Novena to Merciful Love
All for Love
On Christmas Night 1930 in Spain, Mother Speranza founded the Congregation of the Handmaids of Merciful Love.
She also founded the Congregation of the Sons of Merciful Love in Italy on 15 August 1951.
In 1955 she began the construction of the Shrine of Merciful Love at Collevalenza. During that same year the Chapel of Merciful Love was built; this was canonically constituted the Shrine of Merciful Love in 1959 by the Bishop of Todi, Monsignor De Sanctis. Adjacent to this chapel a large church was erected; on 31 October it was consecrated by Bishop Fustella of Todi and inaugurated by Cardinal Ottaviani.
Pope John Paul II made a pilgrimage to Collevalenza on 22 November 1981; in memory of this event he raised the Church of Merciful Love to the rank of Minor Basilica.
FIRST DAY
Introductory Prayer
My Jesus, I am deeply sorry when I consider the many times I have offended you.
However, with a Father’s heart you have not only forgiven me but with the words "Ask, and you shall receive" you invite me to seek from you whatever I need.
With complete confidence I appeal to your Merciful Love to give me what I request in this novena. Above all, I ask for the grace to change my behaviour, from now on to prove my faith by me deeds, to live according to your precepts and to be aflame with the fire of your charity,Meditation "Our Father"
"Our": while God has only one natural Son, in his infinite charity he wishes to have many adopted children with whom he shares his riches; and by having the same Father we are all brothers and sisters, and so should love each other.
"Father": is the title which is fitting for God, because we owe him whatever we have in the order of nature and in the supernatural order of grace. This makes us his adopted children. He wants us to call him Father, so that we may love, obey and honour him as children, and to revive in us the love and confidence to obtain what we ask.Request
My Jesus, I turn to you in this difficulty. Should you wish to show compassion to this wretched creature of yours, may your kindness triumph. Though your love and mercy pardon my sins. Though I am unworthy to obtain my request please grant it to me if it be for your glory and the good of my soul.( Here ask the favour you desire to obtain through this novena).
Prayer
My Jesus, be to me a Father, protector and guide in my pilgrimage, so that nothing may distract or mislead me on the road which leads to you. And you, my Mother, who looked after Jesus with such gentleness and care, educate and help me to fulfil my duty, and lead me along the paths of the commandments. Say to Jesus: "Receive this child; I recommend him/her to you with all the insistence of my maternal heart".Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.
SECOND DAY
Introductory Prayer and Request as on the First Day.
Meditation
"Who art in heaven"
While God is everywhere as Lord of heaven and earth, we say "who art in heaven" because the though of heaven moves us to love him with more veneration and to aspire to the things of heaven while living as pilgrims in this life.Request
My Jesus, I turn to you in this difficulty. Should you wish to show compassion to this wretched creature of yours, may your kindness triumph. Though your love and mercy pardon my sins. Though I am unworthy to obtain my request please grant it to me if it be for your glory and the good of my soul.( Here ask the favour you desire to obtain through this novena).
Prayer
My Jesus, I know that you raise the fallen, free those in prison, reject nobody who is afflicted and look with love on all who are in need. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me, because I need to talk to you about the salvation of my soul and to receive your salutary advice.
My sins frighten me, my Jesus; I am ashamed of my ingratitude and distrust. I am greatly worried because instead of using the time you gave me to do good, I spent it badly, even by offending you.
I turn to you, Lord. You have the words of eternal life.Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.
THIRD DAY
Introductory Prayer and Request as on the First Day.
Meditation
"Hallowed by thy Name"
This is the first thing that we should desire; the first thing that we should seek in prayer, the intention that should inspire all our works and actions: that God be known, loved served and adored, and that every creature should submit to his power.Request
My Jesus, I turn to you in this difficulty. Should you wish to show compassion to this wretched creature of yours, may your kindness triumph. Though your love and mercy pardon my sins. Though I am unworthy to obtain my request please grant it to me if it be for your glory and the good of my soul.( Here ask the favour you desire to obtain through this novena).
Prayer
My Jesus, open to me the doors of your mercy; imprint on me the seal of your wisdom. Ensure that I am free from every unlawful affection and that I serve you with love, joy and sincerity.
Comforted by your divine word and commandments, may I always grow in virtue.Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.
FOURTH DAY
Introductory Prayer and Request as on the First Day.
Meditation
"Thy kingdom come"
In this petition we ask that the kingdom of his grace and heavenly favours would come in us, that is the kingdom of the just, and the kingdom of glory where he rules in perfect communion with the blessed.
Therefore we also ask for an end to kingdom of sin, of the devil and of darkness.Request
My Jesus, I turn to you in this difficulty. Should you wish to show compassion to this wretched creature of yours, may your kindness triumph. Though your love and mercy pardon my sins. Though I am unworthy to obtain my request please grant it to me if it be for your glory and the good of my soul.( Here ask the favour you desire to obtain through this novena).
Prayer
Lord, have mercy on me and mould me in the likeness of your heart.
My God, have mercy on me and free me from all that prevents me from reaching you.
Ensure that at the hour of death I shall not hear a dreadful sentence but your salutary words: " Come, you blessed of my Father", and my soul shall rejoice to see your face.Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.
FIFTH DAY
Introductory Prayer and Request as on the First Day.
Meditation
"Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven"
Here we ask that God’s will be done by all creatures with fortitude and perseverance, purity and perfection. We ask that we ourselves may achieve this by whatever means and in whatever way we come to know it.Request
My Jesus, I turn to you in this difficulty. Should you wish to show compassion to this wretched creature of yours, may your kindness triumph. Though your love and mercy pardon my sins. Though I am unworthy to obtain my request please grant it to me if it be for your glory and the good of my soul.( Here ask the favour you desire to obtain through this novena).
Prayer
My Jesus, give me a lively faith; make me observe faithfully your divine commandments and to travel the way of your precepts with a heart full of your love and charity.
Let me taste the sweetness of your spirit, and have a hunger for the fulfilment of your divine will, so that my poor service may be acceptable and pleasing to you.
My Jesus, may the omnipotence of the Father bless me. May your wisdom bless me. May the most kind Charity of the Holy Spirit bless me and protect me for eternal life.Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.
SIXTH DAY
Introductory Prayer and Request as on the First Day.
Meditation
"Give us this day our daily bread"
Here we ask for the Bread which is the Blessed Sacrament; and also the ordinary nourishment of our soul which is grace, the Sacraments and heavenly inspirations.
We also ask that the nourishment necessary for our bodies be given to us in moderation.
We call the Eucharistic Bread "ours" since it was instituted because of our need and because our Redeemer gives himself to us in Communion.
We say "daily" to express our ordinary dependence on God for everything, body and soul, every hour and every moment.
In saying "give us this day" we make an act of charity, asking on behalf of everyone, without worrying about the future .Request
My Jesus, I turn to you in this difficulty. Should you wish to show compassion to this wretched creature of yours, may your kindness triumph. Though your love and mercy pardon my sins. Though I am unworthy to obtain my request please grant it to me if it be for your glory and the good of my soul.( Here ask the favour you desire to obtain through this novena).
Prayer
My Jesus, you are the Fountain of Life. Let me drink the living water which flows from you, so that, having tasted you, I may thirst only for you. Immerse me completely in the abyss of your love and mercy, and renew me with your Precious Blood with which you have redeemed me.
With water from your sacred site wash away all the stains with I have soiled the beautiful robe of innocence which you gave me in Baptism.
My Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit and make me pure in body and soul.Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.
SEVENTH DAY
Introductory Prayer and Request as on the First Day.
Meditation
"Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us".
We ask God to forgive our debts, that is, our sins and the punishment deserved because of them; an enormous penalty which we could never pay except through the Blood of Jesus, through the talents of grace and nature which we received from God, and with everything we are and have.
In this petition we undertake to forgive others their debts to us, without taking revenge on them, but rather forgetting the injuries and offences which they have caused us.
Thus God places in our hands the judgement he will give us, if we pardon, he will pardon us; if we do not pardon, he will not pardon us.Request
My Jesus, I turn to you in this difficulty. Should you wish to show compassion to this wretched creature of yours, may your kindness triumph. Though your love and mercy pardon my sins. Though I am unworthy to obtain my request please grant it to me if it be for your glory and the good of my soul.( Here ask the favour you desire to obtain through this novena).
Prayer
My Jesus, I know that you call everyone without exception. You dwell in the humble, you love the person who loves you, you champion the cause of the poor, you show mercy to all and despise nothing your power has created. You conceal people’s defects, await their repentance, and receive the sinner with love and mercy. Lord, open also to me the spring of life; pardon me and wipe away everything in me which is contrary to your divine love.Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.
EIGHTH DAY
Introductory Prayer and Request as on the First Day.
Meditation
"Lead us not into temptation"
In asking the Lord not to let us fall into temptation, we know that he permits temptation for our good, our weakness to overcome it, divine fortitude for our victory. We know that the Lord does not refuse his grace to the person who does what is necessary to overcome our powerful enemies.
When we ask him not to let us fall into temptation, we ask not to contract more debts than those we have already incurred.Request
My Jesus, I turn to you in this difficulty. Should you wish to show compassion to this wretched creature of yours, may your kindness triumph. Though your love and mercy pardon my sins. Though I am unworthy to obtain my request please grant it to me if it be for your glory and the good of my soul.( Here ask the favour you desire to obtain through this novena).
Prayer
My Jesus, be the comfort and protection of my soul; be my defence against every temptation and cover me with the shield of your truth. Be my compassion and my hope, my defence and my refuge against all dangers to soul and body.
Lead me in the vast ocean of this world, and deign to console me in this trial.
May the abyss of your love and mercy be a safe haven for me. Thus I can be free from the snares of the devil.Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.
NINTH DAY
Introductory Prayer and Request as on the First Day.
Meditation
"but deliver us from evil. Amen"
We ask God to deliver us from all evil, that is, from evils of the soul and of the body, from eternal and temporal evils; from evils past, present and future, from sins, vices, disordered passions, evil inclinations and the spirit of anger and pride.
By saying "Amen" we ask with intensity, love and confidence, because God wishes and commands us to ask in this way.Request
My Jesus, I turn to you in this difficulty. Should you wish to show compassion to this wretched creature of yours, may your kindness triumph. Though your love and mercy pardon my sins. Though I am unworthy to obtain my request please grant it to me if it be for your glory and the good of my soul.( Here ask the favour you desire to obtain through this novena).
Prayer
My Jesus, wash me with the Blood from your divine side, and let me return without stain to the life of your grace.
Lord, sustain my weak spirit and console my worried heart. Tell me that, because of your mercy, you will not cease to love me for a single moment, and that you will always be with me.Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.
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05 maggio, 2005