Mary, Help of Christians Part 25

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

INVOCATION OF ST. CATHERINE

ST. CATHERINE, glorious virgin and martyr, resplendent in the l.u.s.ter of wisdom and purity; thy wisdom refuted the adversaries of divine truth and covered them with confusion; thy immaculate purity made thee a spouse of Christ, so that after thy glorious martyrdom angels carried thy body to Mount Sinai. Implore for me progress in the science of the saints and the virtue of holy purity, that vanquishing the enemies of my soul, I may be victorious in my last combat and after death be conducted by the angels into the eternal beat.i.tude of heaven. Amen.

Prayer (located in St. George's novena).

XIV

Novena in Honor of St. Barbara

Preparatory Prayer (located at the start of Part IV).

PRAYER IN HONOR OF ST. BARBARA

O G.o.d, who didst adorn Thy holy virgin and martyr Barbara with extraordinary fort.i.tude in the confession of the Faith, and didst console her in the most atrocious torments; grant us through her intercession perseverance in the fulfilment of Thy law and the grace of being fortified before our end with the holy sacraments, and of a happy death. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

INVOCATION OF ST. BARBARA

INTREPID virgin and martyr, St. Barbara, through thy intercession come to my aid in all needs of my soul. Obtain for me the grace to be preserved from a sudden and unprovided death; a.s.sist me in my agony, when my senses are benumbed and I am in the throes of death. Then, O powerful patroness of the dying, come to my aid! Repel from me all the a.s.saults and temptations of the evil one, and obtain for me the grace to receive before death the holy sacraments, that I breathe forth my soul confirmed in faith, hope, and charity, and be worthy to enter eternal glory. Amen.

St. Barbara, at my last end Obtain for me the Sacrament; a.s.sist one in that direst need When I my G.o.d and Judge must meet: That robed in sanctifying grace My soul may stand before His face.

Prayer (located in St. George's novena).

Novena to All the Fourteen Holy Helpers

PREPARATORY PRAYER

_(By St Alphonsus Liguori.)_

GREAT princes of heaven, Holy Helpers, who sacrificed to G.o.d all your earthly possessions, wealth, preferment, and even life, and who now are crowned in heaven in the secure enjoyment of eternal bliss and glory; have compa.s.sion on me, a poor sinner in this vale of tears, and obtain for me from G.o.d, for whom you gave up all things and who loves you as His servants, the strength to bear patiently all the trials of this life, to overcome all temptations, and to persevere in G.o.d's service to the end, that one day I too may be received into your company, to praise and glorify Him, the supreme Lord, whose beatific vision you enjoy, and whom you praise and glorify for ever. Amen.

FIRST DAY

The Devotion to the Fourteen Holy Helpers

Preparatory Prayer (located at the start of the novena).

MEDITATION

THE practice of honoring and invoking the saints to obtain, through their intercession, help in the various needs of body and soul, is as old as the Church. At what period, however, the custom of having recourse to the fourteen saints called Holy Helpers originated, is unknown. Nevertheless it is certain that each one of them was invoked for his intercession with G.o.d since his entrance into heaven. Prayer is the Christian's resource in every difficulty: and difficulties and trials are never wanting on earth.

Because the needs of mankind on earth are various, the faithful selected certain saints as intercessors in certain cases of distress, and obtained relief; hence these saints came to be regarded as special patrons in such trials, and were called Holy Helpers.

PRACTICE

MAKE this novena with full confidence in the power of the intercession of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. During their earthly life they devoted their whole energy to the spreading of G.o.d's kingdom and the relief and succor of their fellow-men. Much more efficiently can they do so now when they are in the enjoyment of eternal happiness, and can supplicate for us at the very throne of G.o.d.

The saints _can_ help us through their intercession. G.o.d hears their prayers and He wrought miracles to confirm us in this belief, even whilst His servants sojourned here on earth. They _desire_ and are willing to help us. St. Bernard says: "In heaven hearts do not grow cold; they are rather rendered more affectionate and tender. By receiving the crown of justice the saints were not hardened against the sufferings of their brethren on earth."

Therefore, in calling on them, have full confidence in their power and ability to come to your aid.

_Prayer_

WE BESEECH Thee, O Lord, to hear the prayer which we send up to Thee in honor of Thy glorified servants, the Fourteen Holy Helpers: and as we can not rely upon our own justice, grant our pet.i.tion through the intercession of those whose merits have made them especially dear to Thee. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

[Image: Death of the Blessed Virgin]

LITANY OF THE FOURTEEN HOLY HELPERS

LORD, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us.

G.o.d the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.

G.o.d the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.

G.o.d the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, one G.o.d, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, queen of martyrs, pray for us.

St. Joseph, helper in all needs, pray for us.

Fourteen Holy Helpers, pray for us.

St. George, valiant martyr of Christ, pray for us.

St. Blase, zealous bishop and benefactor of the poor, pray for us.

St. Erasmus, mighty protector of the oppressed, pray for us.

St. Pantaleon, miraculous exemplar of charity, pray for us.

St. Vitus, special protector of chast.i.ty, pray for us.

St. Christophorus, mighty intercessor in dangers, pray for us.

St. Dionysius, shining mirror of faith and confidence, pray for us.

St. Cyriacus, terror of h.e.l.l, pray for us.

St. Achatius, helpful advocate in death, pray for us.

St. Eustachius, exemplar of patience in adversity, pray for us.

St. Giles, despiser of the world, pray for us.

St. Margaret, valiant champion of the Faith, pray for us.

St. Catherine, victorious defender of the Faith and of purity, pray for us.

St. Barbara, mighty patroness of the dying, pray for us.

All ye Holy Helpers, pray for us.

All ye saints of G.o.d, pray for us.

In temptations against faith, pray for us.

In adversity and trials, pray for us.

In anxiety and want, pray for us.

In every combat, pray for us.

In every temptation, pray for us.

In sickness, pray for us.