|
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 27 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 4: Mary's Hands The largest figure in the icon is Mary, but she is not the focal point of the painting. Rather, the center of our focus is where the hands of Mother and Son are joined. Her open right hand holds the hands of Jesus, and each of her fingers point toward him. Mary seems to be pointing out to us that her Son is Jesus Christ, the Son of God who offers his life for us all. The Child, frightened at seeing the instruments of his Passion, has thrown himself into his mother’s arms. He clings tightly to Mary’s hand, which she has reached out to comfort him. Mary holds him in her arms reassuringly, lovingly. Her left hand supports Christ firmly, speaking to us of the security we can find in devotion to the Mother of God. Mary leads us to Jesus, and Jesus can be found close to her. As a child, to whom did you run when threatened or afraid? Your mother, of course, or your grandma or some other mother-like figure in your life. Mary is spiritual mother to all of us, and we can always depend on her whenever we feel afraid or in need. Consider for a moment what is the greatest need or fear you have right now. Place it in Mary’s hands, and hold on to her tightly. Believe with all your heart that she will ask her Son to provide for your care in this great need. Pause for a moment and see yourself clasping Mary’s hands. Scripture Reflection Yet is was you who took me from the womb; you kept me safe on my mother’s breast. PSALM 22:9 Let us pray… Mother of Perpetual Help, you have been blessed and favored by God. You became not only the Mother of the Redeemer but the Mother of the redeemed, as well. We come to you today as your loving children. Watch over us and keep us safe. As you held the Child Jesus in your loving arms, so take us into your arms. Be a mother ready at every moment to help us, for God who is mighty has done great things for you, and God’s mercy is from age to age on those who love him. Our greatest fear is that, in time of temptation, we may fail to call out to you and become lost children. Intercede for us, dear Mother, in obtaining pardon for our sins, love for Jesus, final perseverance and the grace always to call upon you, O Mother of Perpetual Help. 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. | 
