Novena to Mary, Help of Christians

OPENING PRAYER

In the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen. LET US PRAY Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, and sought your intercession, was left unaided, inspired with this confidence I fly unto you; O Virgin of virgins, my Mother!  To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful, O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer me.  Amen. (These introductory prayers are repeated every day.)

DAILY PRAYERS (Novena starts on the 15th day of every month)   FIRST DAY O holy Mary, powerful help of Christians, I turn to you with faith.  In your mercy hear the prayers of this poor sinner who implores your help to avoid sin and all its occasions. (Recite three times)  Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be. (Recite once) Hail Holy Queen.   SECOND DAY O holy Mary, Mother of goodness and mercy, with your visible aid you have often delivered Christians from the attacks of their enemies, defend my soul, I pray, from the assaults of the devil, the world and the flesh so that I may be victorious over the enemies of my soul. (Recite three times)  Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be. (Recite once) Hail Holy Queen.   THIRD DAY Mary, most powerful Queen, you alone triumphed over the many heresies which sought to tear away many of your children from the bosom of the Church, help me, I pray, to hold on firmly to my faith and to keep myself free from the snares and poison of so many perverse doctrines. (Recite three times)  Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be. (Recite once) Hail Holy Queen.   FOURTH DAY O Mary, my sweetest Mother, the Queen of Martyrs, do infuse into my heart the strength to persevere that, overcoming all human respect, I may be able to live my religion and show myself, on every occasion, a devout child of yours. (Recite three times)  Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be. (Recite once) Hail Holy Queen.   FIFTH DAY Dear Mother Mary, in the triumph of Pope Pius Vii you showed your powerful patronage, protect the whole Church and especially her supreme head on earth, the Holy Father.  Defend him always from the attacks of his many enemies, deliver him so that he may safely steer to port the boat of St. peter and triumph over the proud billows which strive to submerge it. (Recite three times)  Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be. (Recite once) Hail Holy Queen.   SIXTH DAY O Mary, Queen of the Apostles take under your powerful protection the bishops, priest and all the children of the Catholic Church; obtain for them the spirit of union, of perfect obedience to the Holy Father, and of fervent zeal for the salvation of men.  I beg of you especially to extend your loving patronage to missionaries, that they may be able to bring all the races of the earth to the true faith of Jesus Christ, so that there may be just one flock under one Shepherd. (Recite three times)  Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be. (Recite once) Hail Holy Queen.   SEVENTH DAY O Mary, gracious and merciful Mother,  by your efficacious intercession, you have saved Christians from plagues and other bodily scourges, help me and deliver me from the disease of impiety and irreligion which creeps into my soul in many ways to turn me away from the Church and the practices of religion.  I implore you; watch over the good that they may persevere, strengthen the weak and call poor sinners to repentance, that truth and the Kingdom of Jesus Christ may triumph here on earth, so that Your glory and the number of the elect may be increased in Heaven. (Recite three times)  Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be. (Recite once) Hail Holy Queen.   EIGHT DAY O Mary, Pillar of the Church and Help of Christians, I ask you to keep me firm in my holy faith and to preserve in me the liberty of a child of God.  With the help of grace, I promise obedience to the Holy Father, and to the bishops in communion with him, desiring only to live and to die in the bosom of the Catholic Faith, where only I can hope with certainty to attain eternal salvation. (Recite three times)  Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be. (Recite once) Hail Holy Queen.   NINTH DAY Most kind Mother, in every age you wished to be the help of Christians, assist me with your invincible aid in life, and especially at the hour of my death, so that after having loved and praised you on earth, I may deserve to come and sing your mercies forever in Heaven. (Recite three times)  Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be. (Recite once) Hail Holy Queen.   CONCLUDING PRAYER   LET US PRAY O Almighty and Merciful God, you have given the Blessed Virgin Mary to all Christians as their everlasting Protectress, graciously grant now, that, strengthened by Her aid and striving onward in life, I may be victorious over the wicked one in the hour of my death.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen. (Say three times)  Mary Help of Christians. Pray for us!