A 

S T O R M NO VENA 

b y 

A CAPUCHIN F A T H E R 

at 

ST. BENEDICT THE M O O R 
MISSION 

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN 

1 9 3 9 



IMPRIMI POTEST 
Fr. Theodosius Foley, O.M.Cap., Provincial 
Detroit, Michigan, November 27, 1939. 

NIHIL OBSTAT 
Fr. Dominic Meyer, O.M.Cap., S.T.D. 
Censor Librorum, November 24, 193g. 

IMPRIMATUR 
4 " Archbishop S. A. Stritch, 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, November 29, 1939. 

Deacltflflöd 



F O R E W O R D 
This little brochure is the answer to many requests which 

came to St. Benedict the Moor during past years for detailed 
information concerning our so-called "Storm Novenas." To 
relieve the writer of the drudgery of again and again issuing 
personal letters, this information is hereby given in print. 

Let it be understood that this is not a doctrinal treatise 
based on dogmatic teachings in an ecclesiastically approved 
form, but a simple presentation of a new form of an already 
existing and popular devotion. Storm Novenas have made a 
wide appeal because of their efficaciousness, and this seems 
to rest on a concentration of pious and persevering prayer. 
Instead of spreading petitions over a period of nine days, as 
is usual in the customary novena, the Storm Novena limits 
the extent of time to one day's duration, but in that day 
addresses frequent and fervent appeals to God. 

May these few pages prove as much an enlightenment to 
you and introduce to you as successful a solution of your 
particular problems as the Storm Novenas have been for 
St. Benedict the Moor Mission. 

All references to sainthood, granting of petitions, etc., 
claim only human credence, and are humbly subjected to the 
judgment and decisions of Holy Mother Church, according 
to the decree of Pope XJrban VIII. 





/ ^ H n . 
I s Special g ] 
V^Cofeciions f j 

THE S T O R M NOVENA 
OCT. 30, 1 9 1 3 , two Franciscan Sisters emigrated 

from Vienna, Austria, to America, to establish new founda-
tions of their community in our land. In Vienna these 
Sisters have convents of strict enclosure. Their main task is 
"Perpetual Adoration." At the time of their coming to the 
United States they lived under the protectorate of Cardinal 
Piffl, who also allowed them to introduce nocturnal adora-
tion for men, laborers, students, etc., in their convent chapel, 
with marvelous spiritual success to his flock. Arriving in 
this country, they came first to the Capuchin Monastery of 
St. Francis of Assisi in Milwaukee, to discuss a foundation 
in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, because they desired to 
have a Capuchin Father as their spiritual director. The 
Brother Porter called a Father to interview the Sisters. They 
presented their plan of establishing convents of their Com-
munity in the United States; the first one to be in the 
Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Smilingly the Father asked them 
two preliminary questions: 1st. "Have you already received 
the permission of the Archbishop?" and. "Have you the 
necessary funds?" He explained at the same time that 
financial conditions differ here in America from those in 
Europe, where pious and charitable people supply all con-
templative Orders with the necessary victuals, clothing, etc., 
for their support. The Father received a negative answer to 
all this. They had neither the Archbishop's permission, nor 
even the necessary funds. He threw up his hands in despair, 

— 5 — 



asserting that they should never have ventured on this trip 
before these preliminary preparations had been successfully 
made. However, their reaction was not one of discourage-
ment; on the contrary, the two good Sisters seemed rather 
amused at his remarks, stating that they anticipated no such 
problems in these matters, because of their long-accustomed 
and well-tested confidence in God's divine providence due 
to their fervent "Storm Novenas." The term "Storm Novena" 
was entirely new to the Father. He asked them to explain 
the Novena. 

This is the story the Sisters related: 

In Vienna they were located in the midst of a section of 
socialists who were commonly known as Church haters. 
Whenever neighboring pastors had a difficult case, especially 
that of a dying, impenitent socialist, they reported it at 
once to the Sisters, who then made the so-called "Storm 
Novena," with the result that the poor sinner always called 
for the priest and was reconciled with God before he died. 
These Sisters made the Storm Novena for many purposes, 
spiritual and material, and the results were always phenome-
nal. Their method of making these Novenas in Vienna con-
sists in making nine disciplines during the day, nine visits 
to the Blessed Sacrament, lying on their face during prayer, 
arms extended, fasting, and some other penance. When in 
later years, these Sisters were questioned relative to the 
origin of their novenas, one of them wrote as follows: " I 
can only say that many years ago a distinguished lady from 
Italy called at our Vienna Convent, requesting, and making 
herself, such a "Storm Novena," as she knew it was the 
custom in Italian convents to visit a Church or Chapel nine 
times in one day and saying six Our Fathers, six Hail Marys, 



and six Glorias each time. She assured us many favors were 
granted her and her family through them. And we really 
experienced this ourselves." 

Their endeavors for a foundation in Milwaukee failed. 
However, after many trials the two Sisters found a great 
benefactor in Archbishop Schrembs of Cleveland, who 
wanted Sisters for Perpetual Adoration, and who welcomed 
them to pray and offer reparation for his diocese. They call 
themselves "Franciscan Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament," 
and are now located at 4108 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio. 
The Sisters, as stated above, first applied for admission into 
the United States in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Though 
this call at the Capuchin Monastery was without result, it 
nevertheless proved of great significance for the future 
prosperity of St. Benedict the Moor Mission. 

The Storm Novenas which have been introduced at St. 
Benedict the Moor are not made with such extraordinary 
exercises as in Europe; however, we have experienced 
wonderful results. The main thing we stress is fervor and 
unbounded confidence in God. It will become evident to 
every reader that these Novenas are the secret of success at 
St. Benedict the Moor Mission. 

S T O R M NOVENA A T S T . BENEDICT 
THE M O O R MISSION 

Due to the death of Father Stephen Eckert, February 16, 
1922, several losses were suffered by St. Benedict the Moor 
Mission. Among them may be recorded one of specific in-
terest. A certain Miss M. S. — a teacher he had engaged 
for the third graders — had come from Pittsburgh, Penn-
sylvania, to serve his Cause. She highly revered the Father 



for his extraordinary zeal and had therefore pledged her 
service to the Mission during his whole lifetime. When, 
however, the sad news of Father Stephen's death came, she 
realized that her promise had been fulfilled. She returned 
to Pittsburgh on the very sad day of Father Stephen's burial, 
February 20, 1922. Immediate steps were taken to replace 
her. The school board — located opposite the Mission center 
— was contacted for a new teacher. Notice to this effect 
was served by the school superintendent to all non-engaged 
teachers, but with no response. Other contacts followed. 
Again no favorable replies, and this for a span of two long 
weeks. During all this time the children were without a 
teacher — and perhaps felt fortunate to forego the drudgery 
of the classroom. The situation could not continue. Con-
sultations to procure a teacher were finally at an end. Some-
thing out of the ordinary had to be done. In this plight the 
acting Rector happened to recall — and this for the first 
time after a period of approximately ten years — the noted 
story of the "Storm Novena." The Sister Superior received 
orders to conduct one with the third graders, and to make 
it to Father Stephen. The children had been praying fer-
vently to him before on their own initiative, i.e. without 
having been instructed or solicited to do so. Even while his 
body was lying in his casket, at St. Francis Church, they 
had placed their medals and rosaries on his hands and pre-
served them as precious relics. Their natural intuition seemed 
to tell them that their former Rector was a Saint, now in 
Heaven and able to obtain favors for them. Instinctively, 
therefore, they had been praying to him after his demise 
for personal favors instead of for him. There was, however, 
little optimism in the mind of the Rector as to the favorable 
outcome of this Storm Novena. Nevertheless, he gave it a 



trial. The result of this novena was, therefore, all the more 
amazing and gratifying when that very night two long-
distance phone calls and one telegram arrived from Chicago 
from parties applying for a position as teacher. The very 
next morning, March 9, 1922, one of these teachers and 
five other local teachers applied in person. Let it be noted 
that none of the three teachers who applied from Chicago 
were aware of the fact that a teacher was needed during 
this second semester of the school year which was now far 
advanced. Two of these teachers were now engaged to 
replace Miss M. S. 

THE SECOND AMD SUCCEEDING 
S T O R M NOVENAS 

Father Stephen's death brought further success to the 
Mission. The new Rector was not content with the existing 
situation and the humble condition of the Mission grounds 
and buildings as they existed at the time. The Chapel and 
classrooms were not adequate, nor in accordance with the 
building code requirements, and certainly were no attrac-
tion for prospective converts. The matter was thereupon 
presented to the Father Provincial who whole-heartedly en-
dorsed the move to acquire additional property and replace 
the old edifices by new ones. Steps were immediately taken 
to acquire the properties adjacent to the Mission. But here 
the Mission encountered unforeseen difficulties, in spite of 
the fact that two of the properties, one of which was most 
suitable for our purpose, were on the market. One of the 
owners was approached, but no favorable response was 
obtained. On the contrary, he informed all the property 
holders in the block of our endeavors and induced them to 



enter into an agreement with him not to sell their property 
to the Colored Mission. This difficulty led to another Storm 
Novena. After due consideration, a building committee, not 
of contractors, financiers, or bankers, but of Saints in whom 
the Mission staff had the greatest confidence, was first 
selected. They were: Sts. Joseph, Jude, Anthony, Conrad, 
. nedict, Roch, Dominic, Francis, the Martyrs of Uganda, 
and Theresa. We also included Father Stephen. 

Already on the following day, one of the owners notified 
the Mission that his property was for sale. No time was 
lost in making the proper approach, and immediately an 
option was taken on the property. Another Storm Novena 
brought the property direcdy north of this into our hands, 
and every following Storm Novena helped us acquire addi-
tional properties. 

After the options on the first three properties had been 
paid, before the deed was signed, a verbal permission had 
been granted to the Mission by the owners to use the 
grounds in the rear of their buildings to proceed with the 
building of the Chapel. However, excavation had hardly 
begun, when one owner retracted his promise and started 
rumors to the effect that he would bring suit against the 
Mission. This took place on June j , 1923. The situation was 
very critical, disturbing, and perplexing, and, as was later 
discovered, due to sheer jealousy on the part of a person 
apparendy deeply involved and interested in the Mission's 
affairs. The person in question felt that the matter should 
have passed through her hands, though she was only a social 
worker connected with the Mission. But before delving deeper 
into the matter, all the Mission children were engaged in a 
fervent Storm Novena, and that same afternoon the owner 

— 1 0 — 



relented and permitted proceedings to continue without any 
further interference. 

The next Storm Novena was then made for funds to pay 
for the tremendous debts incurred^by the purchase of the 
various properties. The very next day brought the donor 
for our new Chapel. This was beyond the expectation of 
every one interested, and had the good effect that our con-
fidence in the Novenas increased all the more. Now there 
could be no doubt as to their efficacy. Naturally, Storm 
Novena continued following Storm Novena, and thus the 
other necessary funds were also received, enabling us to 
liquidate the entire debt. Similar problems — that always 
intermingle in Mission activities — were likewise solved by 
them. 

S T O R M NOVENAS S P R E A D 
The general public soon took notice of the great power 

of these novenas and likewise began to beg for the prayers 
of our children in their own interests and in the solution 
of their, own problems. Not only did they apply at the 
Mission door to beg for them, but appeals also were, and 
still are, sent in by mail, phone calls, and even telegrams 
from the distant parts of the Union and foreign lands. 
Other communities, especially Sisterhoods, started making 
Storm Novenas. It has come to our notice that at present 
even a great number of individuals are conducting them 
privately. 

It proved very encouraging to receive responses from 
practically every applicant that the Novenas met with suc-
cess, and hardly a day passed by without one or several 
requests for more. No doubt, it is, above all, the great and 
absolute confidence that people place in prayer that produces 



these results. "This ought to fetch us something," one of the 
little Negroes said one day to the Sister in charge, after a 
fervent Storm Novena had been made, and it did. It brought 
new donors. 

This is our secret of unfailing success. At times — when 
in need — individual groups among our own school children 
make their own private Storm Novenas. An illustration: 
Vacation had brought the permission for many children to 
go home for the Christmas Holidays. One boy who was 
very anxious to go home received notice to stay at the 
Mission. When all had left he did not give up hope. He 
gathered a few friends who made a Novena with him. 
Barely had they made all the visits when a telegram brought 
the permission. Similar incidents could be added. 

W H A T I S A S T O R M NOVENA? 
A Storm Novena consists of nine visits to the Blessed 

Sacrament in one day, praying on one's knees, and with 
outstretched arms, to obtain a speedy and unfailing answer 
to prayer. The Franciscan Sisters mentioned above define 
it in these terms: "Storm" means a sudden, forceful assault 
on heaven in the shape of ardent prayers at the Throne 
of our Divine Lord, so that He will take immediate notice 
of and answer them readily. One, so to say, storms Heaven 
with implicit confidence, in accordance with the Gospel story 
recorded in St. Luke, n , 5 - 1 3 , which reads: "At that time: 
Jesus said to His disciples: Which of you shall have a friend, 
and shall go to him at midnight, and shall say to him: 
Friend, lend me three loaves, because a friend of mine is 
come off his journey to me, and I have not what to set 
before him. And he from within should answer, and say: 
Trouble me not, the door is now shut, and my children are 



with me in bed. I cannot rise and give thee. Yet if he shall 
continue knocking, I say to you, although he will not rise 
and give him, because he is his friend; yet because of his 
importunity, he will rise and give him as many as he 
needeth. And I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given you; 
seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to 
you. For everyone that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, 
findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. And 
which of you, if he ask his father bread, will he give him a 
stone? Or a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 
Or if he shall ask an egg, will he reach him a scorpion? 
If you, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to 
your children, how much more will your Father from 
Heaven give the good Spirit to them that ask Him." Thus 
man has power over G o d . — I t is performed on our knees 
to indicate our total helplessness and dependence on God; 
with extended arms — similar to Moses, who, as long as he 
prayed with extended arms, sustained his army in fighting 
successfully; then also to remind the Heavenly Father of 
His divine Son on the Cross — in virtue of which all our 
prayers have their power, whether they be expiatory, recon-
ciliatory, adoration, or pleadings for help. Praying with 
extended arms was a favorite manner of prayer employed 
by St. Francis of AsSisi, in memory of our Crucified Savior. 
When St. Gertrude asked our Lord to teach her how to 
pray so as to commemorate His Passion, our Lord answered: 
"When you pray, spread forth your hands so as to represent 
to God the Father the memory of My Passion, in union 
with that love with which I stretched out My hands on the 
cross; and if you do this habitually, without fear of ridicule 
or reproach, you will pay Me an honor as great as is shown 
to a King when he is solemnly enthroned." 



H O W W E M A K E OUR S T O R M N O V E N A S 
The first visit is always introduced by an act of Perfect 

Contrition, "O my God, I am heartily sorry for having 
offended Thee and I detest all my sins because I dread the 
loss of heaven and the pains i'o£ hell, but most of all because 
they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving 
of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace, 
to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life. 
Amen," to which are then added the following invocations 
at each visit: 

1 . O Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us and grant 
us our request. 

2. Our Lady of Perpetual Help —pray for us and obtain 
our request. "Memorare." 

3. St. Joseph — pray for us and obtain our request. 
4. St. Jude — pray for us and obtain our request. 
5. St. Anthony — pray for us and obtain our request. 
6. St. Conrad — pray for us and obtain our request. 
7. St. Benedict — pray for us and obtain our request. 
8. St. Roch — pray for us and obtain our request. 
9. St. Dominic and Blessed Father St. Francis, pray for 

us, etc. 
10. Ye Blessed Martyrs of Uganda, pray for us, etc. 
1 1 . St. Theresa, the Little Flower of Jesus, pray for us, 

etc. 
12. All Ye Holy Saints and Angels, pray for us, etc. 
13. A Hail Mary to Father Stephen (it being considered 

a private devotion). 
Our children are constantly reminded of the preat power 

of prayer, by means of which God shares His creative power 
with man. The quality of a good prayer and its efficacy are 

— 14 — 



based on God's infinite willingness to hear every prayer. No 
request is ever refused, so that, when once we enter the 
portals of Heaven, we will find that not a prayer sent up 
to Heaven remained unanswered or unrewarded. 

T h e various invocations of the Saints are explained 
somewhat in this style: 

The Sacred Heart of Jesus and Our Lady of Perpetual 
Help are the main mediators between God and man. Refer-
ence is here made to the twelve promises our Lord made to 
St. Margaret Mary, and the beautiful "Memorare" of the 
Bl. Virgin. 

How inspiring and full of confidence are not the words 
expressed herein by St. Bernard: "Remember O most 
gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that any-
one who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, and 
sought thy intercession, was left unaided." Even if every 
one else should desert us, and no matter how desperate 
our difficulty, our Mother never fails us. She has our 
welfare more at heart than we ourselves. Mary invites all 
to trust in her, saying: "Come to me, all ye that desire 
me. I am the mother of fair love. . . . In me is all 
grace . . . all hope of life and of virtue." (Ecclus. X X I V . 
24 sq.) 

St. Joseph is the Patron of builders and the provider for 
the poor. Somewhere it is related in the life of St. John 
Vianney how he procured, miraculously, ten thousand dollars 
through the intercession of St. Joseph. 

St. Jude is the Patron of desperate and hopeless cases, the 
Saint of the Impossible. We are told that this holy aposde 
once appeared to a devout client and lamented that so few 
Christians availed themselves of his merits or sought his 



protection, because his name "Jude" recalled the name of 
the traitor Apostle, Judas Iscariot. Unlike other Saints, 
patrons of particular cases and virtues, he comes speedily and 
sweedy whenever his aid is invoked. In return, he requires 
only our confidence, love, and gratitude. If our requests are 
not answered precisely according to our ideas and wishes, 
then they surely will be granted sooner or later according to 
the designs of God. 

St. Anthony is the great world-known worker of miracles 
— even calling the dead back to life. 

St. Conrad had died in the odor of sanctity at Altoetting 
in Bavaria, in the year 1894 on April 21st. The erection of a 
large pilgrimage church at Altoetting had long been under 
consideration. In 1908 it was decidcd to proceed with the 
project. However, the difficulties were found to be so great, 
that the idea seemed impossible of realization at that time. 
Then one day a pious old lady came to the superior and 
said to him: "There is one in the crypt below who will help 
you in your difficulties. I mean Brother Conrad. You may 
confidently go to him." From that dme on the Father 
Guardian paid a visit to the grave of the servant of God 
each morning after his Mass, praying with great fervor for 
help in the building project. And strange to relate, all the 
difficulties seemed to vanish in a short time. 

The twenty-first of April, 1 9 1 1 , was the seventeenth 
anniversary of Brother Conrad's death. That morning the 
Guardian went as usual to the grave in the crypt and prayed 
thus: "Brother Conrad, if you are a saint, I beg to procure 
for me this day one thousand marks, because I am in great 
need of money." In the afternoon of that day the Brother 
Porter came to the Father Guardian and told him that a 
gentleman at the door wished to speak to him. When the 

— 16 — 



Father Guardian appeared, the man arose and said to him: 
"Father, I wish to make a contribution towards the building 
of the new Church, and for that purpose I have deposited 
one thousand marks in the bank at Munich, which you may 
draw whenever you need it." Here was a clear proof of 
Brother Conrad's powerful intercession with God. It gave the 
Father Guardian new courage, and he entered into an agree-
ment with the saintly Brother, saying, "If you help me to 
build our new Church, I agree to promote your process of 
beatification." And Brother Conrad did help. The work was 
begun at once and was rapidly brought to completion, so 
that the new Church of St. Anne, one of the largest churches 
in Germany, could be solemnly dedicated to God's service 
on October 1 5 , 1 9 1 2 . It now became the duty of Father 
Guardian to keep his promise to Brother Conrad by taking 
active steps for the process of beatification of Brother Conrad. 
Brother Conrad was canonized on Pentecost Sunday, 1934, 
by Pope Pius XI. 

St. Benedict the Moor, who as Patron, is always the special 
protector of the Mission. 

Blessed Martin de Porres: For a number of years we had 
been begging the Rector for a gymnasium in which the 
children could play and expend some of their surplus energy. 
It would prove a great benefit even spiritually, since the 
children must spend all their time — day and night — at 
the institution. We made a promise to name the new gym-
nasium in honor of Blessed Martin de Porres, and continue 
to honor him, if he heard our prayers and made it possible 
to put up the building. Whenever the Rector was approached 
on the question by the Sisters or children, he merely smiled 
or at times answered that this would be very difficult to 
do especially because of the depression. The Rector himself 

— 17 — 



secretly promised Blessed Martin to place a relic of him in 
the most prominent place of the building if he would help 
us make it a reality. Finally, after many Storm Novenas 
and prayers from the Sisters and children new hope seemed 
to be in store. Although no real great donation came our 
way, yet many small ones made it possible to start; and, as 
the work progressed, more donations followed. 

One benefactor especially seemed to be sent by Blessed 
Martin very shortly after the building was started — for on 
his Feast Day, November 5th, a lady stopped at the Monas-
tery and asked the Rector if he had enough money to pay 
for the gymnasium. He said "No, but the good Lord will 
help us out, as he has done heretofore." "Would you accept 
a small donation?" said the lady, and handed him two 
thousand dollars. 

St. Roch, born of noble family, became poor and humble 
for Christ's sake, and was renowned for miracles, especially 
in his power against epidemics. This is of great importance 
in an institution of children. 
. St. Dominic and Blessed St. Francis: Patrons and 

Founders of the two religious Orders engaged in the work 
here at the Mission. 

Martyrs of Uganda — Twenty-two youths — to protect our 
colored youth. 

St. Theresa — Little Flower of Jesus. Everyone is aware 
of her great intercessory power, and the little, wide-spread 
ejaculation: "Little Flower, show Thy power." 

All Ye Stunts and AngelsI Hereby we call on all Heaven 
to stand by us with their pleas. 

Finally a "Hail Mary" to Father Stephen. Reasons for in-
cluding him have already been explained in the body of 
this booklet. 



Daily this little novena litany is added to our night prayers 
for the welfare — both spiritual and temporal — of St. 
Benedict the Moor Mission. There is little doubt in the minds 
of the Mission staff as to the fact that St. Benedict the Moor 
Mission was built up entirely on prayers. 

R E P L I E S F R O M O U T S I D E R S 
A certain Mrs. C., who owned an apartment, wished to 

sell it so that she could leave the city. After giving up all 
hope of selling it, she asked our children to pray. They 
prayed, but with no success. A few weeks later Mrs. C. came 
again and begged us to pray once more. This time her 
prayers were answered. She sold her apartment and gave 
us an offering in gratitude. 

Mrs. K. had a brother who had lost his faith. He drank 
heavily and also had incurred a serious disease. His family 
and friends tried for years to bring him back to the Church, 
but to no avail. Our children made a Storm Novena for him. 
Soon after this he became seriously ill and died, but before 
his death he called for a priest and was given the last rites 
of the Church. 

A certain lady had two daughters who both had teachers' 
degrees, yet they were unable to get any positions besides 
substitute teaching. The mother came to us and asked us 
to pray for their intention. Soon after one of her daughters 
was given a position in the public school system, which will 
in all probability, remain permanent. The other daughter 
was interviewed recently for a parochial school position and 
was chosen over many other applicants. 

There are many cases similar to the above. 

— 19 — 



NOTICE 

Concluding, let it be well noted that to make a "Storm 
Novena" one may select one's own prayers. They may be 
short or long. The Franciscan Sisters of the Bl. Sacrament 
in this country write: "On account of want of time we say 
sometimes only short prayers, and our Lord seems not to 
mind it. We get the favors anyway." 





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