Novena and Consecration to Mary, Mother of the Church

ALL PARISH NOVENA TO MARY, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH

On May 1, the bishops of the United States will consecrate our country to our Blessed Mother for protection from the coronavirus.

I invite all of my parishioners and friends to join me in praying a novena (9 days of prayer) to our Blessed Mother, beginning today, Thursday April 23rd ending on Friday May 1st. On May 1st I will consecrate each St Michaels and St Josephs to the Mother of God- Mother of the Church.

I invite each of you to pray the following prayer, adapted from a prayer written by Pope Saint Paul VI. Let us pray in a particular way for the health and protection of each of our parishioners.

NOVENA PRAYER

O Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, to you we commend the entire Church. You were given as Mother to the beloved Disciple John, by your Divine Son at the moment of His saving death, remember the Christian people who entrust themselves to you. You are the Immaculate Mother of our Lord, Mother of the Church and the Help of Christians everywhere.

Remember all your children; support their prayers addressed to God; make strong their faith; make firm their hope; increase their love. Remember those who are in tribulation, in need, in danger, above all those who are suffering persecution on for the Faith. For these, O Blessed Virgin, obtain fortitude and hasten the longed-for day of their just liberation.

Look with merciful eyes on our separated brethren and deign to unite us, you who brought forth Christ as the bridge of union between God and mankind. O Temple of Light, without shadow and without blemish, intercede with your only Son, the Mediator of our reconciliation with the Father, so that He may have mercy on our short-comings and remove all dissension among us, granting to our souls the joy of loving.

O Blessed Mother, we entrust to your intercession, the health and protection of our entire parish, all of our families, our children, and all those who are sick and suffering. We pray for all of our family and friends, especially those in healthcare and all first responders.

To your Immaculate Heart, O Mary, we finally commend the entire human race. Lead all to the knowledge of the one and true Savior, Jesus Christ; remove the scourges provoked by sin; give to the entire world peace in truth, in justice, in freedom and in love. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us O Most Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of your Son, Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be and St. Michael the Archangel Prayer