PRAYER (from Greek euchesthai, Latin precari, French prier, to plead, to beg, to ask earnestly) is an act of the virtue of religion which consists in asking proper gifts or graces from God. In a more general sense it is the application of the mind to Divine things, not merely to acquire a knowledge of them but to make use of such knowledge as a means of union with God. This may be done by acts of praise and thanksgiving, but petition is the principal act of prayer.
DEVOTION, in the language of ascetical writers, denotes a certain ardor of affection in the things of God, and even without any qualifying prefix it generally implies that this ardor is of a sensible character. On the other hand, by the term “devotions” in the plural, or “popular devotions”, we commonly understand those external practices of piety by which the devotion of the faithful finds life and expression.
A NOVENA (from Latin novem, nine) is nine days’ private or public devotion in the Catholic Church to obtain special graces. The octave has more of the festal character; to the novena belongs that of hopeful mourning, of yearning, of prayer. “The number nine in Holy Writ is indicative of suffering and grief” (St. Jerome, in Ezech., vii, 24; — P.L., XXV, 238, cf. XXV, 1473). Four kinds of novenas can be distinguished: novenas of mourning, of preparation, of prayer, and the indulgenced novenas, though this distinction is not exclusive.
– Catholic Encyplopedia; Fisheaters
PRAYER
FIRST MONDAY OF THE MONTH: Monday Night Prayer Group
7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Church
Contact: Deacon Steve Tobon, (718) 987-2670
DEVOTIONS
MONDAY-SATURDAY: Holy Rosary
8:10 a.m. and 11:10 a.m. (Monday-Friday)
8:10 a.m. (Saturday)
Church
Contact: Rectory, (718) 987-2670
FRIDAYS: Divine Mercy
3:00 p.m.
Chapel
Contact: Rectory, (718) 987-2670
NOVENAS
MONDAYS: Miraculous Medal
After 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Masses
Church
Contact: Rectory, (718) 987-2670
TUESDAYS: St. Anthony of Padua
(13 weeks culminating on the week of the Feast of St. Anthony, June 13)
After 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Masses
Church
Contact: Rectory, (718) 987-2670