IDUOUI

Conversion of Francis Xavier
( 1534 )

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Imprimi Potest

Rev. Vincent L. Keelan, S. J.

Provincial: Province of Maryland

Nihil Obstat

Rev. E. A. Cerny, S.S., D.D.

Censor Librorum

imprimatur

Michael J. Curley, D.D.

Archbishop of Baltimore and Washington.



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a. in. b. <©,

Uobetta of (©rate

in honor of

St. Francis Xavier, s. j.

March 4th to March 12th



First Vows oflgnatius and his Companions (1534)

4



HISTORY OF THE NOVENA

Among the many devotions adopted by

the Faithful to invoke the intercession of

Xavier, is a nine days* prayer called the

“Novena” in honor of Xavier's canoniza-

tion. St. Francis himself suggested this

devotion to Father Mastrilli, whom he

miraculously cured at the point of death,

assuring him that “All who would earnestly

ask his intercession with God for nine days

in honor of his canonization would infal-

libly experience the effects of his great

power in heaven and would receive what-

ever they asked that would contribute to

their salvation.” It became known through-

out the whole Catholic world as the “No-

vena of Grace,” on account of the in-

numerable graces and extraordinary favors

obtained through the intercession of Xavier.

5



NOVENA OF GRACE

Mother Dear

Mother dear, O pray fjr me,

Whilst far from heav’n 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, remember me;

And never cease thy care,

’Till in heaven eternally,

Thy love and bliss I share.

6



DISCOURSE

Hymn to St. Francis Xavier

1

Oh, Father St. Francis, we kneel at thy feet

While blessings and favors we beg and entreat,

That thou from thy bright throne in heaven

above

Wouldst look on thy clients with pity and love.

St. Francis Xavier, Oh pray for us!

St. Francis Xavier, Oh pray for us!

2

Oh, Father St. Francis, thy words were once

strong

Against Satan’s wiles and an infidel throng;

Not less is thy might, where in heaven thou art;

Oh, come to our aid, in our battle take part.

St. Francis Xavier, Oh pray for us!

St. Francis Xavier, Oh pray for us!

+

BENEDICTION

O Salutaris hostia,

Quae coeli pandis ostium:

Bella premunt hostilia

Da robur, fer auxilium.

Uni trinoque Domino

Sit sempiterna gloria:

Qui vitam sine termino

Nobis donet in patria. Amen.

7



St. Ignatius Commissions St. Francis Xavier

for the Missions (1540)



NOVENA PRAYERS

People: O Lord Jesus Christ, true God

and true man, my Creator and my Re-

deemer, for Thy sake alone, and because I

love Thee above all things, I am sorry from

the bottom of my heart for having offended

Thee, and I firmly purpose never to fall

into sin again, to confess my sins, and per-

form the penance that shall be enjoined me,

and to make restitution and satisfaction

wherever it shall be due from me. For the

love of Thee I forgive all my enemies; to

Thee I offer up my life, actions and suffer-

ings in satisfaction for my sins; and, since I

humbly beg it of Thee, I trust in Thy good-

ness and infinite mercy, that Thou wilt

forgive me them through the merits of Thy

precious blood and passion, and wilt give

me grace to amend my life, and to persevere

in Thy service unto my death. Amen.

(Prayers for each day begin on page 14)

9



PRAYER TO ST. FRANCIS XAVIER

People: O most lovable and loving Saint

Francis Xavier, in union with thee I adore

the Divine Majesty. The remembrance of

the favors with which God blessed thee

during life and of thy glory after death fills

me with joy, and I unite with thee in offer-

ing Him my humble tribute of thanksgiving

and of praise. I implore thee to secure for

me, through thy powerful intercession, the

inestimable blessing of living and dying in

the state of grace. I also beseech thee to

obtain the favor I ask in this Novena.

{Here recommend your intentions.) But if

what I ask is not for the glory of God, and

the good of my soul, do thou obtain for me

what is most conducive to both. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be

+

PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS FOR THE

CONVERSION OF INFIDELS
(500 days indulgence)

People: Eternal God, Creator of all

things, remember that Thou alone didst

create the souls of infidels, forming them to

10



Thy own image and likeness. Remember, O

Lord, Thy only Son, Jesus Christ, who

suffered for them, most bountifully shed-

ding His most precious blood. Suffer not, O

Lord, Thy Son, and our Lord to be any

longer despised by infidels, but rather,

being appeased by the entreaties and

prayers of Thy elect, the Saints, and of the

Church, the most blessed spouse of Thy

Son, vouchsafe to be mindful of Thy

mercy, and forgetting their idolatry and

unbelief, cause them also to know Him

whom Thou didst send, Jesus Christ, Thy

Son and our Lord, Who is our health, life

and resurrection, through Whom we are

made free and saved, to Whom be all glory

forever. Amen.

+

Antiphon: Well done, thou good and

faithful servant, because thou hast been

faithful over a few things, I will place thee

over many things; enter into the joy of

thy Lord.

Priest: Our Lord hath guided the just

man by right ways.

People: And hath shown him the king-

dom of God.

11



St. Francis Xavier in India (1542-49)

12



Let Us Pray

People: O God, who wast pleased to bring

to the bosom of Thy Church the nations of

the Indies, through the preaching and

miracles of St. Francis Xavier, mercifully

grant us, that we may imitate his virtues,

whose glorious merits we hold in veneration.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+

A COMMEMORATION OF
ST. IGNATIUS LOYOLA

Antiphon: This man, despising the world

and triumphing over earthly things, heaped

up riches in Heaven by word and work.

Priest: The Lord loved and adorned him.

People: And a garment of glory He put

upon him. .
T*

Let Us Pray

People: O God, who for the propagation

of the greater glory of Thy name hast by

blessed Ignatius strengthened the church

militant with new help, graciously vouch-

safe, that we, by his assistance and imita-

tion, valiantly combating upon earth, may

merit with him an everlasting crown in

Heaven. Amen.

13



PRAYER FOR THE FIRST DAY

O God and Lord of the Angels, whom
Thou dost entrust with the guardianship of

men, I make Thee an offering of all the

merits of these heavenly spirits, and those

of Thy servant, St. Francis Xavier, who

was called an Angel for his purity, and

because he preserved men from many

spiritual and corporal dangers. I beseech

Thee, grant me that purity of soul and body

which Thou didst confer on this Thy holy

Apostle, and that particular grace, which I

beg in this Novena, to Thy greater honor

and glory. Amen.

+

PRAYER FOR THE SECOND DAY

Lord God of the Archangels, whom Thou
dost entrust with the most weighty con-

cerns of Thy Glory, and the benefit of men,

I offer up to Thee the merits of these most

diligent spirits, and those of thy great

servant, St. Francis Xavier, whom Thou
madest the Minister of Thy glory, and to

whom Thou recommendest the spiritual
welfare of innumerable souls, I beseech

Thee, grant that I may perform those

duties which Thy most holy and divine will

has imposed upon me, and also that I may

obtain that particular grace which I beg of

Thee in this Novena, to Thy honor and

glory. Amen.

14



PRAYER FOR THE THIRD DAY

Lord God of the Principalities, who ac-

cording to the disposition of Thy divine

will, by means of Angels and Archangels,

takest care of the welfare of mankind,

enlightening, instructing and governing

them; I offer up to Thee the merits of these

most zealous spirits and those of Thy

Servant, St. Francis Xavier, who enlight-

ened and converted many kingdoms and

provinces, and in them innumerable souls,

not only by himself, but by his disciples and

followers, instructing, teaching and com-

manding. I beseech Thee, grant me the zeal

of this holy Apostle, and the particular

petition I tender in this Novena, to Thy
greater honor and glory. Amen.

PRAYER FOR THE FOURTH DAY

Lord God of the Powers, who have a

special prerogative to curb the infernal

spirits; I offer up to Thee the merits of

these Powers, and those of Th /ant, St.

singular power of expelling devils from

bodies and souls. I beseech Thee, grant me

the grace to overcome all the temptations

of the devil, and that which I beg of Thee in

this Novena, to Thy greater honor and

glory. Amen.

Francis Xavier, to whom gavest

15



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St. Francis Xavier’s Labors in Japan (1549)

16



PRAYER FOR THE FIFTH DAY

Lord God of the Virtues, by whose means

Thou workest miracles and prodigies pecu-

liar to Thy sovereign power; I offer up to

Thee the merits of these most stupendous

spirits, and those of Thy servant, St.

Francis Xavier, whom Thou madest a
worker of new and prodigious miracles, re-

newing in him the signs and wonders ofThy

blessed Apostles, that he might bring the

gospel to new nations. I beseech Thee,

grant me that profound humility where-

with St. Francis Xavier, amidst so many

miracles, sought Thy glory and not his own

honor, as also that which I beg in this

Novena, to Thy greater honor and glory.

Amen. -

PRAYER FOR THE SIXTH DAY
Lord God of the Dominations, who pre-

side over all inferior spirits as ministers of

Thy providence, and submit themselves to

Thy will, being ever ready to fulfill it; I offer

up to Thee the merits of these excellent

spirits, and those of St. Francis Xavier,

who though superior to many, yet humbly

submitted himself to all superiors, acknowl-

edging in them Thy majesty, and readily
fulfilling their commands. I beseech Thee,

grant me a ready and perfect obedience to

all my superiors, and that special petition
which I make in this Novena, to Thy honor
and glory. Amen.

17



PRAYER FOR THE SEVENTH DAY

Lord God of the Thrones, on whom Thou
reposest as on the seat of Thy glory and

chair ofThy majesty; I offer up to Thee the
merits of these supreme spirits, and those of

St. Francis Xavier, that throne of Thy

glory, that vessel of election to convey Thy

name to new nations, who denied himself

to himself and to all worldly things, casting

them out of his heart, that Thou alone

might possess it. I beseech Thee, grant that

I may despise all worldly things and rest in

Thee alone; grant me also the petition I

make in this Novena, to Thy greater honor

and glory. Amen.

+

PRAYER FOR THE EIGHTH DAY

Lord God of the Cherubim, who are

adorned with the most perfect wisdom, I

offer up to Thee the merits of these most

knowing spirits, and those of Thy servant,

St. Francis Xavier, whom Thou didst grace
with super-eminent wisdom, and to whom
Thou didst reveal most profound secrets,

that he might teach Thy law to many

peoples and nations. I beseech Thee grant

that I may learn to fear and please Thee,

which is true wisdom, that by word and

example I may teach others to keep Thy

commandments, and that Thou wilt also

grant me the favor I beg in this Novena, to

Thy greater honor and glory. Amen.

18



PRAYER FOR THE NINTH DAY

Lord God of the Seraphim, who are in-

flamed with the most ardent love for Thee,

I offer up to Thee the merits of these most

fervent spirits, and those of Thy servant,

St. Francis Xavier, who like the Seraphim,

was inflamed with Thy love; conquering

innumerable hardships and dangers of his

life to please Thee, and to make those know

and love Thee who before offended Thee

and knew Thee not. I beseech Thee, grant

that I may love Thee, my only God and my

Lord, and endeavor to bring all men to the

knowledge and love of Thee; and also that

Thou wilt grant me that which I ask in this

Novena, to Thv greater honor and glory.

Amen.

19



Death of St. Francis Xavier off the coast of China

( 1552)

20



TANTUM ERGO

People:

1. Tantum ergo Sacramenturr

Veneremur cernui,

Et antiquum documentum

Novo cedat ritui;

Praestet fides supplementum

Sensuum defectui.

People:

2. Genitori, Genitoque

Laus et jubilatio,

Salus, honor, virtus, quoque

Sit et benedictio;

Procedenti ab utroque

Compar sit laudatio. Amen.

Priest: Panem de caelo praestitisti eis.

People: Omne delectamentum in se

habentem.

OREMUS

Priest: Deus qui nobis sub Sacramento

mirabili, passionis tuae memoriam reliquisti,

tribue, quaesumus, ita nos corporis et

sanguinis tui sacra mysteria venerari, ut

redemptionis tuae fructum in nobis jugiter

sentiamus. Qui vivis et regnas in saecula

saeculorum.

People: Amen.

21



Priest and People:

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 Jesus in the most Holy Sacra-

ment of the Altar.

Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary

most Holy.

Blessed be her Holy and Immaculate Con-

ception.

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.

+

HYMN
Holy God, we praise Thy name,

Lord of all! We bow before Thee;

All on earth Thy sceptre claim,

All in heav’n above adore Thee,

Infinite Thy vast domain,

Everlasting is Thy reign.

22



NOTES

It is earnestly recommended that those

who attend one service will not remain for

the one following.

+

Put Intentions in the box marked “For

Intentions.”

Put favors received in the box marked “For

Favors Received.”

Confessions after the Masses and all the

Services.

Individual blessings with the relic are given

during the Novena after all Masses and

devotions; the relic is exposed for

veneration at the Shrine.

Medals may be had at the Bookrack.

St. Francis Xavier Water may be had in the

Rectory corridor.

Note me Order of Services posted in the

Vestibule.

23



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