We pray that the work of salvation that Your first coming began will reach fulfillment in each of us.

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, world without end.

Amen.

1. Because he was flayed alive, a process which exposed his nervous system.