Novena devotions : in honor of Our Mother of Perpetual Help NOVENA DEVOTIONS IN HONOR OF OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 https://archive.org/details/novenadevotionsi00unse_0 Novena Devotions in honor of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Official Edition Novena Service (Eastern Edition) page 2 Novena Service (Western Edition) page 15 Prayers for Private Devotion page 21 published by PERPETUAL HELP Redemptorist Fathers LIGUORI, MISSOURI DeaddBfed NOVENA HYMNS AND PRAYERS IN HONOR OF OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP Opening Hymn: O Mother of Perpetual Help (to be sung by the entire congregation standing) O Mother of Perpetual Help, To thee we come imploring help. Behold us here, from far and near, To ask of thee our help to be; Behold us here, from far and near, To ask of thee our help to be. Perpetual help we beg of thee; Our souls from sin and sorrow free; Direct our wandering feet aright, And be thyself our own true light; Direct our wandering feet aright, And be thyself our own true light. And when this life is o’er for me. This last request I ask of thee: Obtain for me in heaven this grace, To see my God there face to face; Obtain for me in heaven this grace To see my God there face to face. (all seated) READING OF PETITIONS AND THANKSGIVINGS (all kneel to recite the prayers together, pausing at the asterisk*) Behold at thy feet, O Mother of Perpet- ual Help, * a wretched sinner who has - 2 - recourse to thee and confides in thee. * 0 Mother of Mercy, have pity on me. * 1 hear thee called by all * the refuge and the hope of sinners; * be then, my refuge and my hope. * Assist me for the love of Jesus Christ; * stretch forth thy hand to a miserable, fallen creature * who recom- mends himself to thee, * and who devotes himself to thy service forever. * I bless and thank Almighty God, * Who in His mercy has given me this confidence in thee, * which I hold to be a pledge of my eternal salvation. * It is true, dearest Mother, * that in the past I have miser- ably fallen into sin * because I had not recourse to thee. * I know, however, that with thy help I shall conquer; * I know, too, that thou wilt assist me * if only I recommend myself to thee. * But I fear, dear Mother, * that in time of danger * I may neglect to call on thee and thus lose my soul. * This grace, then, I ask of thee, * and this I beg with all the fervor of my soul, * that in all the attacks of hell * I may ever have recourse to thee. * O Mary, help me! * O Mother of Perpetual Help, never suffer me to lose my God. Three Hail Marys. O Mother of Perpetual Help, * grant that I may ever invoke thy most powerful name, * which is the safeguard of the liv- ing and the salvation of the dying. * O purest Mary, O sweetest Mary, * let thy name henceforth be ever on my lips. * Delay not, O Blessed Lady, * to help me whenever I call on thee, * for, in all my needs, in all my temptations * I shall never cease to call on thee, * ever re- peating thy sacred name, Mary, Mary. * O, what consolation, * what sweetness, * what confidence fill my soul, * when I pronounce thy sacred name, * or even on- ly think of thee. * I thank God for having given thee, for my good, * so sweet, so powerful, so lovely a name. * But I will not be content with merely pronouncing thy name; * let my love for thee prompt me ever to hail thee, * Mother of Perpetual Help. Three Hail Marys. (Priest) Let us here pause for a few mo- ments in silent prayer to recommend to our Mother of Perpetual Help all our wants both spiritual and temporal. O Mother of Perpetual Help, * thou art the dispenser of all the goods * which God grants to us miserable sinners, * and for this reason He has made thee so powerful, so rich, and so bountiful, * that thou mayest help us in our misery. * Thou - 4 - art the advocate of the most wretched and abandoned sinners * who have recourse to thee. * Come then, to my help, dearest Mother, * for I recommend myself to thee. * In thy hands I place my eternal salva- tion * and to thee do I entrust my soul. * Count me among thy most devoted serv- ants; * take me under thy protection, and it is enough for me. * For, if thou protect me, dear Mother, * I fear nothing; * not from my sins, * because thou wilt obtain for me the pardon of them; * nor from the devils, * because thou art more pow- erful than all hell together; * nor even from Jesus, my Judge Himself, * because by one prayer from thee * He will be ap- peased. * But one thing I fear, * that in the hour of temptation * I may neglect to call on thee * and thus perish miserably. * Obtain for me, then, the pardon of my sins, * love for Jesus, * final perseverance, * and the grace always to have recourse to thee, * O Mother of Perpetual Help. Three Hail Marys. (Priest) — Thou hast been made for us, O Lady, a refuge. (People) — A helper in need and trib- ulation. (Priest) — Let us pray: O Lord Jesus Christ, Who hast given us Thy Mother, Mary, whose renowned image we venerate, - 5 - to be a mother ever ready to help us, grant, we beseech Thee, that we who con- stantly implore her help may merit always to experience the fruits of Thy redemption, Thou Who livest and reignest world with- out end. (People) — Amen. PRAYER OF ST. ALPHONSUS Most Holy and Immaculate Virgin and my Mother, Mary, * to thee, who art the Mother of my Lord, the Queen of the world, * the advocate, the hope, and the refuge of sinners, * I have recourse today, * I who am the most miserable of all. * I render thee my most humble homage, O great Queen, * and I thank thee for all the graces * thou hast obtained for me until now, * and in particular for having saved me from hell which I have so often de- served. * I love thee, O most amiable Lady; * and, for the love which I bear thee, * I promise to serve thee always * and to do all in my power to make others also love thee. * I place in thee all my hopes * and I confide my salvation to thy care. * Accept me for thy servant * and receive me under thy mantle, * O Mother of Mercy. * And since thou art so power- ful with God, * deliver me from all temp- tations, * or, rather, obtain for me the strength to triumph over them until death. - 6 - * Of thee I ask a perfect love for Jesus Christ; * through thee I hope to die a good death. * O my Mother, * by the love which thou bearest to God, * I beseech thee to help me at all times * but especi- ally at the last moment of my life. * Leave me not, I beseech thee, * until thou seest me safe in heaven, * blessing thee and singing thy mercies for all eternity. * Amen, so I hope; so may it be. ACT OF CONSECRATION {to be said once each month on the day chosen by the Novena Director) Desiring to consecrate myself entirely * to the service of the ever Blessed Vir- gin Mary, * from whom, after God, * I expect all help and assistance * in life and in death, * I unite myself with the members * of this pious confraternity, * which has been erected * in honor of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. * As my special patron * I choose the glorious St. Alphonsus, * that he may obtain for me * a true and lasting de- votion * to the ever Blessed Virgin, * who is honored by so sweet a name. I promise, moreover, * to renew my consecration * to the Mother of God and to St. Alphonsus * once a month * and frequently to receive the holy sac- raments. - 7 - O Mother of Perpetual Help, * re- ceive me as thy servant, * and grant that I may ever experience * thy con- stant motherly protection. * I promise to have recourse to thee * in all my spiritual and temporal necessities. * My holy patron, St. Alphonsus, * obtain for me * the grace of an ardent love for Jesus Christ, * and the grace of ever invoking * the Mother of Perpetual Help. LITANY OF OUR LADY Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. God, the Father of Heaven, God, the Son, Redeemer of the World, God, the Holy Ghost, Holy Trinity, one God, Holy Mary, Holy Mother of God, Holy Virgin of virgins, Mother of Christ, Mother of divine grace, Mother most pure, Mother most chaste, Mother inviolate, - 8 - Pray for us. Have mercy on us. Mother undefiled, > Mother most amiable, Mother most admirable, Mother of Good Counsel, Mother of our Creator, Mother of our Saviour, Virgin most prudent, Virgin most venerable, Virgin most renowned, Virgin most powerful, Virgin most merciful, Virgin most faithful, Mirror of justice, Seat of wisdom, Cause of our joy, Spiritual vessel, Vessel of honor, Singular vessel of devotion, Mystical rose, Tower of David, Tower of ivory, House of gold, Ark of the covenant, Gate of heaven, Morning star, Health of the sick, Refuge of sinners, Comforter of the afflicted, Help of Christians, Queen of Angels, Queen of Patriarchs, — 9 — Pray for us. Queen of Prophets, Queen of Apostles, Queen of Martyrs, Queen of Confessors, Queen of Virgins, Queen of all Saints, Queen conceived without original sin, Queen assumed into heaven, Queen of the most holy Rosary, Queen of Peace, Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world. Hare mercy on us. (Priest) — Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. (People) — That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. (Priest) — Let us pray: Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy Grace into our hearts; that as we have known the Incar- nation of Christ Thy Son by the message of an angel, so, by His Passion and Cross, we may be brought to the glory of the resurrection; through the same Christ, Our Lord. (People) — Amen. - 10 - Sing Hymn No. (P<*ge ) ALL KNEEL FOR Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament O SALUTARIS HOSTIA O Salutaris Hostia, Quae coeli pandis ostium! Bella premunt hostilia; Da robur; fer auxilium. Uni Trinoque Domino, Sit sempitema gloria; Qui vitam sine termino Nobis donet in patria. Amen. TANTUM ERGO Tantum ergo Sacramentum Veneremur cemui; Et antiquum documentum Novo cedat ritui; Praestet fides supplementum Sensuum defectui. Genitori, Genitoque Laus et jubilatio, Salus, honor, virtus quoque, Sit et benedictio, Procedenti ab utroque Compar sit laudatio. Amen. V. Panem de coelo praestitisti eis. (Alle- luia) R. Omne delectamentum in se habentem (Alleluia) - 11 - 2 . Mother Dear, Oh, Pray for Me 1 Mother dear, oh, pray for me, Whilst, far from heaven and thee, I wander, in a fragile bark, O’er life’s tempestuous sea. O Virgin Mother, from thy throne So bright in bliss above. Protect thy child, and cheer my path With thy sweet smile of love. CHORUS Mother dear, oh, pray for me. And never cease thy care. ’Til in heaven eternally, Thy love and bliss I share. 2 Mother dear, oh, pray for me Should pleasure’s siren-lay E’er tempt thy child to wander far From virtue’s path away. When thorns beset life’s devious way And darkling waters flow, Then, Mary, aid thy weeping child, Thyself, a mother show. Chorus— 2. Immaculate Mary Immaculate Mary, thy praises we sing, Who reignest in splendor with Jesus, our King. CHORUS Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria! Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria! In heaven, the blessed thy glory proclaim; On earth, we thy children invoke thy fair name. Chorus- - 12 - 3. Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above Hail, holy Queen enthroned above, O Maria. Hail, Queen of mercy and of love, O Maria. Triumph, all ye Cherubim, Sing with us, ye Seraphim, Heaven and earth resound the hymn: Salve, Salve, Salve Regina. The cause of joy to men below, O Maria. The spring through which all graces flow, O Maria. Angels, all your praises bring, Earth and heaven, with us sing, All creation echoing: Salve, Salve, Salve Regina. 4. Mother Dearest, Mother Fairest Mother dearest, Mother fairest, Help of all who call on thee, Virgin purest, brightest, rarest, Help us, help, we cry to thee. CHORUS Mary help us, help, we pray; Mary help us, help, we pray; Help us in all care and sorrow, Mary help us, help, we pray. Lady, help in pain and sorrow, Soothe those racked on bed of pain. May the golden light of morrow Bring them health and joy again. Chorus— - 13 - 5. Remember Holy Mary Remember, holy Mary, ’Twas never heard or known That anyone who sought thee And made to thee his moan, That anyone who hastened For shelter to thy care, Was ever yet abandoned And left to his despair. And so to thee, my Mother, With filial faith I call, For Jesus dying gave thee As Mother to us all. To thee, O Queen of virgins, O Mother meek, to thee I run with trustful fondness. Like child to mother’s knee. 6 . Daily, Daily Sing to Mary Daily, daily sing to Mary, Sing, my soul, her praises due: All her feasts, her actions honor With the heart’s devotion true. Lost in wondering contemplation, Be her majesty confessed: Call her Mother, call her Virgin, Happy Mother, Virgin blest. She is mighty in her pleading. Tender in her loving care; Ever watchful, understanding, All our sorrows she will share. Advocate and loving mother, Mediatrix of all grace: Heaven’s blessings she dispenses On our sinful human race. — 14 — NOVENA SERVICE * Western Edition Opening Hymn: O Mother of Perpetual Help ( to be sung by the entire congregation standing) O Mother of Perpetual Help, To thee we come imploring help. Behold us here, from far and near, To ask of thee our help to be; Behold us here, from far and near, To ask of thee our help to be. Perpetual help we beg of thee; Our souls from sin and sorrow free; Direct our wandering feet aright, And be thyself our own true light; Direct our wandering feet aright, And be thyself our own true light. And when this life is o'er for me, This last request I ask of thee: Obtain for me in heaven this grace To see my God there face to face: Obtain for me in heaven this grace To see my God there face to face. ( all seated) READING OF PETITIONS AND THANKSGIVINGS ( All kneel to recite the prayers together, pausing at the asterisk * ) * In many places it has been the custom to recite the following prayers at the public Novena exercises. This custom may be followed in those sections where it is established. - 15 - PRAYER IN SPIRITUAL WANTS O Mother of Perpetual Help, * with the greatest confidence, we come before thy sacred Picture, * in order to invoke thine aid. * Thou hast seen the wounds which Jesus has been pleased to receive for our sake; * thou hast seen the Blood of Thy Son flowing for our salvation; * thou know- est how thy Son desires to apply to us the fruits of His Redemption. * Behold, we cast ourselves at thy feet, * and pray thee to obtain for our souls the graces we stand so much in need of. * O Mary, most loving of all mothers, * obtain for us from the heart of Jesus, the source of every good, * these graces * (here mention them). O Mother of Perpetual Help, * thou desirest our salva- tion far more than we ourselves: * thy Son has given thee to us for our Mother; * thou hast thyself chosen to be called Mother of Perpetual Help. * We trust not in our merits, but in thy powerful intercession; * we trust in thy goodness; * we trust in thy motherly love. * Mother of Perpetual Help, * for the love thou bearest to Jesus, thy Son and our Redeemer, * for the love of thy great servant Alphonsus, * for the love of our souls, * obtain for us the graces we ask from thee. * Amen. Three Hail Marys. - 16 - PRAYER IN TEMPORAL WANTS O Mother of Perpetual Help, * numerous clients continually surround thy holy Pic- ture, * all imploring thy mercy. * All bless thee as the assured help of the miserable; * all feel the benefit of thy motherly pro- tection. * With confidence, then, do we present ourselves before thee in our misery. * See, dear Mother, the many evils to which we are exposed; * see how numerous are our wants. * Trials and sorrows often depress us; * reverses of fortune and priva- tions, often grievous, bring misery into our lives; * everywhere we meet the cross. * Have pity, compassionate Mother, on us and on our dear ones, * especially in this our necessity * (here mention it). Help us, dear Mother, in our distress; * deliver us from all our ills; * or, if it be the will of God that we should suffer still longer, * grant that we may endure all with love and patience. * These graces we expect of thee with confidence, * because thou art our Perpetual Help. * Amen. Three Hail Marys. FOR GRACES OF SALVATION O Mother of Perpetual Help, * thou art the dispenser of all the goods * which God - 17 - grants to us miserable sinners, * and for this reason, He has made thee so powerful, so rich, and so bountiful, * that thou may- est help us in our misery. * Thou art the advocate of the most wretched and aban- doned sinners * who have recourse to thee. * Come, then, to my aid, dearest Mother, * for I recommend myself to thee. * In thy hands I place my eternal salvation * and to thee do I entrust my soul. * Count me among thy most devoted servants; * take me under thy protection, and it is enough for me. * For, if thou protect me, dear Mother, * I fear nothing; * not from my sins, * because thou wilt obtain for me the pardon of them; * nor from the devils, * because thou art more powerful than all hell together; * nor even from Jesus, my Judge Himself, * because, by one prayer from thee, * He will be appeased. * But one thing I fear; * that, in the hour of temptation, * I may neglect to call on thee, * and thus perish miserably. * Ob- tain for me, then, the pardon of my sins, * love for Jesus, * final perseverance, * and the grace always to have recourse to Thee, * O Mother of Perpetual Help. Three Hail Marys. (Priest) Thou hast been made for us, O Lady, a refuge. (People) A helper in need and tribulation. - 18 - (Priest) Let us pray: O Lord Jesus Christ, Who hast given us Thy Mother Mary, whose renowned image we venerate, to be a Mother ever ready to help us; grant, we beseech Thee, that we who constantly im- plore her help may merit always to experi- ence the fruits of Thy redemption, Thou Who livest and reignest world without end. (People) Amen. PRAYER OF ST. ALPHONSUS Most Holy and Immaculate Virgin and my Mother, Mary, * to thee, who art the Mother of my Lord, the Queen of the world, * the advocate, the hope, and the refuge of sinners, * I have recourse today, * I who am the most miserable of all. * I render thee my most humble homage, O great Queen, * and I thank thee for all the graces * thou hast obtained for me until now, * and in particular for having saved me from hell which I have so often de- served. * I love thee, O most amiable Lady; * and, for the love which I bear thee, * I promise to serve thee always * and to do all in my power to make others also love thee. * I place in thee all my hopes * and I confide my salvation to thy care. * Accept me for thy servant * and receive me under thy mantle, * O Mother 19 - of Mercy. * And since thou art so power- ful with God, * deliver me from all temp- tations, * or, rather, obtain for me the strength to triumph over them until death. * Of thee I ask a perfect love for Jesus Christ; * through thee I hope to die a good death. * O my Mother, * by the love which thou bearest to God, * I beseech thee to help me at all times * but especi- ally at the last moment of my life. * Leave me not, I beseech thee, * until thou seest me safe in heaven, * blessing thee and singing thy mercies for all eternity. * Amen, so I hope; so may it be. ACT OF' CONSECRATION {to be said once each month on the day chosen by the Novena Director ) Desiring to consecrate myself entirely * to the service of the ever Blessed Vir- gin Mary, * from whom, after God, * I expect all help and assistance * in life and in death, * I unite myself with the members * of this pious confraternity, * which has been erected * in honor of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. * As my special patron * I choose the glorious St. Alphonsus, * that he may obtain for me * a true and lasting de- votion * to the ever Blessed Virgin, * who is honored by so sweet a name. - 20 - I promise, moreover, * to renew my consecration * to the Mother of God and to St. Alphonsus * once a month * and frequently to receive the holy sac- raments. O Mother of Perpetual Help, * re- ceive me as thy servant, * and grant that I may ever experience * thy con- stant motherly protection. * I promise to have recourse to thee * in all my spiritual and temporal necessities. * My holy patron, St. Alphonsus, * obtain for me * the grace of an ardent love for Jesus Christ, * and the grace of ever invoking * the Mother of Perpetual Help. Turn to page 8 for the Litany and the remainder of the Novena services. PRIVATE PRAYERS TO OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP ( for private use only ) FOR CONVERSION OF SINNERS O Mary, Mother of Perpetual Help, thou knowest so well the great value of an im- mortal soul. Thou knowest what it means, that every soul has been redeemed by the Blood of thy Divine Son. Thou wilt not then despise my prayer, if I ask from thee the conversion of a sinner, nay a great sinner who is rapidly hurrying on towards - 21 - eternal ruin. Thou, O good and merciful Mother, knowest well his irregular life. Remember that thou art the refuge of sin- ners. Remember that God has given thee power to bring about the conversion of even the most wretched sinners. All that has been done for his soul has been unsuc- cessful; if thou dost not come to his assist- ance, he will go from bad to worse. Obtain for him an effectual grace that he may be moved and brought back to God and his duties. Send him, if necessary, temporal calamities and trials, that he may enter into himself, and put an end to his sinful course. Thou, O most merciful Mother, hast con- verted so many sinners at the intercession of their friends, be, then, also moved by my prayer and bring this unhappy soul to true conversion of heart. O Mother of Per- petual Help, show that thou art the Advo- cate and Refuge of Sinners. So I hope, so may it be. Amen. FOR CONVERSION OF NON-CATHOLICS Trusting in thy goodness, O sweet Lady of Perpetual Help, because thou art the Mother of Mercy and the Refuge of Sin- ners, we beseech thee to look with pitying eyes upon those who are living outside the one true Church. So many non-Catho- lics, possessed of kind hearts, with a charity - 22 - for God’s poor, are honestly seeking reli- gious truth, but with difficulty, because they are blinded by misinformation and inherited prejudices. These souls, O Moth- er of Perpetual Help, are destitute of the knowledge of the one true faith; yet they must be dear to thee as they are to thy adorable Son Jesus, because redeemed by His Precious Blood. We plead with thee, O Mary, for the conversion of all those who walk in the darkness of error and sin. Vir- gin Mother, as thou art called the “Seat of Wisdom,” enlighten the minds of our sepa- rated brethren, that they may discover the consoling truths of our holy faith, and hav- ing discovered them, willingly accept and believe in them. O Mary, grant us this won- derful favor, that all immortal souls ran- somed by the Blood of thy dying Son may soon be united to us by the bonds of divine charity, so that there may be but one fold and one Shepherd. Amen. IN SICKNESS O dear Mother of Perpetual Help, be- hold how much I suffer from this my sick- ness. Together with the body, my soul is also afflicted. I have not even strength to say a prayer as I ought to do. Nothing is able to give me any relief. Even the visit and compassion of my best friends do - 23 - not give me any comfort. Hence, my cour- age begins to fail; impatience and sadness oppress my soul. In this my great distress I put all my trust in thee, most tender of all mothers. Thy compassionate heart will cer- tainly have pity on me; yes, most merciful Mother, thou wilt not forget thy poor, af- flicted child’s (here mention your sickness .) Obtain, then, for me courage and strength, to accept all these trials from the hand of God with patience and resignation. If it is for the good of my soul, grant that I may recover my former health; but if it is the will of God that I should suffer still longer, or, that this sickness should lead me to a better life, I am perfectly resigned; for I am sure that thou, O loving Mother, wilt obtain for me the grace to do whatever God demands of me. Amen. FOR FINANCIAL AID Realizing, dear Mother Mary, that thou art our Perpetual Help not only in spirit- ual but likewise in temporal necessities, we approach thee with submissive and humble hearts, because we have a child-like confi- dence in thy power and goodness, beseech- ing thee to assist us in our present financial worry. Owing to untoward circumstances which have arisen in our lives, we are in dire want, being unable to meet our honest - 24 - debts. We are not asking, dearest Mother, for wealth, if possession of it is not in ac- cordance with the holy will of God; we merely beg for that assistance which will enable us to satisfy our pressing obliga- tions. We believe, dear Mother, that thou art the Queen of heaven and earth, and, as such, the instrument and special dispensa- tion of thy Son Jesus Christ; that thou hast acquired, by virtue of thy wonderful dig- nity, a sweet jurisdiction over all creation. We believe that thou art not only rich and bountiful, but extremely kind and generous to all thy loving children. We plead with thee then, dear Mother, to obtain for us the help we so urgently need in our present financial difficulty. We thank thee, dear Lady, and promise to publish far and wide, the marvels of thy glorious Picture. Amen. TO KNOW ONE S VOCATION Behold at thy feet, O Mother of Perpet- ual Help, a humble and lowly client of thine, who is a prey to doubt concerning his (her) vocation. As thou art the guide of poor mortals here below, to thee do I turn. Knowing, dearest Mother of Perpetual Help, that I can best be saved in that state of life to which I have been attracted by the graces thy Divine Son gives me, my one desire is to do the holy Will of God in all — 25 — that concerns my future; for in doing that shall I succeed in working out my eternal salvation. Dearest Mother, guide and direct me safely in the choice of a state of life wherein I may best serve here upon earth the divine plans of my Lord and Savior that I may see and possess Him for all eternity. Amen. “MEMORARE” OF ST. BERNARD Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that any one who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother. To thee I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my peti- tions; but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen. NOVENA DEVOTION TO OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP The pious practice of “making a novena” dates back to the earliest ages of Christianity. One of the most popular of the novenas now in use throughout the Catholic world is that in honor of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. Remarkable favors, both spiritual and material, have been granted by Almighty God through the intercession of His Blessed Mother invoked under the beautiful title Our Mother of Perpetual Help . - 26 - I. How the Novena is Made No fixed rules need be laid down, generally speaking, for the making of a novena beyond that of persevering in prayer through the space of nine days. The efficacy of the Novena prayers depends in great measure on the piety and devotion of the individual. The Solemn Novena in honor of Our Mother of Perpetual Help consists of nine successive days of public prayer at a Novena church or shrine, usual- ly before some great feast of Our Lady, e.g. the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The Perpet- ual Novena is so called because the public Novena services are held on a specified day each week, such as Tuesday, and continue all through the year. Thus a Novena of Tuesdays can be begun or concluded at any time during the year. A Private Novena can be undertaken by a family or an individual at any time. The following suggestions will increase the fer- vor of your Novena prayers: 1. Participate, if possible, in the public Novena services since there is added efficacy in the union of the faithful at prayer. 2. Receive the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion during your Novena. 3. Promise Our Lady an act of public grati- tude, should your petition be granted: have Holy Mass celebrated in thanksgiving; make your favor public for the encouragement of others; spread devotion to Mary. 4. Invite others to join in the Novena services. II. The Archconfraternity of Our Mother of Perpetual Help and St. Alphonsus The Archconfratemity is a spiritual union of clients of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. It is canonically erected at the church of St. Alphonsus -27- in Rome, where the original Miraculous Image of Our Mother of Perpetual Help is venerated. This Archconfraternity is highly indulgenced by Holy Church. Participating in these benefits and indul- gences are the thousands of Perpetual Help con- fraternities which are canonically established in almost every country on earth and have been affiliated with the Mother- or Archconfraternity in Rome. To become a member of the confraternity, it is necessary: 1. to be enrolled by name at a church or shrine where the confraternity is canonically erected (Any Catholic in good standing is eligi- ble.); and 2. to recite the Act of Consecration. Members are urged 1. to renew this Act of Consecration monthly; 2. to have recourse to Our Mother of Perpetual Help in every need; 3. to have a Perpetual Help picture in their homes; 4. to wear the medal of Our Mother of Perpet- ual Help; 5. to spread this devotion among others; 6. to read Perpetual Help , the official monthly bulletin of the confraternity. Those belonging to a Perpetual Help confrater- nity, which has been affiliated with the Archcon- fratemity in Rome, enjoy many privileges and benefits: 1. They are assured of the constant protection of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. 2. Members share in the public devotions and other good works of the millions who belong to these confraternities throughout the world. 3. Members are endowed through this devotion with a remarkable influence toward the softening and converting of obstinate sinners. 4. By the express will of the Superior General of the Redemptorist Fathers, members share in -28- the fruits and merits of the missions, pious exer- cises, apostolic labors, prayers, penances and oth- er good works without exception which are per- formed by the entire congregation of Redemptor- ist missionaries. 5. They are able to gain many plenary and partial indulgences, e.g. a plenary indulgence is granted, under the usual conditions, for reciting the Act of Consecration on the day of enrollment and once each month when this Act is renewed. (Cf. Documenta Authentica C.SS.R. 272, 276, 280, 286, reviewed and approved by Sacred Apostolic Penitentiary, January 20, 1932.) III. The Miraculous Picture Historical Notes The early history of the ancient and venerated Picture known as the Miraculous Image of Our Mother of Perpetual Help is shrouded in mystery. Scholars are unable to determine with certainty who painted the Picture, where it was painted, or when. Documented history of the Image begins in the late Fifteenth Century. 1495 (circa) The ancient Image of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, which “had wrought many miracles,” is taken from the Isle of Crete to Rome. 1499 March 27. The Picture is solemnly enthroned at the church of St. Matthew on the Esquiline Hill in Rome. In a vision, this church was designed by Our Lady herself. 1798 June 3. St. Matthew’s church is destroyed. The Augustinians take the Picture secretly to nearby St. Eusebius church. 1819 The Augustinians move with the Picture to St. Mary in Posterula. 1855 The Redemptorist church of St. Alphonsus built adjacent to the site of old St. Matthew’s. - 29 - 1863 February 7 . The epoch-making sermon of Father Blosi, S.J., on the “lost” Madonna of Perpetual Help leads to its discovery. 1865 December 11. Father Mauron, Superior Gen- eral of the Redemptorists, petitions Pope Pius IX for the return of the Perpetual Help Picture to the scene of its former glory. The request is granted. 1866 January 19. Father Mauron receives the Pic- ture officially in the name of the Redemp- torists. Aprjl 26. Solemn Triduum of Re-enthrone- ment at Sant’ Alfonso. June. The first “authentic copy” of Perpetual Help Picture leaves Rome for Liverpool, England. It was painted to commemorate the remarkable cure of Father Hall as the result of a Novena to Our Mother of Per- petual Help. 1867 June 23 . The Perpetual Help Picture is solemnly crowned by the Vatican Chapter in recognition of the miraculous nature of this devotion. 1868 Public veneration begun in the U.S.A. at St. James church, Baltimore, Md. The first sodality of Our Mother of Perpet- ual Help is organized at Limerick, Eire. 1871 May 23. The confraternity of Our Mother of Perpetual Help and St. Alphonsus erected with Papal permission in Rome: Pius IX, the first member. May 28. First church in the U. S. dedicated to Our Mother of Perpetual Help: the “Mis- sion” church of Roxbury (Boston), Mass. 1872 First American book published on Our Mother of Perpetual Help, written by Fa- ther Michael Mueller, C.SS.R., in St. Louis. - 30 - 1876 March 31. The confraternity is raised to the dignity of an Archconfratemity by Pope Pius IX with the right of affiliating all Perpetual Plelp confraternities throughout the world. May 18. The proper Mass and Office of the Feast of Perpetual Help is granted by the Holy See. 1922 “Tuesday devotions” inaugurated at St. Alphonsus (“Rock”) church, St. Louis, Mo. 1927 These weekly devotions took the form of the “Perpetual Novena” — a term now in world-wide usage. HOLY GOD, WE PRAISE THY NAME ( Hymn for solemn closing) Holy God, we praise Thy Name; Lord of all, we bow before Thee; All on earth Thy sceptre claim, All in heaven above adore Thee; Infinite Thy vast domain, Everlasting is Thy reign; Infinite Thy vast domain, Everlasting is Thy reign. Hark, the loud celestial hymn Angel choirs above are raising; Cherubim and Seraphim, In unceasing chorus praising, Fill the heavens with sweet accord, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord; Fill the heavens with sweet accord, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord. (End of Public Norena Service) - 31 - (1) Greek Initials for “Mother of oO (2) Greek Initials for “St. Michael the Archangel”. He is depicted holding the lance and spear with the vessel of vinegar and gall of Christ’s Passion. (3) Greek Initials for “St. Gabriel the Archangel”. He holds the cross and the nails. (4) Greek Initials for “Jesus Christ”. -32 Attending the Novena Devotions each week is your way of showing your love for Our Blessed Mother. “No True Child of Mary is Ever Lost” St. Alphonsus. FOR INFORMATION, FRAMED PICTURES, NOVENA SUPPLIES . . . WRITE PERPETUAL HELP REDEMPTORIST FATHERS LIGUORI, MO. Imprimi potest: John McCormick, C.SS.R. Provincial Superior Nihil Obstat: Thomas A. Cahill, C.M. Censor Librorum Imprimatur: © Joseph E. Ritter Archiepiscopus Sancti Ludovici February 12, 1952