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Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help Tuesday, June 18 to Wednesday, June 26 8:30am Mass in the Main Church 9:00 - 9:40am Novena and Holy Rosary in the Lady Chapel - Each of the nine days focuses on a different element of the icon using a special prayer booklet from Ligouri Publications
- Learn about the icon, make a special request for Our Lady’s intercession and enjoy the peace of the Lady Chapel with fellow parishioners
Unable to join us for the Novena? We will print the prayers and images in the daily eblast each day beginning June 18 through June 26 so you can follow along on your own. Questions? Email Jennifer Farber at thewayolph@gmail.com The Holy Rosary Group invites you to pray the Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help Before beginning the prayers, close your eyes and become aware of God’s presence with you. Now call to mind what it is you want to ask of Our Lady for this Novena. Let us begin. + In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Opening Prayer Most holy and Immaculate Virgin and our Mother Mary, you are our Perpetual Help, our refuge and our hope. We come to you today. We thank God for all the graces received through your intercession. Mother of Perpetual Help, we promise to love you always and to do all we can to lead others to you. Confident of your powerful influence with God, obtain for us these graces: the strength to overcome temptation, a perfect love for Jesus Christ, and a holy death so that we will live with you and your son for all eternity. Amen. Litany of Mary Holy Mother of God, pray for us. Holy Virgin of Virgins, pray for us. O Morning Star, pray for us. O Comforter of the Afflicted, pray for us. Mother of Christ, pray for us. Mother of Our Savior, pray for us. Cause of Our Joy, pray for us. Virgin Most Venerable, pray for us. Virgin Most Powerful, pray for us.
Day 2: The Colors in Mary’s Clothes Mary’s tunic is red, the color worn by virgins at that time in history. Her mantle is dark blue, the color worn by mothers in Palestine. These colors were chosen by the artist because Mary is both virgin and mother. In the Byzantine world dark red was reserved for the empress alone. That indicates the Queenship of Mary. Reddish purple was considered the noblest color in the ancient world (see Daniel 5:7). The color blue brings to mind the sky and heaven. Red is for martyrdom because all sacrifice requires some type of dying to oneself. The entire background of the icon is golden, also symbolic of heaven where Jesus and Mary are now enthroned. That gold radiates through their clothing, showing the heavenly joy they can bring to hearts. Saint Gertrude related that one day, in a vision, she saw under Mary’s blue mantle a poor band of souls whom the beautiful Lady was sheltering with great affection. The saint realized that these were people who had prepared themselves with various devotions for one of Mary’s feasts. Imagine Our Lady wrapping her mantle around you, as if protecting you from the cold or hiding you from some kind of harm. As you gaze at her picture today, feel the warmth that comes from being so near to her. Just sit for a few moments and be happy wrapped inside her cloak. Scripture Reflection You were adorned with gold and silver, while your clothing was of fine linen, rich fabric, and embroidered cloth… You grew exceedingly beautiful, fit to be a queen. EZEKIEL 16:13 Let us pray… Glorious and wonderful things are said about you, O Virgin Mary. You are the glory and joy of the Christian people. You are the defender of the poor and rejected. You are a safe refuge of the persecuted and a Mother ever ready to help us. Surround us with the radiance of your loving protection and keep us under your mantle, safe from all that can harm us, O glorious and powerful Mother of the Redeemer. Amen. Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are you 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. Mother of Perpetual Help, pray for us who have recourse to you. Closing Prayer All powerful and merciful Lord, you give us the picture of the Mother of your Son to venerate under the title of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. Graciously grant that in all the difficulties of our lives we may be assisted by the continuous protection of the Virgin Mary and obtain the reward of eternal redemption. You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen. + Pray the Holy Rosary https://www.marian.org/mary/rosary/howto.php All materials are from “Novena Meditations to Our Mother of Perpetual Help” from Ligouri Publications. Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. Thank you for praying with us today! For more information, contact Jen Farber at thewayolph@gmail.com. | 
