O holy Virgin! who wert chosen by the adorable Trinity from all eternity to be the most pure Mother of Jesus, permit me, thy humble and devoted client, to remind thee of the joy thou didst receive in the instant of the most sacred incarnation of our divine Lord, and during the nine months thou didst carry him in thy chaste womb. I wish most sincerely that I could renew or even increase that joy, by the fervor of my prayers. O tender Mother of the afflicted! grant me, under my present necessities, that peculiar protection thou hast promised to those who devoutly commemorate this ineffable joy. Relying on the infinite mercies of thy divine Son; trusting in that promise which he has made, that those who ask should receive; and penetrated with confidence in thy powerful prayers; I most humbly entreat thee to intercede for me, and to obtain for me the favors which I petition for in this Novena, if it be the holy will of God to grant them; and if not, to ask for me whatever graces I most stand in need of. (Here specify your request.)

I desire by this Novena, which I now offer in honor of thy Holy Name, to prove the lively confidence I have in thy intercession. Accept it, I beseech thee, in honor of that suprenatural love and joy with which thy sacred heart was replenished during the abode of thy dear Son in thy womb; in veneration of which I offer thee the sentiments of my heart, and these nine Hail Marys.

O Mother of God! accept these salutations, in union with the respect and veneration with which the angel Gabriel first hailed thee full of grace. I wish most sincerely, that they may become so many gems in the crown of thy occidental glory, which will increase in brightness to the end of the world. I beseech thee, O comfortress of the afflicted! by the joy thou didst receive in the nine months of thy pregnancy, to obtain for me the grant of the favors which I have now implored through thy powerful intercession. For this end, I offer thee all the good works which have ever been performed in thy honor. I most humbly entreat thee, for the love of the amiable heart of Jesus, with which thine was ever so inflamed, to hear my humble prayer, and to obtain my requests. Amen

Ant. The name of Mary.

My soul doth magnify the Lord.

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is his name.

And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.

He hath showed might in his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.

He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy.

As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed forever.

Glory be to the Father, etc.


Ant. The name of Mary illumines all churches, he that is mighty hath done great things to her, and holy is his name.




PS. 119.

Ant. From the rising of the sun.

In my trouble I cried to the Lord: and he heard me.

O Lord! deliver my soul from wicked lips, and a deceitful tongue.

What shall be given to thee, or what shall be added to thee, to a deceitful tongue?

The sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals that lay waste.

Woe is me, that my sojourning is prolonged! I have dwelt with the inhabitants of Cedar: my soul hath been long a sojourner.

With them that hated peace I was peaceable: when I spoke to them they fought against me without cause.


Glory be to the Father, etc.

Ant. From the rising of the sun to the setting thereof, the name of the Lord and of Mary his mother if praiseworthy.




Ps. 118.

Ant. It is a refuge.

Give bountifully to thy servant, enliven me and I shall keep thy words.

Open thou my eyes: and I will consider the wondrous things of thy law.

I am a sojourner on the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.

My soul hath coveted to long for thy justifications, at all times.

Thou hast rebuked the proud: they are cursed who decline from thy commandments.

Remove from me reproach and contempt, because I have sought after thy testimonies.

For princes sat, and spoke against me: but thy servant was employed in thy justifications.

For thy testimonies are my meditation: and thy justifications my counsel. My soul hath cleaved to the pavement: quicken thou me according to thy word.

I have declared my ways, and thou hast heard me: teach me thy justifications.

Make me to understand the way of thy justifications: and I shall be exercised in thy wondrous works.

My soul hath slumbered through heaviness: strengthen thou me in thy words.

Remove from me the way of iniquity: and out of thy law have mercy on me.

I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments I have not forgotten.

I have stuck to thy testimonies, O Lord! put me not to shame.

I have run the way of thy commandments, when thou didst enlarge my heart.

Glory be to the Father, etc.

Ant. The name of Mary is a refuge in tribulations to all those that invoke it.




Ps. 125.

Ant. In the whole earth.

When the Lord brought back the captivity of Sion, we became like men comforted.

Then was our mouth filled with gladness: and our tongue with joy.

Then shall they say among the Gentiles: The Lord hath done great things for them.

The Lord hath done great things for us: we are become joyful.

Turn again our captivity, O Lord! as a stream in the south.

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

Going they went and wept, casting their seeds.

But coming they shall come with joyfulness, carrying their sheaves.

Glory be to the Father, etc.

Ant. In the whole earth, O Mary! thy name is admirable.




Ps. 122.

Ant. They have announced.

To thee have I lifted up my eyes, who dwellest in heaven.

Behold as the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters:

As the eyes of the handmaid are on the hands of her mistress, so are our eyes unto the Lord our God, until he have mercy on us.

Have mercy on us. O Lord! have mercy on us for we are greatly filled with contempt.

For our soul is greatly filled: we are a reproach to the rich, and contempt to the proud.

Glory be to the Father, etc.

Ant. The heavens have announced the name of Mary, and all people have seen her glory.

V. Blessed be the name of the Virgin Mary.
R. From henceforth and for evermore.


LET US PRAY.