Happy Feast of St. Anne

Happy Feast of St. Anne!

Another year, another novena concludes to one of my favorite saints. Though the answer is still "no" for the intention I earnestly pray for each year (ahem...at least I started my period yesterday and not on her feast day) I couldn't help but be struck by the responsorial psalm today:

R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.

The eyes of all look hopefully to you,
and you give them their food in due season;
you open your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

The LORD is just in all his way
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.


"and you give them their food in due season"

This made me think about needs vs. wants and why God so often answers prayers with a "no" (or at least "not yet"). He does address all our needs but always with our greater spiritual welfare in mind.

"and satisfy the desire of every living thing"

I will pray my novena to St. Anne next year and likely every year ahead with the same intention she's heard these past 10 years. I will persevere in prayer and in hope that I can be rid of this cross but in the mean time, I take comfort in knowing that, disappointed though I am, St. Anne is also interceding for my greater spiritual needs.