A Novena for the Ordinariate

The Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham begins its "Called to Be Holy" novena of prayers and spiritual writings from the English tradition tomorrow:

For the nine days of the Called to be Holy Novena, we have made a selection from the many holy men and women who form part of the heritage of English Christianity. The fact that they are all 'English' does not, we hope, exclude those in Wales and Scotland who will be praying this Novena. Indeed we intend by means of this website to explore the spirituality (the genuine Celtic stuff) from the northern and western parts of the British Isles at some future date.

The daily provision of this booklet may be used in many different ways. Some will pray it formally, using the Short Office provided on the inside front and back covers. Others may wish to incorporate the material into their own daily prayers, or at the end of the Divine Office. Some will carry the booklet with them, to read on the bus to work or during their lunch break. We hope that we shall all be inspired by our great tradition of English spiritual writers across the centuries.

If you wish--as I do--to join in on the prayers, you could download or even print the novena booklet from the Ordinariate website. Among those English writers chosen you'll find Blessed John Henry Newman, the anonymous author of The Cloud of Unknowing, Julian of Norwich, and Anglicans Launcelot Andrewes, Thomas Ken, and Evelyn Underhill.

You could also follow the Novena each day on the website here.