Novena - Perpetual help

NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP

OPENING HYMN:  (Stand)

IMMACULATE MOTHER 
Immaculate Mother, to you do we plead; to ask God our Father for help in our need. Ave, Ave, Ave Maria Ave, Ave, Ave Maria.

We pray for our country, the land of our birth; we pray for all nations, that peace on earth. Ave, Ave, Ave Maria Ave, Ave, Ave Maria.

OPENING PRAYER: 
Leader: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. All:   Amen. Leader: Brothers and sisters, as children of our Blessed Mother, we are gathered before her miraculous picture to honor her and to pray for all our needs. Unworthy children that we are, let us first of all ask God’s mercy and pardon. All: Merciful Father * You sent Your Divine Son * to redeem us by His death and resurrection * and to give us new life. * By this You make us Your children * to love one another in Christ.  How many times in the past * we have forgotten this sublime dignity. * We have sinned against our brothers and sisters; * we have offended You.  Merciful Father, forgive us.* Repenting sincerely of our sins, * we ask Your mercy; * may we always live as Your truly devoted children.

READING OF PETITIONS AND THANKSGIVING SERMONETTE:  (Please be seated)
(In keeping with the liturgical season)

MARY IMMACULATE, STAR OF THE MORNING

Mary Immaculate, star of the morning. Chosen before the creation began, Destined to bring through the light  of your dawning, Conquest of Satan and rescue to all.

Bend from your throne  at the voice of our crying. Look to this earth, where your  footsteps have trod. Stretch out your arms to us, living and dying. Mary Immaculate, Mother of God.

We sinners honor your sinless perfection: Fallen and weak, for God’s mercy we plead. Grant us the shield of you mighty protection. Measure your aid by the depth of our need.

NOVENA PRAYER:
Dear Mother of Perpetual Help * from the cross * Jesus gave you to us for our Mother. * You are the kindest,* the most loving of all mothers. * Look tenderly on us your children * as we now ask you to help us in all our needs * especially this one (Pause to recall your petitions). While you were on earth, dear Mother * you willingly shared in the sufferings of your Son.* Strengthened by your faith and confidence * in the fatherly love of God * *you accepted the mysterious designs of His Will.* We, too, have our crosses and trials.* Sometimes they almost crush us to the ground.* Dearest Mother, * share with us your abundant faith and confidence in God.* Make us aware that God never ceases to love us; * that He answers all our prayers * in the way that is best for us. * Strengthen our hearts to carry the cross * in the footsteps of your Divine Son. Help us to realize * that he who shares the cross of Christ * will certainly share His resurrection.  Dearest Mother,* as we worry about our own problems * let us not forget the needs of others.* You always love others so much; * help us to do the same. While praying for our own intentions * and for the intentions of all here present at this Novena * we earnestly ask you, our Mother * to help us comfort the sick and the dying * give hope to the poor and unemployed * heal the broken-hearted * walk in solidarity with the oppressed * teach justice to their oppressors* and bring back to God all those who have offended Him. Dearest Mother, * help us to avoid sin * which separates us * from our heavenly Father * and from one another. * Full of trust in you * we place ourselves under the mantle of your maternal protection * and confidently hope * for your compassionate intercession. * Amen.

PRAYER FOR THE HOME 
Mother of Perpetual Help, * we choose you as Queen of our homes. * We ask you to bless all our families* with your tender motherly love. * May the Sacrament of Marriage * bind husbands and wives so closely together * that they will always be faithful to each other * and love one another as Christ love His Church.  We ask you to bless all parents, * may they love and cherish the children * whom God has entrusted to them. * May they always give them the example * of a truly Christian life. * Help them to bring up their children * in the love and fear of God. * Bless all children * that they may love, * honor, and obey * their fathers and mothers.  To your loving care * we especially entrust the youth of today Give us all a sense of responsibility * that we may do our part * in making our home * a haven of peace * like your own home at Nazareth. * We take you as our model. * Help us to grow daily in genuine love of God and neighbor * so that justice and peace may happily reign * in the entire family of mankind.  Amen.

PETITIONS TO OUR MOTHER OF  PERPETUAL HELP

Holy Mary, Pray for us.

Holy Virgin conceived without sin,  Pray for us.

Our Mother of Perpetual Help,  Pray for us.

We sinners call to you,  Loving Mother pray for us.

Seasonal

Advent: That we may prepare like you for the coming of Christ,  Loving Mother pray for us.

Christmas: That we may give our hearts completely to Christ, this Christmas,  Loving Mother pray for us.

Lent: That we may be faithful to the promises we made at Baptism,  Loving Mother pray for us.

Easter: That we may rejoice with you at Christ’s victory over sin and death,  Loving Mother pray for us.

OTHER WEEKS:

That we may be filled with the Holy Spirit and become courageous witnesses of Christ’s love for men,  Loving Mother pray for us.

That we may be more and more like our Divine Lord, as you were,  Loving Mother pray for us.

That we may be meek and humble of heart like your Son, Jesus,  Loving Mother pray for us.

That we may fear losing God’s friendship forever by unrepented sin,  Loving Mother pray for us.

That we may seek Christ’s mercy and forgiveness constantly in the Sacrament of Penance,  Loving Mother pray for us.

That we may be aware of God speaking to us in the events of daily life,  Loving Mother pray for us.

That we may pray daily with love and trust, especially in moments of temptation,  Loving Mother pray for us.

That we may understand the value of worshipping God together in the Eucharist,  Loving Mother pray for us.

That we may grow in the love of Christ and neighbor by frequent Communion,  Loving Mother pray for us.

That we may reverence our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit,  Loving Mother pray for us.

That we may strive to be true Christian by our loving concern for others,  Loving Mother pray for us.

That we may proclaim the dignity of work by doing our own work conscientiously,  Loving Mother pray for us.

That we may forgive from our heart those who have wronged us,  Loving Mother pray for us.

That we may see the evil of seeking our own interest at the expense of others,  Loving Mother pray for us.

That we may work for the just distribution of this world’s goods,  Loving Mother pray for us.

That we may share our talents with others for the good of the community,  Loving Mother pray for us.

That we may accept our responsibility in the community in the spirit of genuine service,  Loving Mother pray for us.

That the Holy Spirit may guide and strengthen Pope Francis, the Bishops, and the clergy,  Loving Mother pray for us.
 That we may be blessed with an increase of priestly and religious vocations,  Loving Mother pray for us.

That we may care and protect God’s creation,  Loving Mother pray for us.

That we may defend the human dignity and sanctity of human life from conception to natural death,  Loving Mother pray for us.

That there will be genuine and lasting peace in the world,  Loving Mother pray for us.

That we may bring the knowledge and love of Christ to those who do not know Him,  Loving Mother pray for us.

That we may be aware of our dependence on God in the midst of human achievements,  Loving Mother pray for us.

That we may be ready at death to enter the home of our heavenly Father,  Loving Mother pray for us.

That we may be comforted at the death of our dear ones by our hope in the risen Lord,  Loving Mother pray for us.

That our departed brothers and sisters quickly share in your Son’s resurrection,  Loving Mother pray for us.

(Let us pray in silence for our own intentions)

All: Holy Mary * pray for us, * pray for all the people of God; * may all experience God’s perpetual help.

Leader: Lord, you gave us Mary to be our mother ever ready to help us; grant us the grace to have recourse to her in all our needs.

All:  Amen.

ACT OF CONSECRATION (1st Wednesday of the month)
 Immaculate Virgin Mary, *  Mother of God and Mother of the Church, * you are also our Mother ever ready to help us. * With hearts full of love for you * we consecrate ourselves to your Immaculate Heart * so that we may be your devoted children. * Obtain for us true sorrow for sins * and fidelity to the promises of our Baptism.

We consecrate our minds and hearts to you * that we always do the Will  of our heavenly Father. * We consecrate our lives to you * that we may love God better * and live not for ourselves * but for Christ, your Son * and that we may see Him * and serve Him in others.

By this humble act of consecration, * dear Mother of Perpetual Help, * we pledge to model our lives on you, * the perfect Christian, * so that, consecrated to you in life and in death * we may belong to your Divine Son for all eternity.  Amen.

MOTHER OF CHRIST (stand)

Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ, What shall I ask of thee? I do not sigh for the wealth of earth For the joys that fade and flee.

But, Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ This do I long to see. The bliss untold which your arms enfold the treasure upon your knee. Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ I toss on a stormy sea. Oh, lift your Child as a beacon light to the port where I fain would be.

And, Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ This do I ask of thee When the voyage is o’er O stand on the shore And show Him at last to me.

BENEDICTION  OR  HOLY MASS  (Please kneel)

O SAVING VICTIM
 O saving Victim opening wide The gate of heaven to all below! Our foes press on from every side Your aid supply, your strength bestow.

To your great name be endless praise. Immortal God-head, one in three; Oh, grant us endless length of days In our true native land with thee
Amen,

Silent Prayer (Pause)

THANKSGIVING PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ * truly present in the Most Blessed Eucharist * we adore You. It has pleased the Father * that in you all His fullness should dwell * and that through You, He should reconcile all things to Himself. Grant us the grace to be truly grateful * for all that our Father has done for us. * Grant that we may be truly sorry for our sins * and renew our lives. Through You, we thank the Eternal Father for the gift of life. He has created all the wonderful things of this world for us. * May we learn to us them well  * so that through them * we may grow in love for Him. Above all, we thank our Father * for sending You to us * as the greatest expression of His love * to save us and all creation * by Your death and resurrection. We thank You Lord, * for giving us Your own Mother, to be our Mother of Perpetual Help. May the countless favors we have received through her intercession, * and especially through the Novena * inspire us with greater confidence in God’s loving mercy * and perpetual help. * Grant that we may always do the holy Will of God * and persevere in His love. * TO THE MOST HOLY TRINITY * FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT * BE HONOR, GLORY AND THANKSGIVING FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN.

PRAYER FOR THE SICK
Lord Jesus Christ * you bore our sufferings and carried our sorrows * in order to show us clearly * the value of human weakness and patience; * graciously hear our prayer for the sick especially (pause and remember your sick loved ones). Grant that they who are weighed down * with pain and other affliction of illness * may experience God’s healing power and comfort*. Restore them to health* in body and soul* so that they can continue to serve you* and their brothers and sisters.  Amen.

LET US RAISE OUR VOICE
Let us raise our voice To proclaim our faith Christ the Lord for us has died Dying, He destroyed our death, Rising, He restored our life. O Lord Jesus, we await Your last return in glory.

When we eat the bread and we drink the cup in the blessed Eucharist. We meet You, our risen Savior Giving life to us anew Through life’s journey, be with us, to strengthen us forever.
Amen.  Amen.

V:    You have given them bread from Heaven (Alleluia) R:    The source of all happiness (Alleluia)

Priest: Let us pray: Lord God, by the paschal mystery of the death and resurrection of Your only Son, You accomplished the work of man’s redemption. Full of trust,  we proclaim that paschal mystery in the sacramental signs of the Eucharist. Help us to see ever growing in us the fruits of Your saving work through Christ our Lord. All:   Amen.

THE DIVINE PRAISES 
All: Blessed be God. Blessed be His Holy Name. Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man. Blessed be the Name of Jesus. Blessed be His most Sacred Heart. Blessed be His most Precious Blood. Blessed be Jesus in the most Holy Sacrament of the altar. Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy. Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception. Blessed be her glorious Assumption, Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother. Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse, Blessed be God in His angels and in His saints.

(The Blessed Sacrament is returned to the Tabernacle)

O SACRAMENT MOST HOLY 
O Sacrament Most Holy O Sacrament divine, All praise and all thanksgiving Be every moment Thine Be every moment Thine.

HAIL MARY 
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women,
And blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God. Pray for us sinners. Now and at the hour of our death. Amen