Prière Introductive
Introductory Prayer
Behold at thy feet, O Mother of Perpetual Help, a wretched sinner who has recourse to thee and confides in thee. O Mother of mercy, have pity on me. I hear thee called by all the refuge and the hope of sinners; be then, my refuge and my hope. Assist me, for the love of Jesus Christ; stretch forth thy hand to a miserable fallen creature, who recommends himself to thee, and who devotes himself to thy service for ever. I praise and thank God, who of His great mercy hath given me this confidence in thee, which I hold to be a pledge of my eternal salvation. It is true that in the past I have miserably fallen into sin, because I had not recourse to thee. I know that with thy help I shall conquer. I know, too, that thou wilt help me, if I recommend myself to thee; but I fear lest in the occasion of falling I should cease to call upon thee, and so should lose my soul. This, then, is the grace I ask of 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 Help, suffer me not to lose my God.
Jour 1 : First Day: The Holy Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help
Méditation
Let us meditate upon the sacred Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. The divine Child Jesus, beholding the instruments of His future Passion, seeks refuge in the arms of His Mother. He clings to her with a love so tender, yet His gaze is fixed upon us. Mary holds Him, but her eyes, full of sorrowful compassion, look not at Him, but at us. She is the Mother of Sorrows, yet also the Mother of our hope. This image is a perpetual testament to her willingness to aid us in our fears and tribulations. As Jesus sought comfort in her arms, so too are we invited to fly to her protection in all our needs.
Prière du jour
O Mother of Perpetual Help, whose very name inspires confidence, we gaze upon thy holy image and are filled with hope. As thou didst comfort thy divine Son in His moment of dread, so too comfort us in our trials. We place ourselves under the mantle of thy protection. Teach us to run to thee in every necessity, that we may find in thee a safe and unfailing refuge. Amen.
Jour 2 : Second Day: Our Lady, our Mother
Méditation
From the Cross, our Lord gave us His own Mother to be our Mother also, when He said to Saint John, “Behold thy mother.” In the icon of Perpetual Help, we see this maternity in its most tender form. Her hand does not grasp that of the Child, but remains open, inviting us to place our own hands within hers. She is not only the Mother of God, but our Mother, ever ready to listen to our pleas, to soothe our sorrows, and to guide our steps. Her heart is a fountain of mercy, ever flowing for her children on earth.
Prière du jour
O Mary, whom Jesus Himself gave to us as our Mother, I come to thee with the trust of a child. I am weak and sinful, but I know that a mother’s love never fails. Take my heart, dear Mother, and present it to Jesus. Obtain for me the grace to love thy Son with an ardent love, and to serve thee with filial devotion all the days of my life. Amen.
Jour 3 : Third Day: Our Lady, Refuge of Sinners
Méditation
The Church hails Mary as the “Refuge of Sinners.” How can we doubt this truth when we look upon her image? Her eyes, full of pity, seem to seek out the most miserable souls to console them. She knows the weakness of our nature and the malice of our enemy. She knows how often we fall. Yet, she does not turn away. Instead, she extends her hand to lift us up. She is the ark of salvation for those who have been shipwrecked by sin. Let us, therefore, approach her with great confidence, no matter the weight of our faults.
Prière du jour
O Refuge of Sinners, Mother of Perpetual Help, behold me, a miserable sinner at thy feet. I have so often offended thy divine Son. I am ashamed of my iniquities. But I turn to thee, my advocate and my hope. Obtain for me true sorrow for my sins and the grace of a firm amendment. Through thy powerful intercession, may I receive pardon and be restored to the friendship of God. Amen.
Jour 4 : Fourth Day: Our Lady, Comforter of the Afflicted
Méditation
Life is a valley of tears, and no one is spared from suffering. Sickness, poverty, sorrow, and anxiety are the lot of mankind. In these moments of trial, to whom shall we turn? Our Mother of Perpetual Help is also called the “Comforter of the Afflicted.” Her compassionate heart is moved by our every pain. She who stood at the foot of the Cross understands suffering as no other. She offers us not a worldly escape from pain, but a heavenly strength to bear it with patience and to unite it with the sufferings of her Son for the salvation of souls.
Prière du jour
O Comforter of the Afflicted, dearest Mother, look with pity upon me in my time of trial. Thou knowest the cross which I bear. I do not ask that it be taken from me, but I implore thy help to carry it with love and resignation. Strengthen my faith, fortify my hope, and obtain for me the grace to persevere until I may rejoice with thee in heaven. Amen.
Jour 5 : Fifth Day: Our Lady, Hope of the Hopeless
Méditation
In moments of darkness and desolation, when all human help fails and our hearts are tempted to despair, we must lift our eyes to our Mother of Perpetual Help. She is the Star of the Sea, shining brightly in the darkest night to guide our barque to the safe harbor of salvation. Her name itself is a promise. She does not help us only now and then, but perpetually, at every moment, in every need. To trust in her is never to be confounded. She is the anchor of our hope.
Prière du jour
O Mary, my hope, my Queen, in this hour of darkness I turn to thee. My courage falters and my soul is troubled. Be thou my light and my guide. Inspire my heart with an unshakable confidence in thy perpetual help. Remind me that thou art ever near, and that through thee, I can obtain all things from thy Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Jour 6 : Sixth Day: Our Lady, Model of Virtues
Méditation
Our Blessed Mother is not only our helper but also our model. If we wish to please God, we must imitate her virtues. Let us consider her profound humility, her perfect obedience to the will of God, her angelic purity, her ardent charity, and her heroic patience in suffering. In her, we find the perfect disciple of Christ. By contemplating her life, we learn how to live ours. She guides us by her example, showing us the surest path to her Son.
Prière du jour
O most holy Virgin, mirror of all virtues, obtain for me the grace to imitate thee. Grant me a share of thy profound humility, that I may acknowledge my own nothingness. Give me a heart pure and obedient like thine. Inflame my soul with thy charity, that I may love God above all things and my neighbor for His sake. Be thou my model and my guide in the path of holiness. Amen.
Jour 7 : Seventh Day: Our Lady, Help in Temptation
Méditation
The world is a battlefield where we must constantly fight against the devil, the flesh, and the spirit of the world. We are weak, and our enemies are strong. How can we hope to conquer? By placing ourselves under the standard of the Queen of Heaven and Earth. She is the valiant woman foretold in the Scriptures, who crushes the serpent’s head. The devils tremble at her holy name. When we are assailed by temptation, let us call upon her with confidence, and she will be our shield and our defense.
Prière du jour
O Queen of Heaven, valiant warrior against the forces of evil, protect me in my spiritual combat. In the hour of temptation, be my strength. When I am assaulted by evil thoughts, impure desires, or feelings of pride and anger, I will cry out to thee: “Mother of Perpetual Help, assist me!” Suffer me not to fall into the snares of the enemy, but lead me to victory in the service of thy Son. Amen.
Jour 8 : Eighth Day: Our Lady, Gate of Heaven
Méditation
Our ultimate goal is eternal life in Heaven. Mary, having been assumed body and soul into heavenly glory, is the Gate through which we may enter. She is the channel of all graces, and it is through her intercession that we obtain the grace of final perseverance, which is the greatest grace of all. She watches over her children during their earthly pilgrimage, and at the hour of their death, she comes to assist them, to defend them from the last assaults of the devil, and to lead their souls safely into the presence of her Son.
Prière du jour
O Gate of Heaven, Mother of my Saviour, I entrust to thee the hour of my death. When my life on earth is drawing to a close, be thou at my side. Protect me from the final despair and temptations of the evil one. Present me to thy Son, Jesus, and plead for me, that having invoked thee faithfully on earth, I may come to praise thee and bless thee for all eternity in Heaven. Amen.
Jour 9 : Ninth Day: Our Lady, our Perpetual Help
Méditation
We have come to the final day of our novena. Let us gather all our intentions, all our hopes, and all our sorrows, and place them with boundless confidence in the hands of our Mother of Perpetual Help. Let us resolve to be her devoted children for the rest of our lives, to have frequent recourse to her, to spread devotion to her, and to imitate her virtues. She has been our help in the past, she is our help in the present, and she will be our help for all eternity. Let us consecrate ourselves entirely to her, that she may lead us to Jesus.
Prière du jour
O Mother of Perpetual Help, at the conclusion of this novena, I renew my confidence in thee. I thank thee for all the graces I have received through thy intercession. I consecrate to thee my body, my soul, my mind, and my heart. Be thou ever my Mother, my guide, and my advocate. Obtain for me the grace to serve thy Son faithfully in this life, and to be united with Him and with thee for ever in the life to come. Amen.
Prière Conclusive
Concluding Prayer
O Mother of Perpetual Help, thou art the dispenser of all the gifts which God grants to us miserable sinners; and for this end He has made thee so powerful, so rich, and so bountiful, that thou mayest help us in our misery. Thou art the advocate of the most wretched and abandoned sinners who have recourse to thee; come then to my help, dearest Mother, for I recommend myself to thee. In thy hands I place my eternal salvation, and to thee I entrust my soul. Count me among thy most devoted servants; take me under thy protection, and it is enough for me. For, if thou protect me, dear Mother, I fear nothing; not from my sins, because thou wilt obtain for me the pardon of them; nor from the devils,because thou art more powerful than all hell together; nor even from Jesus, my Judge Himself, because by one prayer from thee He will be appeased. But one thing I fear: that in the hour of temptation I may neglect to call on thee, and thus perish miserably. Obtain for me, then, the pardon of my sins, love for Jesus, final perseverance, and the grace ever to have recourse to thee, O Mother of Perpetual Help.
(Recite three Hail Marys)
Contexte Historique
Neuvaine structurée en 9 jours.