Pray for the Universities

There are many things to cause sorrow at present. There is this, which Aelianus mentioned the other day. The student newspaper at my University is stuffed full of grim things this week, beginning with a front-page article complaining that some arts subjects threaten to fail students who repeatedly avoid tutorials (what? Humanities students expected to show evidence of work?!); then moving on to a celebration of free contraception to be supplied on campus; followed by an article encouraging women to speak out about their traumatic abortion experiences in order to support free 'choice'... obviously...

However, happily it turns out that today is the feast of All Dominican Saints. Who better to ask to pray for the intellectual health of the nation? I thought it would be good to start a novena. (Yes, I know novenas usually run up to the feast. Better late than never, no?) Which would also make it a novena up to St Albert the Great's feast on 15th November. All prayers for academia gratefully appreciated!

O God, fountain of all holiness, you were pleased to enrich your Church with the varied gifts of the saints of the order of Preachers. May we, who honor them in this earthly celebration, follow in their footsteps and so join them at least in the eternal festival of heaven. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

God of truth, you made Albert renowned for the gift of combining human wisdom with divine faith. May we remain true to his teachings and through the advance of human science come to a deeper knowledge and love of you. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

St Dominic, pray for us.
St Albert the Great, pray for us.
St Thomas Aquinas, pray for us.
St Catherine of Siena, pray for us.
All ye Dominican Saints and Blesseds, pray for us.

(Texts from here.)