The Perpetual Novena of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Pray this Novena nine times, preferably on Wednesdays.
Novena Prayers
1. Come, Holy Ghost
Kneel.
Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest,
And in our souls take up Thy rest;
Come with Thy grace and heavenly aid
To fill the hearts which Thou hast made.
V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created.
R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let Us Pray
O God, who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people by sending them the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us by the same Spirit, to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort, through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
2. An Act of Contrition
“Here, O God, is my sacrifice, a broken spirit; a heart that is humbled and contrite, Thou, O God, wilt never disdain.”
— Psalm 50:19
My God, I believe in Thee.
I hope in Thee.
I love Thee above all things,
with all my soul,
with all my heart,
and with all my strength.
I love Thee because Thou art infinitely good
and worthy of being loved;
and because I love Thee,
I repent with all my heart
of having offended Thee.
Have mercy on me, a sinner. Amen.
3. For the Intentions of the Holy Father
The Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy Kingdom come;
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
The Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee;
blessed art thou amongst 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.
The Glory Be to the Father
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
4. Invocations to Our Lady
We fly to thy patronage, O Holy Mother of God.
Despise not our petitions in our necessities,
but ever deliver us from all dangers,
O glorious and blessed Virgin.
Priest: O Mother of Perpetual Succour, thou whose very name inspires confidence.
People: Help me, O loving Mother.
Priest: That I may love and serve God with all my heart.
People: Help me, O loving Mother.
Priest: That I may never neglect prayer.
People: Help me, O loving Mother.
Priest: In temptations against the holy virtue of purity.
People: Help me, O loving Mother.
Priest: That I may quickly rise again should I have the misfortune to fall into sin.
People: Help me, O loving Mother.
Priest: That I may courageously resist the seductions of the world, evil companions, bad books and films.
People: Help me, O loving Mother.
Priest: That I may often and devoutly receive the Sacraments and fulfil my Christian duties and the duties of my state.
People: Help me, O loving Mother.
Priest: That I may be patient and resigned in all trials and troubles of life.
People: Help me, O loving Mother.
Priest: In sickness and pain, in poverty and distress.
People: Help me, O loving Mother.
Priest: That I may not delay my conversion from day to day.
People: Help me, O loving Mother.
Priest: That I may ever love and serve thee and invoke thy assistance.
People: Help me, O loving Mother.
Priest: That I may be able to lead others to love, serve and pray to thee.
People: Help me, O loving Mother.
Priest: When death is near and I am about to pass into eternity.
People: Help me, O loving Mother.
Priest: To my last hour, to my last breath, do thou watch over me.
People: Help me, O loving Mother.
Priest: Pray for us, O Mother of Perpetual Succour.
People: Help me, O loving Mother.
Let Us Pray
O Almighty and merciful God,
who in order to assist the human race
has willed the Blessed Virgin Mary
to become the Mother of Thy only-begotten Son,
grant, we beseech Thee,
that by her intercession
we may avoid the contagion of sin
and serve Thee with a pure heart,
through the same Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
5. Summary of Petitions & Thanksgivings
Pause here for personal petitions and thanksgiving.
6. Novena Prayers
O Mother of Perpetual Succour,
behold me, a miserable sinner, at thy feet.
I have recourse to thee and put my trust in thee.
O Mother of Mercy, have pity upon me.
I hear thee called by all
the refuge and the hope of sinners;
be then my refuge and my hope.
Succour me for the love of Jesus Christ.
Stretch forth thy hand to me, a poor sinner,
who recommend and dedicate myself to thee
as thy perpetual servant.
I bless and thank God for having, in His mercy,
given me this confidence in thee,
the pledge, as I believe, of my eternal salvation.
Alas, too often in past times have I miserably fallen
because I had not recourse to thee.
I know that with thy help I shall conquer.
I know that thou wilt help me
if I recommend myself to thee.
But I fear lest, in the occasion of failing,
I should cease to call upon thee
and so should lose my soul.
This, then, is the grace I seek from thee,
and I beg of thee, as far as I know how and can,
to obtain it for me;
namely, in the assaults of hell,
always to have recourse to thee
and to say to thee:
O Mary, help me.
Mother of Perpetual Succour,
suffer me not to lose my God.
Amen.
Priest: Mother of Perpetual Succour.
People: Pray for thy children.
Hail Mary
Hail Mary...
Repeat three times.
Holy Mary,
succour the miserable,
help the faint-hearted,
cheer those that weep,
pray for the people,
be the advocate of the clergy,
intercede for all devout women,
let all feel thine aid
who implore thy perpetual succour.
Priest: Thou hast been made for us, O Lady, a Refuge.
People: A helper in need and tribulation.
Let Us Pray
O Lord Jesus Christ,
who hast given us Thy Mother Mary,
whose wondrous image we venerate,
to our Mother, ever ready to succour us,
grant, we beseech Thee,
that we, who earnestly implore her maternal aid,
may deserve to enjoy perpetually
the fruit of Thy redemption,
who livest and reignest
world without end. Amen.
7. Hymn — Mother Dear, Oh Pray for Me
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;
till in Heaven eternally,
Thy love and bliss I share.
Silent Prayer
Pause for personal prayer, petitions and thanksgiving.
8. 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 thy intercession,
was left unaided.Inspired with this confidence,
I fly to 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 petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.
9. Exposition and Prayer Before the Blessed Sacrament
Merciful Lord, whose mercies are without number
and whose goodness is without end,
You abide with Your people in wondrous manner
and are with us all days,
even to the end of time.
By Your kindly presence direct our minds;
with Your guiding love watch over our paths;
with Your powerful help deliver us from every tribulation,
from all danger and sin,
that we may on earth always live with You and in You,
and in Your eternal dwelling
enjoy Your presence forever.
Amen.
10. Blessing of the Sick
V. Our help is in the Name of the Lord.
R. Who made heaven and earth.
V. Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with you also.
Let Us Pray
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God,
that these Thy servants may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body;
and by the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary, ever Virgin,
be delivered from present sorrow
and enjoy eternal gladness.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Extending his right hand towards the people:
May the Lord Jesus Christ be amongst you, to defend you;
within you, to preserve you;
before you, to guide you;
after you, to guard you;
above you, to bless you;
who with the Father and the Holy Spirit
lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
Through the intercession of our Mother of Perpetual Succour,
may the blessing of Almighty God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
descend upon you
and remain with you forever. Amen.
11. Mary, From Thy Sacred Image
Mary, from thy sacred image,
with those eyes so sadly sweet,
Mother of Perpetual Succour!
See us kneeling at thy feet.In thy arms thy Child thou bearest,
source of all thy joy and woe;
what thy bliss, how deep thy sorrows,
Mother, thou alone canst know.
12. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
Let us bow in adoration
to this Sacrament so great.
Here is new and perfect worship,
all the old must terminate.
Senses cannot grasp this marvel;
faith must serve to compensate.Glory, Honour, Adoration,
let us sing with one accord.
Praised be God, Almighty Father;
praised be Christ, His Son, our Lord;
praised be God the Holy Spirit;
Triune Godhead be adored. Amen.
Priest: Let us pray:
O God, in this wonderful Sacrament
You have left us the memorial of Your Passion.
Grant that we may so reverence
the sacred Mysteries of Your Body and Blood,
that the taste of the fruit of Your Redemption
may ever be within us,
who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
People: Amen.
The Divine Praises
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 His Most Precious Blood.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most Holy.
Blessed be her Holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her Glorious Assumption.
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.
13. Mother Dearest, Mother Fairest
1.
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.
2.
Mary, 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
3.
Help our priests, our Sisters lowly,
help our Pope, long may he reign.
Pray that we who sing their praises
may in Heaven all meet again.
Chorus
4.
Mary, help the absent loved ones;
how we miss their presence here.
May the hand of Thy protection
guard and guide them far and near.
Chorus
Occasional Prayers
For Personal Use Only
The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
History of the Devotion
The devotion to the picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour is of very ancient origin. It was first venerated on the island of Crete, near Greece, from whence it was carried to Italy and placed in the Church of St. Matthew the Apostle in Rome, between the Basilicas of St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran, then in the care of the Augustinian Brothers.
The Madonna in the picture, it would appear, had called herself “Holy Mary of Perpetual Succour,” while in Crete it was known as “Our Lady of the Angels.”
This was in 1499. It seems to have been painted about the year 1455, or even earlier, and it was restored or repainted in the 19th century, making it appear as it is at present.
In 1798, the Church of St. Matthew was destroyed and the picture passed into oblivion until the year 1866, when it came into the hands of the Redemptorists at the express command of Pope Pius IX.
Since then, the Redemptorist Fathers have been the propagators of the devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour wherever they preach retreats and missions.
Explanation of the Picture
The picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour belongs to the group of Passion icons of the 15th century. These paintings are characterized by the symbols of the Passion and the austere features of the Madonna and the Child.
Around the crowned head of the Madonna are the words “Mother of God.” On both sides are the two Archangels, Michael and Gabriel, with their respective names inscribed above their heads and holding the instruments of the Passion.
St. Michael holds the spear and the sponge, while St. Gabriel holds the Cross.
At the sight of the Cross, the Child Jesus is struck by fear. His feet strike each other and knock off a sandal from one foot, and He clings to His Mother for support.
The features of the Madonna are grave, conveying a message of hope and an assurance of help to all those who, in identical circumstances, will appeal to her for help.
There is also a plea in her eyes:
“Do not hurt my Son more by sin, and I will help you by His goodness.”
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