Novena to St. Philomena the Wonder Worker
for the healing of autistic children and adults and for help for their families, carers and the professionals who work with them. (The novena details are below the list of names).
Autistic children and adults to be prayed for:
Andy, Doug, Steven, Wesley, Mikah, Stephanie, Brandon, Greg, Alec, Eric, Chris, Justin, Jon, Timothy, Laura, Dane, Keith, Robert, Nick, Thomas, Mark, Elliot, Josh, Nick, Joseph, Vijay, Renea, John, Anne,
Gabriel, Frank, Sandeep, Tom, Benjamin, Ryan, Brenda, Jonathan,
Dylan, Teddy, Jacob, Christopher, Jared, Dylan, Anthony, Francesa, Joseph, Raven, Stevie, Nathan, Trevor, Joseph, Mark, Brodie, Robyn, John, Drake, Vanessa, Pierce, Patrick, Joseph, Jacob, Rocco, Mitch, Michael, Cade, Owen, Alex, Brendan, Kyle, Will, Jake, Flynn, Matthew, Kaitlin, Sophia, Revanth, Kusha Conrad, Carter, Katie, Joey, Zach, Collin, Brett, Robert, Nick, Hamish, Justin, Kelly, Katie, Samuel, Hayden, Jack, Nick, Julia, Ben, Henry, Conor, Aaron, Abu, Dillon, David, Lucas, Noah, Samuel, Robert Dean, Lono, Matthew, Aaron, Blake, Gavin, Michael, Paul, Timothy, Jacob, Francis, Alicia, Ethan Nathaniel, Andrew, Wilson, Douglas, Junie Joseph, Aaron, Maria, Maximus, Biancas, Jennifer, Isaac, Isaiah, Erika, Matthew, Joshua, Michael, Gloria and her little brother, Declan, Michael, Enrique, Xavier, Christian, Sarah, Ben, Nick, Matt, Preston Michael, Conor, Owen, Beverly, Noel, Ian.
Daniel, Anthony, Charlie, Keith, Matthew, Austin, Kevin, Stephen, Mark, Louis, Jacqueline, David Andrew, Ryan, Nicholas, Cameron, Brother of James, William John, David, Cody, Alex, Christian, Mckenzie, Taylor, Bradley, Michael, Dillon, Ryan, Caleb, Toby Alex, Zachary, Destiney,Tristan, Tiffany, Albert Anthony Pio, Diego, Ralph, Mia, Jonathan, Daniel, Elsa, Ramon, Edye, Adalberto, Patricia, Oscar, Luca, Bransen, Collin, Ean, Shelby, Chase, Michael, Alexander, Joshua, Cooper, Aldo, Chip, Dalton, John B, Michael, Kaitlyn Marie, Lucy, Angela, Peter, David, Darcy, Rita, Helen, Mark, Natasha, Michael, Maria, Danny, Catherine, David, Hasan, Stephen, John, Zack, Christopher, Clarissa, Anja, Shane, Emily, Luke, Kaare, Scot, Alejandro, Kai, Didi, Niall, Fonsie, Frances Mae, Nacho. Juliane, Sharmila, Ella, Gabriel Marion, Michaela Denisse, Ralph, Mito, Nathan, Joshua Rafael, Alain Albert, Nelson, Geoffrey, Kalvin, Jaime, Nathan Isaiah, Sidray, Bea, Elisha, Jacob Aaron, Nacho, Albert, Mardave, Adam, Aloy, Ron, Hendrick, Miguel Vincent, Justin, Aron, Adrian, Enrique, Gwyneth Lim, Drei, Juan Pablo, Lorenzo Isaac, Gabrielle, Raphael Gabriel, Seidji, CJ, Joey, Bradd.
Nikolai, Sandro, Juliane, Niall, Ethan, Brian Benjamin, Julian Raphael, John Benedict, Cheska, Edan Geoff, Aaren Elize, Daniel, Gregorio, Russel Arvin, Beatrice Anne, Tristan Louie, Joseph, Angelo, Patrick, Ralph Richard, Rohann, Richard Gabriel, Georgette Andrea, Nicolo, Michael, Aaron Tyler, Miguel, Nash, Joshwa Dominik, Brent Cedric, Erik, Xavy, Jake, Rosemary, Colton, David, Liz, Matthew, Danny, Isaiah, Marco, Adam, Noah Christian, Devon, Mat, Griffin, Heather, Joshua, Christopher, Joseph, Pierre-Andre, Katrina Marie, Steve, Rick, Darrien, Gus, Bill, Jesi, Aaron Joseph, Ryan, Elliott, Aaron Philippe, Sara, Charles, Ty, Tanner, Noah, Riccardo, Ruah, Faith, Amanda, Daniel Adam, Ryan, Skyler, Derek, Nicholas-Raymond, Alexander-Francis, Chris, Robert, Olivia, James, Caleb, Thomas, Marianne, Steven, Adam, Joseph Kyle, Miguel Luis, Cara Mia, Aaron, Michael, Juan Pablo, Joan, Ralph, Andrew, Elizabeth, Ray, Sara, Nicholas, Ivan, Clarita, Charity, James, Steve, Cameron, Eleandrei, Nicholas Stephen, Henderson, Burke, Josh, Clare Jian-Cui, Mary, Elizabeth, Eileen, Gary.
Hailey Marie, Scott, Nicholas, Alexander, Christopher, Brandon, Eric, Jered, Jacob, Alphonse, Carl Nathan, Rafael Miguel Cristobal, Christopher Patrick, Shaun, Gabriel Nicolo, Andrew, Christopher, Ryan, Mary Anne Elizabeth, Rohann, Isabella, Xandi, Nico, Christopher Lance, Joshua, James, Silas, Ella, Carly, Eli, James, Charlie, Elijah, Anika, Malcolm, Christopher, Peter, Meghan, Clancy, Geswin Jasper, Christina, Thomas, Ursula, Moira, William, Micheal, Issak, Matthew, Casper, Nicolas, Guy, Julie, Aiden, Andrew, Scott, David, Noah, Michael, Rachel, Michaela, Sebastian, Niki, Susan, Billy, Helena, Valerie, Brian, Carol, Olivia, Antonio, Jacob, Wayne, Daniel, Veronica, Steven, Owen, Christopher, Joe Michael, Isaiah, David, Christopher, Michelle, Rosalinda, Samantha, David, Nicholas, Amanda, Charlie, Ally, Katrina, Mateo Eduardo, Antonio, Griffin Christopher, Logan, Riley, Parker, Alexandra, Zachary, Kevin, Jack, Michael T, Jean T, Kevin M., Katherine Julia, Sean, Alex, Conor, Dylan, Patrick, Cameron, Jordan, Be, Kevin, Joseph, Susana, Justine. Jessica, Avery, John Paul, Michael Joseph, Bobby, Kevin, D.J., Marco, Ezekiel, Matthew Romuald, John, Bess, Peter, Melissa, Amanda Marie, Mikey, Richie, Sergio, Alex.
Ingrid, Catherine, Cecilia, Philip, Kaleb Coonrod, Andrew, Cassie, Kyle, Justin, Kristine, Aaron, Katherine, Matthew, Clay, Joshua, Karen, Avery-Grace, Jim, Landon, Stephanie, Billy, Jonathan, Max, Jeremiah, Steven, Damian, Savanna, Landon, William, Dustin, Elliot, Devin, Leslie, Daniel, Nathaniel, Robert, Craig, Wes, Zachary, Jan, Jacob, Ryan Anthony, John Paul, Gianna, Ali, Rudy, Alex, Max, Rudy, Heidi, Dominic, Anthony, Joshua, Alex, Daniel, Carlos, Emilio, Liza, Julio, Matthew, Anthony, Andrew , Thomas, Christopher, Maria, Lou, Augustine, Josiah, Conor, Finbar, James, Charlie, Stefano, Adrian, Mary, Joseph Vincent
Jake, Robert, Eric, Michael, TJ, Christian, Christopher, Brian, Edward, Jamal, Ryan, Jack, Alex, Charlie, Channing, Joshua C., Michael B, Josh, Danny, Dan, Ben, Elam, Luke, James, Shon, Tyler, Marcus, Truman, Brooke, Melanie, Roderick, Aaron, Marcus, Fitz, Nadir, Scott, Robert, Mark, Larry, Julieo, Colin, Rece, Korbin, David, Sam, Chris, Taylor Mikey, Brian, Hamilton, Michaela, Annie, John, Sam, Martin, Peter, Clare, Amanda, Edmund Francis, Brock, Mikey, Will, Margaret, Nick, Dillon, John, Clay, Ricardo Emmaunuel, Joey, Drake.
Nicholas, Austin, Rocco, Allison, Kevin, Michael, Hayden, Christopher, Chaz, Matt, Jake, Jordan, Delaney, Shadman, Jose, Nikki, Emma, Sam, Aaron, Craig, Marcus, Kyle, Max, Jaimee, McKenzie, Dylan, Robbie, Jason, Andrew Joe, Kevin, Briana, Ethan, Zarchary, Derek, Philip, Johnny, Caitlin, Raymond, Luke, Stephanie, Jacob, Theodor, Luke, Anthony, Eric, Shawn, Charlie, Jimmy, Max, Cody, Rebecca, Arianne, David Jonathan, Bailey, Lucas, Randall, Eric, Nolan James, John B., Michael B., Stephen G., Daniel S., Peter Michael, Martin, Lauren, Keegan, Jacob, LB, Kyle, Mark, Bobbie, Lorrain, Andrew, Jack, Grant, Abdula, Rose, Anthony, Tia, Alexander Michael, Christopher, Michael, Alexander, Nicholas, Paul, Amelia, Alexis, Kathy, Karen, Samantha, John Paul, Joseph, Sean, Jonathan, Joseph, Michael, Joy, Chase, Michael Sean, Joey, Ian, Kathy, Gail, Nicolas, Dillon, Natasha, Scott, Steve, Julie, Nicholas, Ryan, Sean, Dean, Paul, Jonathan, Jacob, Gina, Brendan, Michael, Colin, Isiah, Greg, Mathew, Ashley, Karl, Jay, Ryan, Thomas, Derrick, Evan, Casey, Danny, Robbie, Max, Jenny, Christopher, Caroline, Juliana, William Anthony, Nathalie Elizabeth.
Joshua, Alex, Daniel, Carlos, Emilio, Liza, Julio, Matthew, Anthony, Andrew, Amanda, Lauren, Ben, Will, Lucas, Charles-Andrew, Randal, Ivy-Jean, Ophelia-Ann, John-Paul, Kathryn, David, Shane, Dan, Vincent, Thomas, Joseph Dominic, Gene, Amanda, Natasha, Samuel, Laura Francesca, Kenny, Eric, Nicholas, John (senior), John (Junior), Vincent, Ritagai, Nathaniel, Leonard, Matthew, Stephen, Arielle, Alexander, Jacob, Jordan, Michael I., Jessica I., Melissa G., Benjamin, Kristian, Andrew, Rusty, Justin, Cooper, Lola Beth, Marie, Nathan, Charlie, Joseph, Andrea, Kristen Bree, Elizabeth, Sam, Sharlene, Derek, Jack, Jordan, Austin, Joey, Timothy, Joelle, Timothy, Maryanna, Michael, Lauren, Kianna, Joey, Spencer, Gavin, James, Mark, Jonathan, Luka, Stephanie, David, Paul, John Peter, Andy, Frankie, Brett, Alwin, Kieran , Nestor, Enrico, Nicholas, Matthew, Hutson, Kaleb, Ryan Anthony, John Paul, Gianna, Ali, Heidi, Dominic, Darcy, Josh, Keff, Anthony and Hamilton, Casey, Matthew, Ryan, Tyler, Shaney, Nolan C., Michael B., Amy, Frank, Evan, Jamie, Damian, Mark, Peter, Therese, Lucas, Ray, Eva, Andrew.
Raymond, Christina, Maddie, Jacqueline Mary, Nick, Noah, Morgan, Will, Daniel, Kevin, Charlie, Timmy, Brooke, Sarah, Joey, Matthew, Joseph, Evan, Faith, Kyle, Brendan, Abby, Eddie, Eric, Ethan, James, Corey, Brendan, Patrick, Aleese Terese, Will S., Will, Brad, Catherine, Gabby, Ramsey, Kolbe Matthew, Mackenzie, Kevin, Chelsea, Christy, Jacob, Michael, Stephen, Abraham, Kenneth, Margaret, Michael M., Thomas Edward, John, Christopher, Rachalle Lauren, Robert, Nicholas, Parker, Ryan, Nathan C., Shane Michael, Christopher Patrick, Nigel, Christian, Marina, Nate, Caitlyn, Michael, Billy D., Nicole L., Will W., Austin, Leo, Isaac, Susannah, Blaise, Kevin, Ian, Seth, Patrick, Jason, Melissa, Max, Celeste, Dena, Henry, Giancarlo, Matthew, David F., Cody F., Andy, Eric, Adam, Laura, Paul, Angie Denise, Anthony Raul, Charlie, Owen Brendan, Michael, Omar, Alina, Christopher, Joshua, Billy, Jay, Isabella Indira, Kevin, Joshua, Thomas, Matthew, Abby, Robert, James, Matthew, Jack, Stevie, Eddie, Cristian, Raquel, Luigi, Katharine Micheal, Brandon, Gabi, Kristian, Ben.
Alexandria, Christopher, Erica, Nejweh, Rahem, Reece, Alex, Kristina, Jiza’s brother, Evan, Michael H., Michael M., Hunter, Lydia, Brady, Alec, Victoria, Manny, Marshall, Luke, Shane, Ebony, Nick, Anna, Marisa, Addie, James and John (twins), Domingo, Charlie, Kholton, Jaden, Josh, Kris and Khole (twins), Thorin, Baily, Trent, Dylan, Ethan, Marshall, Courtney, John, Marianna, Peter, Genaro, Mikayla, Zachary, David, Matthew James, Daniel, Kenny, Charlene, Neil, Laura, David, Tristan Andrew, Brittany, Savannah, Taylor, Michael Joseph, Jonathan, Nicholas, Jacob, Scott, Benjamin, Sarah, Nolan, Sully, Julie AnnMarie, Garrett Andrew, Rafael, Edward, Alex, Andre, Rory, Padraeg, Vinnie, Cathy, Eddy, Ramon, Champ, Michael, Nicole, Sam, Jon, Steven. Joshua, Jacob, Abijah, Redempta Marie –Eugenie, John, Max, Steven, Jack, Alexa Marie, Peter Joseph, Felix, John, Lorenzo, Jared, Jacob, Justin, James, Roger, Nate, Matthew, Michael, Erica, Selena, Logan, Patrick, Mallory, Joanne, Peter, Maria, Amelito, Kaitlin, Ryan, Josef, Andrew, Owen Michael, Ryan Joseph, Matthew, Jessica, Ashton, Luis, Andrew K., Andrew G., Celina, Nathaniel, Oscar, Marco, Steve, Tim.
Travis, John, Kelly, Mary, Lori, Linda, Michele, Rita, Sandy, Becky, Justin, Cassie, Ryan, Darrel, Andrew, Thomas, Samantha, Emily, Jason, Zach, Renee, Paul, Leah, Eric, Mary, Melissa, Trisha, Stacey, Joanna, Angie, Alice, Philip, Daniel, Joseph, Alicia, Dana, Elizabeth, Kohl, John, Kaleb, Jordan, Lindsey, David, John, Robert Franz, Kaitlyn, Adam, Katherine, Alec, Evan, Thomas, MelissaAnn, Derek Richard, Tommy, Jordan, Marty Rosie, Brennan, Phillip, Robert, Kirin, Joey, Matthew M., Robert T., Christopher C., Isabella, Ronan, Nathan, Marie Clare, Joel Anthony, Patrick, Felicia, Rocco, Ryan, Aidan G., Mark, Alexander, Ashley, Justin, Dale, Lawrence, Grant, Trevor, Phillip, Kate, Jonathan, Bob, Julianne S., Louis R., Julie S., Vincent, Bobby, Grace, Aaron Michael, Trent, Marko, Natalia, Patrik, Patrick Mitchell, Crawford, Elijah, Harrison, Adrian, Ian, Matthew, Chris, Cameron, Robert, Richard, Andrew, Michael, Brian, Nathaniel, Rick, Sean, Connor, Gus, Samuel, Ryan, Lauren Rose, Sean, Eric, Nora, John, Terri, Harsh, Chris, Carito, Joseph, Caroline, Barrett, Dougie, Billy, Michael, Troy, John John, Joshua Alexander, Nicholas Krystov, Alexander Joseph, Christopher, Alexander, Gianfranco, Julian.
Carmen, Shauna, Theresa, Michael, David, Donato, Paul, Janet, Ben, Liam, Bridget, Randy, Josh, Sean, Albie, Pouya, Aria, Michael, Tom, Brian , Christopher, Matthew, Adrianne, Brian, John, Brianne, Alissa, Elizabeth, Tyler, Jacob, Micayla, David, John, Sam, Oliver, Christina, Joseph, Devin, Toren, Travis, Isabel, Phillip, Mary, William, Conner, Joey, Daphney, Paul M., Tony M., Pete C., Becky C., Cody B., Michael B., Annie B., Kendall C., Kaleb S., Matthew S., Matthew, Anthony, Haydn, Sarah, Anna, Colby, Christy, John Paul, Brad, Anthony, Evan, Andrew, Connor, Tyler, Walter, Joseph, Mary Anna, Catherine, Thomas, Alex, Jericho, Jed, Antoinette, Anne, Max, Miggy, Eric, Joel, Nate, Morgan jnr, Morgan Snr, Evan, Thomas, John, Evan, Enda, Niall, James-Michael, Doreen, Harrison, Anna, Jan, Dominic Benedict, David, Billy, Caleb Allen, Holly Elizabeth, Cian, Eoin, Don, Brandon, Mathew, Lucas, Elias, Raelene, Carson Kodiak, Corinne Amelee, Alonzo Martin Petras, Isabel, Mark, Rohann Reelijah, Jennifer, Kevin, Campbell, Collin, Kyle, Lillian, Patrick, Angelo, Galen, Denzel, Benjamin, Rhea, Sean, John Calvin,
Benjamin, Kyra, Jacob, Alex, Tom, Daniel, Sean, Timothy, Monica, David, Rafael Gabriel.
Jude, John Karl, Ryan, Anna, Rodrigo, Natalie, Luke, Niko, Anthony, Brendon, Ferouk, Bronwyn, Khang, Tyrone, Ryan, Nathan, Alex, James, Basma, Kosta, Jared, Patrick, John, Matthew, Margaret, Christian, Rebecca, Daniel, Aiden, Colin, Nicholas, James, Victor, Rusty, Ben, Frank, Tony, James, Daniel, David, Sean Patrick, L.W., Nathan, Cameron, Eric, Sean, Chris, Robert, Rosalia, David R., John R., Nicole Ann, Rebecca Rose, Annabell, Nick, Erin, Alexander Francis, Nicholas Raymond, Mark K., Alex, Caitlin, Tyler, Michael, Jayce, Gloria, Liam, Ed, Nicola, Paula, Paul, Kayla, Bernadette, Sebastian, Sammy, Nicholas, Donald, Shawn-Michael, Matthew, Emily, Ryan, Matthew, Dylan, Dustin, Jake, Lexy, Sophie, Nick, Alice, Cedric, Neander, Danielle, Van Robert, Thomas, Caleb, Johnny, Jackson C.,
David P., John-Luis L., Sarah M., Bryce, Ayden, Allan, Liam, Alex, Ethan,
Alexander, Brielle, Alex, Cian, Paulina, Luke David, Libby, Jack, Augie, Dillion, Kyle, Joel, Daniele, Enrique-Gabriel, Justin, James, John, Kieran, Daniel, David, Alisha, Mast Fenwick, Nicolas Alexander, Scott, Bryan, Emily, Ben, Alfredo, Michael, Tanner, Cian, Eoin, Dylan, Connor, Marcus, Thomas, Vinodh, Josef, Anthony Mariano, Elijah Robert, Shreshto, Jadiel, Gabriela, Nabila, Nahin, Darwin, Dylan.
Beth, Teddy, Joseph, Dayne, Dayton, Tom, Jed, David, Matthew, Alasdair, Emmanuel, John, Peter, Ashley, Lane Gabriel, Max, Sean, Vincent, William, Braden Kipling, Charles William, Jonah, Ian, Henry, Adam Timothy, Joey, Gabriel Jesse, Charlie, Micahbelle, Stella, Elizabeth, Thomas, Marcus, Peter Anthony, Brian, Joshua, Andrew, Peter Anthony, Brian, Mikey, Leia, Erin, John, Ryan Stephen.
List updated on October 12, 2008 at 9.43 am (Australian Eastern Daylight Time)
Novena to St. Philomena the Wonder Worker
O FAITHFUL VIRGIN and glorious martyr, St. Philomena, who works so many miracles on behalf of the poor and sorrowing, have pity on me. Thou knowest the multitude and diversity of my needs. Behold me at thy feet, full of misery, but full of hope. I entreat thy charity, O great Saint!
Graciously hear me and obtain from God a favorable answer to the request, which I now humbly lay before thee (healing for all people who have autism, and in particular the autistic children and adults that we are making this novena for, and help for their families, carers and the professionals who work with them).
I am firmly convinced that through thy merits, through the scorn, the sufferings and the death thou didst endure, united to the merits of the Passion and Death of Jesus, thy Spouse, I shall obtain what I ask of Thee, and in the joy of my heart I will bless God, who is admirable in His saints. Amen.
The novena is held twice every month from: the 1st to the 9th of the Month and from the 10th to the 18th of the month.
Please e-mail me the first name of any autistic children and adults, who you wish to be prayed for in the novenas. I will add their names to the list on this page. Their names will remain on the list during the subsequent novenas.
Please put the words: Autism novena in the subject line of the email.
It would be appreciated if you could indicate which country you are in.
Please join me in making a novena, for the healing of all children and adults who have autism and for help for their families and for those who work with them.
The combined prayers of many people are much more powerful than the prayers of individual people.
Please mark the dates for the novenas in your diary. If you find this web page after the novena has already started, just begin on the day that you found us and continue the novena with us.
Lourdes
There is a priest of Lourdes, France, who brings all the names of people (who have autism), which are sent to this webpage to be included in the novena, and prays for them at the grotto on a regular basis. He is also praying for those who have autism related conditions (such as Asperger's Syndrome, PDD etc.) and for people who have autism but who have not heard about this novena. We are very grateful to the priest for his special contribution to the novena apostolate.
The Jubilee year of Our Lady of Lourdes
This year is the Jubilee year of Our Lady of Lourdes. It is the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady to St Bernadette at Lourdes, France. Below is a Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes, that some of you might like to make for your autistic child. Any time of the year would be a good time to make this novena, however from the 3rd to the 11th of February is highly recommended. (The feast of Our Lady of Lourdes is celebrated on February 11).
Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes
Immaculate virgin and mother of mercy, health of the sick, refuge of sinners, comforter of the afflicted, you know my wants, my troubles and my sufferings. Look down on me in your mercy. Since your appearance at the grotto of Lourdes it has become a privileged sanctuary where many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, spiritual and corporal.
I implore you under this title, Lady of Lourdes, to grant the request that I make to you. For my part I shall endeavour to imitate your virtues during my life in this world so as to participate in your glory in the world to come.
Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes reproduced with kind permission of St Pauls Publications, PO Box 906, Strathfield, NSW 2135 AUSTRALIA, from Thirty Favourite Novenas, ISBN 978 0909986 90 2.
Special note
Thank you to the many people who have sent me emails. I will pass on to Father the messages, which are addressed to him and will also show him some of the other messages. I will include all your needs and intentions in my prayers. Please let your friends who have autistic children know about this web page and about the novena. I urge all the parents of autistic children to invoke their child's guardian angel for protection from dangers. Often here in Australia and elsewhere there are very sad stories about autistic children who have died as a result of tragic events. Even though we have had a lot of children in our family on the autism spectrum, there seems to have been a special protection from danger.
Mary Ann
Prayer Petitions
Please include the following needs in your prayers: a child with a life threatening metabolic disorder in addition to autism; twin six year old boys who are non-verbal, two brothers, one of whom has severe autism and the other has mild aspergers. Both brothers also suffer from Usher's syndrome. Both are deaf and blind to different degrees; for another two brothers who both have autism and Crohn's desease; A boy who has asberger's and severe heart malformations; for two brothers who have autism and many additional allergies, for two autistic children who cannot speak, for a twenty year old girl who has autism, to learn to read, for the healing of seizures and for a seventeen year old girl who has PDD and severe language and learning delays.
Please pray for Katherine whose anxiety associated with autism is preventing her from swallowing. She is losing weight. Katherine has been hospitalized recently three times. Please also pray for Katherine's brother Adam who has Asperger's and who has very strong sensory needs.
Please pray for the causes of autism to be found and also that the cures be found.
Please pray that medical researchers will find ways to help people with autism and that they will respect their dignity and their right to life.
Thanksgiving for prayers answered
I found your novena last April, after our granddaughter’s paediatrician gave a diagnosis of autism, following testing. If she did, it was mild and she was high functioning. I prayed the novena and in August, eight months after the first diagnosis, she was tested again and the results were that she is not autistic.
There were several traits in her personality and actions that seemed to indicate that something was wrong, but in a matter of a few months she has changed drastically. Just recently she went to a speech therapist and we were told that she was a little behind in maturity but in some ways she is very bright with a great sense of humor. I won't go into all the things that indicated to me something was terribly wrong, but believe me she is not the same child. I am so grateful to St Philomena and to you and to all the people who pray the novena. I will always say the prayers for all of the intentions of the novena. Praise God! Thank you, sincerely. T.N. AZ (USA)
Thank you St Philomena and Our Lady of Lourdes for a very noticeable improvement in my daughter Anne Maree's behaviour. I also give thanks for the following favour: Anne Maree was recently protected from injury in a very serious accident that took place in our house. Her brother John (who is also autistic) and who had lost a lot of weight due to a behaviour problem has now improved in this area and has put on the weight that he needs to have for good health.
Mary Ann (Australia)
I first saw your website and prayed about a year ago. My grandson is doing much, much better. Thank you for this website. N.R. (USA)
Thank You
Our thanks go out to all those who are praying this novena. Some people who are praying the novena do not have any personal connection with autism. What a wonderful example of charity. In another case a whole family is praying this novena for their family member, who has autism and also for others with the condtion.
From the mailbag
I am a psychologist. I have worked with autistic children since 2003. I still have a practice for these children. I pray for them and ask you to pray for me and for all the children that I have worked with, who have a diagnosis of autism.
I ask for a special prayer for myself, that you ask God to bless the work that I have done and the work that I will do in the future. I will try to say the prayers. I also believe in prayers to (and for) the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Thanks so much and may God bless you. (Michael).
Why has this novena been organised?
Throughout the world there is a rising autism epidemic. The reasons for this are not known. Genetics are strongly implicated, but it is thought that there may be other causes as well.
This has brought a lot of concern and anxiety to parents everywhere. Research is being conducted into the causes. There is at this time no known cure for autism. The current approach to autism is mainly that of education and management.
The mainstream media frequently carries items concerning autism, that highlight the rising epidemic and the impact that the condition has on families. This has brought about increased support for people who have autism.
My husband and I live in Australia. We have five children. Four of our five children were born on the autism spectrum. They have varying degrees of autism ranging from severe to mild.
My late brother who was born in 1965 was also severely autistic. These circumstances coupled with a long standing personal devotion to St Philomena*, led me several years ago, to start a Novena to St Philomena the Wonderworker on our family website for the healing of autism and autism related conditions such as Asperger’s Syndrome.
Pope Gregory XVI named St Philomena the wonderworker of the nineteenth century on account of the many miracles that she had worked throughout the world. St Philomena is still proving herself to be worthy of the title of wonderworker today. She is the patron of mothers and children and this makes her an ideal patron for this novena.
There has been interest in this novena from many parts of the world. Visitors to this web page have come from the United Kingdom, the USA, the Philippines, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, Pakistan, Russia, Zimbabwe, India, Mexico, Finland, Hungary, Portugal, Ireland, Macedonia, Sweden, Belgium, Czech Republic,Tanzania, Malaysia, Turkey, Puerto Rico, Poland, Spain, Kuwait, Croatia, Greece, Indonesia, Romania, Thailand, Japan, Cyprus, Venezuela, Chile, Fiji, Trinidad and Tobago, Norway, Jamaica, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Our family receives many emails detailing the difficulties experienced by the families of people who have autism. Some families are isolated socially by the complicated problems that the condition brings. Others are waiting for their child who is perhaps twelve or thirteen years of age to speak his or her first word. Some of the children and adults who have autism are for various reasons losing alarming amounts of weight.
Parents particularly mothers, can be exhausted from having to maintain a constant vigilance over very hyperactive autistic children, in order to protect them from dangers, that their autism prevents them from perceiving.
A surprising number of families have two or more members who are autistic. Everyone in the family is affected: parents, siblings and even close relatives. Many of the people enrolled in the novena have other serious health problems and disabilities in addition to autism. Autism and mental retardation frequently go hand in hand.
Raising an autistic child often feels overwhelming and can be a very lonely experience. Other people do not have a good understanding of the condition and of the difficulties that it entails. Autism’s spill over effect can lead to anxiety problems and depression in other members of the family.
The normal rules for raising children do not work very well with autistic children. Autism takes a great toll on the families who are trying to cope with it.
Our family strongly supports any reasonable approach to dealing with autism, such as speech therapy and special education, but something else is needed: prayer** hence the novena.
We hope that this novena will bring many families, from around the world together in prayer to pray for the healing of autism, and also to pray for support for the parents and siblings of people who have autism.
The carers and the professionals who work with people who have autism are also being prayed for in this novena. The doctors, teachers, speech and occupational therapists need our prayers, to guide them in their work for people who have autism.
*I first started my devotion to St Philomena in September, 1976 when I found a leaflet about her in a shop in Parramatta, (a suburb of Sydney, Australia). I made a novena to her and she speedily convinced me that she deserved the title of Wonder Worker by granting my impossible request very soon after the novena.
**Our oldest child received a big healing from autism through prayer.
A method for teaching a child who has autism how to speak
If your child (who has autism) is speech delayed, you might like to try the method which I successfully used to teach speech to my oldest child, when she was approximately three and a half years of age. The method is contained in the article at the following link:
Father sent the following letter to us on November 26, 2007.
Dear everyone,
I hold you all close to my heart. It is a privilege to present each and everyone of you to our Lord here in Lourdes, storming heaven in the grotto with someone already body and soul in heaven, the Mother of Jesus. Her Immaculate Conception meant that she did not suffer the sicknesses we suffer. We suffer things on account of the just effects of original sin. Mary, however, did not have an easier life.
On the one hand, we see some of the effects of the hell from which our Lord saves us (and it is our hope that His grace will bring us to heaven). Seeing some of the effect of original sin, such as sickness, is also a cross for us, for we want everyone to be well. But our Lord does give us strength.
Mary, on the other hand, saw ALL the hell from which our Lord saved us, from beginning to end of time, seeing all this in the wounds on the crucified body of her Son. When we apostles ran away from Calvary, she, strong woman, stood there, under the cross, praying for us. She continues to pray for us now. She knows and sees our need for our Lord's strength perfectly.
Please, remember to say a 'Hail Mary' for me once in a while too. Thanks.
Sacerdos
The following letter was sent to us on November 10, 2007.
Dear everyone,
I've returned to Lourdes from Fátima, where I prayed for all of you many times at the Cova d'Iria and at the tombs of Jacinta, Francisco and Lucia. Be strong in our Lord. Ask the Holy Souls in purgatory for help by praying for their release into heaven. You are all doing your purgatory now in order to go straight to heaven. Do it well. Pray for them and they will help you immensely.
Sacerdos
Please bookmark this page so that you can easily return to it. If you wish to find out more about St. Philomena's intercession go to the following page:
St Rita (patron saint of impossible cases)
St Dymphna (patron saint of those who suffer from nervous afflictions)
St Jude (patron saint of hopeless cases)
St Anne (mother of Mary the Mother of God)
