†   In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.   Amen.

Reflection

Selections from
"Sister Elizabeth's Spoken Words on 'love'"

 

"Sister Elizabeth based her religious life on the efficacy of transforming love. One of her sayings was: 'I love Him, and by loving Him, I am transformed into Him'."

"Consolation or aridity: everything was accepted for love. After a retreat passed in aridity, Sister Elizabeth observed: 'When one loves God, it is as simple to suffer as to enjoy'."

"Sister Elizabeth loved the austerity of the Carmelite life because she lived it as a means, and at the same time as a proof of the truth of her love. In this regard she felt that it made things clear: 'One thirsts to render Him love for Love'."

"Sister Elizabeth questioned me humbly on spiritual subjects which she knew better than I. At my replies she exclaimed: 'That's it, yes, that's it. It is so beautiful, isn't it? One should forget oneself unceasingly and do everything for love'."

"When I went to visit Sister Elizabeth she encouraged me with goodness and said to me: 'Throw yourself into the arms of God who is all Love'."

"It was love that made Sister Elizabeth desire Heaven, for many times I heard her remind me of the words of St. Paul: 'I desire to be dissolved to be with Christ'."

"Sister Elizabeth's soul could surmount suffering in order to abandon itself to the Love that was doing its work within her: 'I feel Love beside me like a living being who says to me: "I want to live in your company; to this end I want you to suffer without thinking that you are suffering, surrendering yourself simply to my action'."

"When enduring burning pain Sister Elizabeth was heard to repeat: 'God is a consuming fire; God is a simple Being,He is Love, so all His acts are Love. And I like to think that it is His Love that is consuming me'."

"One of Sister Elizabeth's last words to the Community: 'Everything passes. At the evening of life love alone remains. One must forget oneself without ceasing .... If only I had always done that!'."

Prayer
O Blessed Elizabeth, in your life here on earth you knew how to balance austerity and sweetness, and you saw 'denying oneself' in its proper light. Help me to follow your example, and to contemplate the law of dying to self which appears so austere; and yet is of delicious sweetness, when one sees the end of this 'dying', which is the life of God put in place of our life of sin and misery. Pray for me that, through your example, my whole exercise may be to abide in Love.

Petition
Blessed Elizabeth, please intercede with the Master for the favours which I petition in this Novena: if it be His Holy Will; and if not, then ask Him to grant me those graces I stand most in need of.

here specify your requests

Blessed Elizabeth, with confidence, I invoke your aid.
Blessed Elizabeth, with confidence, I invoke your aid.
Blessed Elizabeth, with confidence, I invoke your aid.
pray: Our Father, Hail Mary (thrice), Glory Be

O Blessed Elizabeth! In your great love of God, You were always so close to the needs of your friend's. Now that you are in Heaven, before the face of the Lord, Please intercede with Him for the needs I ask you. Teach me how to abide, in Love and Faith, with the Holy Trinity in the depth of my heart. Teach me how to radiate God's Love among men and women, in my everyday life, just as you did yourself, so that I may be a praise of God's glory.

Almighty, everlasting God, by whose leave I pay homage to the merits of Your saint Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity, I pray that through her intercession; You will bestow upon me, the fullness of Your mercy for which I long, and that I may abide in the Love of Christ. I ask this prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

†   In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.   Amen.

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In addition to praying the Novena, you may also like to pray for Sabeth's Canonization - a thought, a short heart-felt prayer, or a Holy Mass offering - anything like that offered to Jesus will 'wound' His Sacred Heart with 'arrows' of love.

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Acknowledgements

1.) The Reflections for each day of our Novena, are taken from the 'Summarium' - a collection of the spoken words of SisterElizabeth recorded in the 'Processes for her Beatification and Canonization'.

The site owner wishes to acknowledge with deep gratitude the permission given by the Prioress of The Carmel of Maria Regina, to quote from: "Elizabeth Still Speaks ...".

This book is a treasured source of reference for all of Sabeth's friends.

The references used in this Novena are as follows:

Day	Number in 'ESS'
1	59
2	70, also see 172
3	84
4	88
5	98
6	127
7	171
8	176
9	191
-	89,62 - Prayer

2.) Grateful thanks are also accorded to the Dijon-Flavignerot Carmel for permission to reproduce the prayer following the 'Our Father ...' with slight changes in translation (approved by the Carmel).