# Prayer for San Bernardino and the Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe
*2015-12-05*

> Bill Young reflects on the life of St. Sabas and leads the third day of a novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe, offering prayers for the people of San Bernardino.

## The Example of St. Sabas

Today is Saturday, December 5th, the feast day of St. Sabas. While he may not be as well known in some circles, he is highly regarded in the Eastern Church and among the monks of Palestine. Born in 439, Father Sabas became a priest and an abbot in the fifth century. His life was defined by a simple, powerful desire: to pray to God and dedicate his entire life to Him. His example reminds us all how vital the power of prayer is in our own lives.

## Intercessions for the Hurting

We ask St. Sabas to pray for us and specifically for those in San Bernardino, California. We pray that prayer becomes a part of everyone's daily life. We lift up those who are misguided, praying that they may see that God is love and not hate, and that all may recognize the value of innocent life. In particular, we pray for the child who has lost both parents through no fault of their own.

## Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe

Today marks the third day of our novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe. We ask Mary to take care of a six-month-old baby, guiding him through his life so that he may become a believer in Christ. We know that anything is possible for those who believe in the Lord; perhaps one day this child will become a monk and a saint, following in the footsteps of St. Sabas.

## Closing Prayers

We conclude with the Creed and the prayers of the novena. We turn to Mary, whose Immaculate Heart was pierced by seven swords of grief, asking her to help us walk valiantly amid the sharp thorns across our pathways and to obtain for us the strength to be true imitators of her. We join together in the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Glory Be.

*Through the intercession of the saints and Our Lady of Guadalupe, we find the strength to persevere through life's thorns and the grace to trust in God's love.*