Day 9, Novena to the Sacred Heart. Meditation: Jesus has promised to come and take us to heaven when our life's journey is over. We were made for a life of complete fulfilment and happiness forever. Our prayer life is meant to prepare us for this. Prayer: Lord, you gave us life so that we could be with you in heaven forever. Help us to persevere in a life of heart-prayer, no matter how little progress we seem to be making. Sacred Heart of Jesus, make us ready for heaven. Music by Fr Rob Galea www.FrRobGalea.com - ℗ 2011 Robert Galea - used with permission. Visit Totus2us.com for much more - dedicated to Our Lady, it is inspired by our holy fathers - St John Paul II, Papa Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.

Day 8, Novena to the Sacred Heart. Meditation: True friends do not desert each other in times of sorrow and trouble. Jesus invited his disciples to stay with him in his passion. By uniting our crosses with his, we can enter more deeply into his life, and become more like him. Prayer: Lord, help us to pray each Friday on your passion and death, and so to stay with you in your real human suffering. Help us to realize that you are close to us, especially in our times of suffering. Sacred Heart of Jesus, stay with us in our suffering. Music by Fr Rob Galea www.FrRobGalea.com - ℗ 2011 Robert Galea - used with permission. Visit Totus2us.com for much more - dedicated to Our Lady, it is inspired by our holy fathers - St John Paul II, Papa Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.

Day 7, Novena to the Sacred Heart. Meditation: One of the main fruits of faithfulness in prayer is the gradual opening of our eyes, so that we learn to take Christ at his words. Very few Christians really believe that our God lives within hearts that truly seek him. How different our lives would be if we could accept this. Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us truly to believe in your words. While on earth, your greatest happiness was to encounter real faith. Teach us in prayer to recognise your presence within us, and how to really live our faith. Sacred Heart of Jesus, increase our faith. Music by Fr Rob Galea www.FrRobGalea.com - ℗ 2011 Robert Galea - used with permission. Visit Totus2us.com for much more - dedicated to Our Lady, it is inspired by our holy fathers - St John Paul II, Papa Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.

Day 6, Novena to the Sacred Heart. Meditation: It is true that from our earliest days Jesus has stood knocking at the door of our hearts, and will do so until the end of our lives, with infinite patience. It is never too late to open the door to our hearts and to invite him in. Prayer: Lord, we do not understand why you love us so much and are so patient with us. It can only be because you are love itself, and so want only the joy and happiness of the beloved. Help us to be open to you. Sacred Heart of Jesus, help us to listen to you. Music by Fr Rob Galea www.FrRobGalea.com - ℗ 2011 Robert Galea - used with permission. Visit Totus2us.com for much more - dedicated to Our Lady, it is inspired by our holy fathers - St John Paul II, Papa Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.

Day 5, Novena to the Sacred Heart. Meditation: It is the Master who is calling us now to come to him in prayer. In every human heart, there is a deep longing for God, because we are all made for him. We need to take time out for prayer. Prayer: Lord, grant that our personal meetings with you in prayer may become the joy of our lives. Every moment spent in your company changes us slowly. Give us grace to allow you to love us, and to transform our lives. Sacred Heart of Jesus, help us grow in prayer. Music by Fr Rob Galea www.FrRobGalea.com - ℗ 2011 Robert Galea - used with permission. Visit Totus2us.com for much more - dedicated to Our Lady, it is inspired by our holy fathers - St John Paul II, Papa Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.

Day 4, Novena to the Sacred Heart. Meditation: It is especially when we are in difficulties that our prayer life becomes a source of strength and peace for us. In ever crisis we face, Jesus is bidding us come across the troubled waters to him. Through each event of our lives, our God is shaping us for a future of happiness. Prayer: Lord, it is so hard for us to recognise you in the difficult times in our lives. Yet you are always there in the midst of them, ready to reach out your hand to hold and save us. Help us to grow in trust of you. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you. Music by Fr Rob Galea www.FrRobGalea.com - ℗ 2011 Robert Galea - used with permission. Visit Totus2us.com for much more - dedicated to Our Lady, it is inspired by our holy fathers - St John Paul II, Papa Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.

Day 3, Novena to the Sacred Heart. Meditation: In prayer, we come as loved and forgiven sinners to meet Jesus. He told us that he came to call sinners to repentance, and that he would give his life for love of them. He sought out their company, as he did Zacchaeus, and changed their lives. Prayer: Lord, you came to invite sinners to be your friends. Help us to recognise our need for your healing and forgiveness. When you forgive, you also forget our sins. Help us to do the same for ourselves and others. Sacred Heart of Jesus, heal us in body and spirit. Music by Fr Rob Galea www.FrRobGalea.com - ℗ 2011 Robert Galea - used with permission. Visit Totus2us.com for much more - dedicated to Our Lady, it is inspired by our holy fathers - St John Paul II, Papa Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.

Day 2, Novena to the Sacred Heart. Meditation: If we are busy that we do not have even 15 minutes each day to feed our spirit in prayer, then we are too busy. Our human nature longs for the truth, beauty and love that are in God, and for the joy and peace to be found in being with him. Prayer: Lord, help us to hear your invitation to take our time out each day to turn aside and rest in your company. Teach us to speak to you in our own words, and teach us how to listen to you in our hearts. Sacred Heart of Jesus, stay with us always. Music by Fr Rob Galea www.FrRobGalea.com - ℗ 2011 Robert Galea - used with permission. Visit Totus2us.com for much more - dedicated to Our Lady, it is inspired by our holy fathers - St John Paul II, Papa Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.

Day 1, Novena to the Sacred Heart. Meditation: Because prayer is a relationship of love, Jesus always leaves us free to respond or not. He asks each of us what it is we really want. To those who really want to find him, he says 'Come, and meet me in real prayer, and open your hearts to me.' Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are saying to each of us 'Come and see.' Help us to meet you truly in prayer, and to discover the joy of coming to know and love you. Teach us how to spend time with you every day. Sacred Heart of Jesus, open our hearts to you. Music by Fr Rob Galea www.FrRobGalea.com - ℗ 2011 Robert Galea - used with permission. Visit Totus2us.com for much more - dedicated to Our Lady, it is inspired by our holy fathers - St John Paul II, Papa Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.

Day 9, Novena for Peace. Extracts from St John Paul II's homily at Pentecost in England, 1982: "“How many are your works, O Lord!” (Ps 104, 24). These words of the responsorial psalm evoke gratitude from our hearts and a hymn of praise from our lips. Indeed how many are the works of the Lord, how great are the effects of the Holy Spirit’s action in Confirmation! When this Sacrament is conferred, the words of the psalm are fulfilled among us: “You send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the earth” (Ps 104 30). On the first day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles and upon Mary and filled them with his power. Today we remember that moment and we open ourselves again to the gift of that same Holy Spirit. In that Spirit we are baptized. In that Spirit we are confirmed. In that Spirit we are called to share in the mission of Christ. In that Spirit we shall indeed become the People of Pentecost, the apostles of our time. “Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.” Amen." Music: Traditional Arabic Hymn to the Virgin, played by The Seminarians. Visit Totus2us.com for much more - dedicated to Our Lady, it is inspired by our holy fathers - St John Paul II, Papa Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.