Mary, Help of Christians Part 26

In all needs, pray for us.

In fear and terror, pray for us.

In dangers of salvation, pray for us.

In dangers of honor, pray for us.

In dangers of reputation, pray for us.

In dangers of property, pray for us.

In dangers by fire and water, pray for us.

Be merciful, spare us, O Lord!

Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Lord!

From all sin, deliver us, O Lord.

From Thy wrath, deliver us, O Lord.

From the scourge of earthquake, deliver us, O Lord.

From plague, famine, and war, deliver us, O Lord.

From lightning and storms, deliver us, O Lord.

From a sudden and unprovided death, deliver us, O Lord.

From eternal d.a.m.nation, deliver us, O Lord.

Through the mystery of Thy holy incarnation, deliver us, O Lord.

Through Thy birth and Thy life, deliver us, O Lord.

Through Thy cross and pa.s.sion, deliver us, O Lord.

Through Thy death and burial, deliver us, O Lord.

Through the merits of Thy blessed Mother Mary, deliver us, O Lord.

Through the merits of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, deliver us, O Lord.

On the Day of Judgment, deliver us, O Lord!

We sinners, beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou spare us, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou pardon us, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou convert us to true penance, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou give and preserve the fruits of the earth, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou protect and propagate Thy holy Church, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou preserve peace and concord among the nations, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou give eternal rest to the souls of the departed, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou come to our aid through the intercession of the Holy Helpers, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That through the intercession of St. George Thou preserve us in the Faith, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That through the intercession of St. Blase Thou confirm us in hope, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That through the intercession of St. Erasmus Thou enkindle in us Thy holy love, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That through the intercession of St. Pantaleon Thou give us charity for our neighbor, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That through the intercession of St. Vitus Thou teach us the value of our soul, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That through the intercession of St. Christophorus Thou preserve us from sin, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That through the intercession of St. Dionysius Thou give us tranquillity of conscience, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That through the intercession of St. Cyriacus Thou grant us resignation to Thy holy will, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That through the intercession of St. Eustachius Thou give us patience in adversity, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That through the intercession of St. Achatius Thou grant us a happy death, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That through the intercession of St. Giles Thou grant us a merciful judgment, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That through the intercession of St. Margaret Thou preserve us from h.e.l.l, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That through the intercession of St. Catherine Thou shorten our purgatory, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That through the intercession of St. Barbara Thou receive us in heaven, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That through the intercession of all the Holy Helpers Thou wilt grant our prayers, we beseech Thee, hear us.

Lamb of G.o.d, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of G.o.d, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of G.o.d, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, O Lord.

V. Pray for us, ye Fourteen Holy Helpers.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promise of Christ.

_Let us Pray_

ALMIGHTY and eternal G.o.d, who hast bestowed extraordinary graces and gifts on Thy saints George, Blase, Erasmus, Pantaleon, Vitus, Christophorus, Dionysius, Cyriacus, Eustachius, Achatius, Giles, Margaret, Catherine, and Barbara, and hast ill.u.s.trated them by miracles; we beseech Thee to graciously hear the pet.i.tions of all who invoke their intercession. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

O G.o.d, who didst miraculously fortify the Fourteen Holy Helpers in the confession of the Faith; grant us, we beseech Thee, to imitate their fort.i.tude in overcoming all temptations against it, and protect us through their intercession in all dangers of soul and body, so that we may serve Thee in purity of heart and chast.i.ty of body. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

INVOCATION OF THE HOLY HELPERS

FOURTEEN Holy Helpers, who served G.o.d in humility and confidence on earth and are now in the enjoyment of His beatific vision in heaven; because you persevered till death you gained the crown of eternal life.

Remember the dangers that surround us in this vale of tears, and intercede for us in all our needs and adversities. Amen.

Fourteen Holy Helpers, select friends of G.o.d, I honor you as mighty intercessors, and come with filial confidence to you in my needs, for the relief of which I have undertaken to make this novena. Help me by your intercession to placate G.o.d's wrath, which I have provoked by my sins, and aid me in amending my life and doing penance. Obtain for me the grace to serve G.o.d with a willing heart, to be resigned to His holy will, to be patient in adversity and to persevere unto the end, so that, having finished my earthly course, I may join you in heaven, there to praise for ever G.o.d, who is wonderful in His saints. Amen.

SECOND DAY

The Destiny of Man

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

MEDITATION

THE Holy Helpers faithfully co-operated with G.o.d's designs concerning their eternal destiny. No obstacle could prevail on them to stray from the path of duty. Always and everywhere they fulfilled the will of G.o.d.

You, too, have an eternal destiny. You are not your own master, but belong to G.o.d, whose servant and property you are. Therefore you must obey Him, and not your own inclinations; you must do His will, and not your own. G.o.d had the right of requiring our submission to Him without giving us a reward, because He is Our Lord; nevertheless He promised to give us Himself in reward for our faithful service. Ought this not be sufficient inducement for us to serve Him zealously and gratefully?

Remember, moreover, that you shall be unhappy both in this and in the next world if you do not give yourself entirely to G.o.d, for whom you were created. St. Augustine says: "Thou hast created us for Thee, O Lord, and our heart remains restless till it rests in Thee."

PRACTICE

THANK G.o.d for the undeserved grace of creation and redemption. Make an act of contrition for having served Him so negligently. Promise amendment, and invoke the aid of G.o.d's grace through the intercession of the Holy Helpers.

_Prayer_

O G.o.d, who according to the decrees of Thy providence hast created man for eternal bliss; grant, through the intercession of the Holy Helpers, that I may attain to my destiny by being united with Thee in this life and loving and praising Thee for ever in heaven. Amen.

Litany and Prayers (located on the first day of the novena).

THIRD DAY

The Virtue of Faith