Novena Day 7

 Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help - Day 7

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

ACT OF CONTRITION

My Lord Jesus Christ, true God and true man, my Father and Redeemer,

Behold at Thy feet, a poor sinner who has so grievously afflicted Thy Loving Heart.

O Lovable Jesus! How could I have offended Thee and filled with bitterness that heart that loves me so and has spared no effort to attain my love?

How great has been my ingratitude! But, O my Savior, be consoled, be consoled; I say to Thee

Now I find myself repentant, such grief I feel for the affliction I have caused Thee, that I would like to die of pure sorrow and contrition.

O my Jesus! Who could make me weep for sin as Thou has wept for it in Thy mortal life!

My soul is oppressed for having offended Thee. 

Eternal Father, in satisfaction for my offenses, I offer Thee the affliction and the sorrow the heart of Thy Divine Son has felt for them.

And thou O Loving Jesus! Give me such a horror for sin that from now on it make me avoid even the most trifling of faults. 

Depart from my heart, earthly affections; I do not want to love anything now but my most bountiful Redeemer.

O my Jesus, help me, strengthen me and pardon me.

My Mother of Perpetual Help, intercede for me and obtain for me the pardon of my sins. Amen!

PREPARATORY PRAYER

O Most Blessed Virgin Mary!

Who to inspire us with boundless confidence has been pleased to take the sweet name of Mother of Perpetual Help.

I implore Thee to come to my aid always and everywhere, in my temptations, after my falls, in my difficulties, in all the miseries of life, and, above all, at the hour of my death.

Give me, O Loving Mother, the desire nay more, the habit always to have recourse to thee; for I feel assured that if I am faithful in invoking thee, Thou wilt be faithful in coming to my assistance.

Obtain for me, then, this grace of graces, the grace to pray to thee without ceasing, and with childlike trust.

That by means of my constant plea, I may ensure Thy Perpetual Help and final perseverance.

Bless me, O tender and solicitous Mother,

Pray for me now and at the hour of my death.

Amen! 

MEDITATION

Link to meditation. . . Recite the Joys

EJACULATORY PRAYER

O Mother of Perpetual Help! Grant me Thine omnipotent aid and grant that I may ask for it without ceasing.

EXERCISE

Do not let one day pass without reciting three Hail Marys, morning and night, to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, to obtain the grace of invoking Her on the following day.

PRAYER

O my Mother of Perpetual Help! In Thy hands I place my pour soul. I entrust to Thee my perseverance. Intercede for me, an unhappy sinner. Take me under Thy protection and this will suffice for me. Indeed, if Thou protectest me, I have nothing to fear. I do not fear my sins, because Thou wilt remedy the evil they have caused me. I do not fear the devils, because Thou art more powerful than all Hell. I do not even fear my Judge Himself, because by one word from Thee Thou wilt appease His just indignation. No, I do not fear anything.

Oh! In spite of all this, my Mother, one fear assaults me. And it is that of forgetting Thee, of ceasing one day to call Thee to my aid and thus to be lost for all eternity. O my tender Mother! Obtain for me the grace of commending myself to Thee always. And if now Thou foreseest that one day I will abandon Thee, let me die today at Thy feet before the world may be witness to such great ingratitude. But, no, O Mother, I will not forget Thee. I would rather that my right hand wither, that my tongue be paralyzed than not go one day to sing of Thy mercies forever and ever. Amen.

EXAMPLE

In a certain city in England a man, completely given to drinking, used to come home every day in a state of intoxication. One day his unhappy wife, tired of all she was suffering from her husband’s perversity, lamented her lot before a devotee of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The latter, moved to compassion, gave a medal of that Virgin to the afflicted wife, advising her to light a candle in honor of her dear Mother every day.

The woman promised to do so and began to recite the holy Rosary before the miraculous medal. Her husband returned that day at a late hour, as was his custom, but not intoxicated.

After some time had passed the woman related to her pious advisor who was asking her about her husband, "Since I began to honor Our Lady of Perpetual Help he has amended. He returned to his vice only once when, distractedly, I forgot to fulfill the promise I made to the Mother of God."

Thus the Blessed Virgin rewards Her devotees.

May the Virgin of Perpetual Help be loved, praised, invoked and eternally blessed! May She be my hope, my love, my Mother, my refuge and my life. Amen.

RECITE THE MEMORARE

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

Amen.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!