Traditional Novena in Preparation for the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary


Torch of The Faith News on Tuesday 24 January 2017 - 20:40:26 | by admin

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Today marks the start of the traditional Novena in preparation for the great Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A version of the Candlemas Novena follows below:-

Day One
Bright Mirror of all virtues, holiest Mary, forty days had scarcely elapsed from thy delivery when thou, though the purest of all virgins, didst will, according to the Law, to be presented in the Temple to be purified: grant that we, like thee, may keep our hearts unstained by sin, that so we, too, may be made worthy to be presented to our God in the Temple of His Glory.

Day Two
Virgin most obedient, at thy presentation in the Temple thou didst will, like other women, to offer the wonted sacrifice: obtain for us that we, too, following thy example, may learn how to offer ourselves a living sacrifice to God, by practicing every virtue.

Day Three
Virgin most pure, in observing the precept of the Law, thou didst care little that men should account thee unclean: ask for us grace to keep our hearts forever pure, however blamable the world may think us.

Day Four
Virgin most holy, in offering thy divine Son to His eternal Father, thou didst gladden all the court of Heaven: present our poor hearts to God, that He, by His grace, may keep them ever free from mortal sin.

Day Five
Virgin most humble, in placing Jesus in holy old Simeon's arms, thou didst fill his soul with heavenly joy: give our hearts into God's holy keeping, that He may fill them with His Holy Spirit.

Day Six
Virgin most zealous, by redeeming* thy Son, Jesus, according to the Law, thou didst cooperate in the salvation of the world: ransom now our poor hearts from the slavery of sin, that so they may be ever pure before the face of God.

Day Seven
Virgin most meek, on hearing the prophecy of Simeon foretelling thy woes, thou didst promptly bow to the good pleasure of God: enable us also to bear all troubles with patience and resignation to His divine will.

Day Eight
Virgin most compassionate, when through thy divine Son thou didst fill the soul of Anna the prophetess with light, thou didst make her magnify the mercies of God by recognizing Jesus as the Redeemer of the world: enrich our souls with heavenly grace, that we may largely share the fruit of the divine Redemption.

Day Nine
Virgin most resigned, who didst feel thy soul transfixed with sorrow when in spirit thou didst foresee all the bitter passion of thy Son, and, knowing the grief of St. Joseph, thy spouse, for all thy sufferings, didst with holy words console him: pierce through and through our souls with true sorrow for our sins, that we may one day have the consolation to be made partakers of thy glory in Heaven.

After each individual day's unique prayer, then say the Hail Mary, followed by the Litany of Loreto, and afterward:

V. Simeon received an answer from the Holy Spirit.

R. That he should not see death until he had seen the Christ of the Lord.

Let us Pray

Almighty, everlasting God, we pray Thy majesty, that as Thine only begotten Son was presented in the Temple in the substance of our flesh, so Thou wouldst enable us to present ourselves before Thee with clean hearts. Amen.

* Footnote to Day Six: Of course, Our Lord Jesus Christ, as God Incarnate, did not need to be redeemed. However, He and Our Lady fulfilled all the precepts of the Law. This is the sense in which that day's prayer is to be understood.


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