Novena to Our Lady, Help of Christians, begins today

The novena to Our Lady Help of Christians begins today and ends on her feast day, May 24.


FIRST DAY
Hail, Star of the sea, Blessed Mother of God, ever fruitful Virgin, happy gate of heaven.

PRAYER: O Virgin Most Holy, powerful help of Christians, I confidently appeal to the throne of your mercy. Hear the prayers of this poor sinner that begs your help, so I may always flee from sin and from the occasions of sin. Behold the first grace that I ask from this novena. Amen
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be…
Hail Holy Queen…
Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us.

A SHORT BIBLICAL READING:
“And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” (Apoc. 12: 1)
“And the dragon was angry against the woman: and went to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Apoc. 12: 17)
Two distinguishing signs of the authentic faithful: Jesus and Mary, salvation of believers and help of Christians. Unto death I promise that I shall remain faithful to my religion: the Holy, Roman, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

SECOND DAY
Taking that sweet Ave, which from Gabriel came, peace confirm within us, changing Eve's name.

PRAYER: Mary Most Holy, Mother of goodness and mercy, who with your visible help oftentimes freed the Christian people from the assaults and barbarism of Moslems, I ask you, my Lady, to deliver my soul from the onslaughts of the world, the devil and the flesh; and grant that I may obtain, at all times, complete victory over the enemies of my soul.
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be…
Hail Holy Queen…
Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us.

A SHORT BIBLICAL READING:
“And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1: 38)
In short, Mary Most Holy offers us an example of humility, obedience and readiness to do the Will of God and to cooperate in bringing about His Plan of Salvation. "Lord, what do You wish me to do? Make me an instrument of Your peace."

THIRD DAY
Break the sinners' fetters, make our blindness day; chase from us all evils, for all blessings pray.


PRAYER: O Mary, most powerful Queen, who alone triumphed over the false doctrines that sought to take away so many children from the bosom of Holy Mother Church, help me, I beg you, to keep and preserve my faith firmly and my heart pure amidst the snares and venom of such harmful errors.
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be…
Hail Holy Queen…
Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us.

A SHORT BIBLICAL READING:
“And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda. And she entered into the house of Zachary and saluted Elizabeth… And Mary abode with her about three months. And she returned to her own house.” (Luke 1: 39-40, 56)
Certainly, Mary remained until the birth of St. John the Baptist, for she knew that expectant mothers need special care and help. Here, we have a beautiful example of charity. I too promise to always practice charity and acts of mercy.

FOURTH DAY
Show thyself our Mother by taking our voice to the One Who deigned to be born for us, from you.

PRAYER: O Mary, my most sweet Mother, you who are Queen of Martyrs, through so many heroic acts of courage and fortitude, which you performed on earth, deign to instill in my heart the necessary strength to always serve you. Help me to despise human respect, and fulfill all my religious duties openly and without shame; may I remain your devout child at all times, even unto death.
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be…
Hail Holy Queen…
Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us.

A SHORT BIBLICAL READING:
“And seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: Son, why have you done so to us? Behold your father and I have sought you sorrowing.” (Luke: 2, 48)

With what admirable kindness Mary admonishes her lost Son found in the temple. It is a beautiful example to parents. Children grow in wisdom, stature and grace before God and men when they receive the good example of their parents. In raising my children, I promise to always practice patience, prudence and seriousness.

FIFTH DAY
O Virgin unexcelled and most gentle, make us meek and pure and preserve us from evil.


PRAYER: Mary, beloved Mother, who showed your precious Patronage in the triumph of Pope Pius VII, extend your holy mantle over Holy Mother Church, especially over her august head, against the assaults of so many enemies; deliver him from temporal sufferings and assist him always that he may securely steer the barque of Peter in Truth, and overcome the proud waves attempting to sink it.
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be…
Hail Holy Queen…
Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us.

A SHORT BIBLICAL READING:
“And the third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee: and the mother of Jesus was there.” (John 2:1)
And Jesus also was invited, and his disciples, to the marriage. Realizing that the wedding feast lacked wine, Jesus performed a miracle upon the trusting entreaty of his mother. She invites us to also obey Jesus in a special way, saying:
"Whatsoever he shall say to you, do it." (John 2:5)
"Happy are those that hear the Word of God and keep it" (Luke 11:28).

SIXTH DAY
Keep our life all spotless, make our way secure till we find in Jesus, joy for evermore.

PRAYER: O Mary, Queen of the Apostles, take under thy precious protection the Sacred Ministers and all the faithful of the Catholic Church, obtain for them the spirit of unity, and fervent zeal for the salvation of souls; particularly extend your loving help to missionaries, so they may lead all peoples of the earth to the true faith. Thus may the world become one fold under the guidance of only one Shepherd, Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be…
Hail Holy Queen…
Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us.

A SHORT BIBLICAL READING:
The Lord “is your praise, and your God, that has done for you these great and terrible things, which your eyes have seen.” (Deut. 10:21)
In fact, God, gazing at the humility of his faithful servant, Mary Most Holy, gave us through her the Savior of all men, Our Lord Jesus Christ. "O Mary, grant us the grace to imitate thy love of God and neighbor."

SEVENTH DAY
Praise be to God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit now and forever. Amen.

PRAYER: O Mary, Mother of mercy, who so often saved Christians from the plague and other bodily scourges by your powerful intercession, help them and deliver them now from the plague of impiety and irreligion, which insinuates itself in a thousand ways into their souls keeping them from the Church and pious practices, especially through sects, the press and perverse schools. I humbly ask you to help the good, that they may persevere; strengthen the weak; call the wayward and sinners to repentance, so that the Truth and the Kingdom of Jesus Christ may triumph here on earth, thus increasing your glory and that of your Son, and saving souls.
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be…
Hail Holy Queen…
Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us.

A SHORT BIBLICAL READING:
“Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount that is called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, within a Sabbath day's journey. And when they had come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alpheus, Simon Zelotes, and Jude, the brother of James. All these were persevering with one mind in prayer with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.” (Acts 1: 12-14)
O Mary, teach us to pray, trust and persevere.

EIGHTH DAY
Glorious Lady, more brilliant than the sun, at your breast you nourished the God who created thee.


PRAYER: O Mary, the Church's spiritual pillar and Help of Christians, I beseech you to keep me firm in the Divine Faith, and safeguard in me the freedom and dignity of God's children.
For my part I promise you never to stain my soul with sin, nor be a part of any society condemned by the Holy See. I promise you to obey the perennial teachings of the Church, since I want to live and die within the bosom of the Catholic Religion, the only one in which I can expect with certainty my eternal salvation.
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be…
Hail Holy Queen…
Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us.

A SHORT BIBLICAL READING:
“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother and his mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he says to his mother: Woman, behold your son. After that, he says to the disciple: Behold your mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own.” (John 19: 25-27)
We can never forget the words of the dying Jesus, “Mother, behold thy son. Son, behold thy Mother." Before dying, he entrusted his mother Mary to his disciple so that the faithful might have such a Mother present in their last agony.


NINTH DAY
What Eve had destroyed, was created, through you, Holy Mary, once again in the Son, opening Heaven’s gate and giving refuge to the downcast.

PRAYER: O Mary, my most gracious Mother, at all times so ready to be the help of Christians, assist me with your powerful patronage throughout my life and especially at the hour of death. Grant that, having loved and revered you on earth, I may sing your mercies in Heaven. Amen.
O God You who established the Mother of Your beloved Son as Mother and Help of Christians, grant, we beseech, that we may live under Your protection, and that the Church may rejoice in Your everlasting peace.
Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, in union with the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be…
Hail Holy Queen…
Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us.

SHORT BIBLICAL READING:
“When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he says to his mother: Woman, behold your son. After that, he says to the disciple: Behold your mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own.” (John 19: 26-27)
Mary Most Holy, lovingly consenting to the immolation of the Victim she bore, was given as a mother to the disciple and to all of us. The Virgin Mary is the Church's model of faith and charity. Mary, Help of Christians, cooperates in the work of the Redeemer to restore the supernatural life in souls.
“Behold, your Mother." (John 19: 27)

Prayers to be said with the Novena:
Our Father
Our Father, Who art in heaven Hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace. Our Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Hail Holy Queen
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God... that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen