Novena To St Maria Goretti
(Celebrated June 28 to July 6.)
NOVENA PRAYER
Saint Mary Goretti who,
strengthened by God's grace,
did not hesitate, even at the age of twelve,
to shed your blood and sacrifice life itself
to defend your virginal purity,
look graciously on the unhappy human race,
which has strayed far from the path of eternal salvation.
Teach us all, and especially youth,
with what courage and promptitude we should flee for the love of Jesus,
anything that could offend Him
or stain our souls with sin.
Obtain for us from our Lord victory in temptation,
comfort in the sorrows of life,
and the grace which we earnestly beg of Thee,
[State your intention here...]
and may we one day enjoy with Thee
the imperishable glory of heaven.
Amen.
DAY ONE (Starts June 28)
In the Name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen
Most lovable little Saint,
who valued your purity above any earthly gain,
and who sealed this choice with a martyr's death,
obtain for me also a strong love of this virtue,
so consoling to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The pleasures of the world create many temptations for me.
I turn to your powerful intercession in Heaven,
so that with this help I may remain ever loyal to God,
no matter what the price.
In danger inspire me to repeat with you,
"No, it is a sin!"
Amen.
Recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin.
Sweet Heart of Jesus,
be my Love!
Sweet Heart of Mary,
be my Salvation!
Recite the Prayer to Saint Mary Goretti above,
Say 1 Our Father...
Say 1 Hail Mary...
Say 1 Glory Be...
Saint Mary Goretti,
Pray for us!
In the Name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen.
DAY TWO
In the Name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Dear Saint Mary Goretti,
model of loving obedience to parents,
teach me to imitate your example.
Help me to overcome all selfishness and stubborn pride,
draw my parents to Thee,
then lead me to accept this authority
as the Voice of God in my life.
Help them to direct me aright
and enable me to obey their every wish.
Amen.
Recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin.
Sweet Heart of Jesus,
be my Love!
Sweet Heart of Mary,
be my Salvation!
Recite the Prayer to Saint Mary Goretti above,
Say 1 Our Father...
Say 1 Hail Mary...
Say 1 Glory Be...
Saint Mary Goretti,
Pray for us!
In the Name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen.
DAY THREE
In the Name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Dear Little Saint Mary!
You were ready for the moment of martyrdom
because your short life was given over to daily and heroic self-denial.
Your great love of the Sacred Hearts
made all this possible.
Teach me to love Jesus and His Blessed Mother,
so that I too will be inspired to daily self-denial.
I am inclined to pamper myself,
to gratify my senses,
and to excuse myself from all penance.
This keeps me from being a true follower of Christ.
Help me, lovable Little Martyr,
to a sincere practice of self-denial,
so that I may be your worthy follower
and thus gain Heaven for all Eternity.
Amen.
Recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin.
Sweet Heart of Jesus, be my Love!
Sweet Heart of Mary, be my Salvation!
Recite the Prayer to Saint Mary Goretti above,
Say 1 Our Father...
Say 1 Hail Mary...
Say 1 Glory Be...
Saint Mary Goretti,
Pray for us!
In the Name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen.
DAY FOUR
In the Name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Dear Little Saint!
Your days were spent in the filth of the marshes,
willingly helping your desperately poor parents and family.
Obtain for me the grace to accept my present circumstances in life,
no matter how difficult or humiliating they may be.
"Just one little drop of water"
as the only request that fell from your parched lips
during those last horrible hours of life.
How much I demand,
how unhappy I am when I cannot have my share of the world's conveniences
and gaudy attractions!
Teach me by your heroic example to be content with what I have,
to be grateful for the blessings God has already showered upon me.
Amen.
Recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin.
Sweet Heart of Jesus,
be my Love!
Sweet Heart of Mary,
be my Salvation!
Recite the Prayer to Saint Mary Goretti above,
Say 1 Our Father...
Say 1 Hail Mary...
Say 1 Glory Be...
Saint Mary Goretti,
Pray for us!
In the Name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen.
DAY FIVE
In the Name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Dear Little Saint,
I depend a great deal upon the help of my friends
in time of trouble or sorrow.
I look for their approval in many things I do.
I am disconsolate and lonely when they desert me.
Through your powerful intercession in Heaven,
obtain for me the grace to place all my confidence in God.
Only by walking constantly in His presence and depending upon His help,
will I have the courage to stand up for His laws,
even though it may mean loss of friends,
criticism and complete removal of worldly comfort.
Help me to look for all of my strength in Him.
Amen.
Recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin.
Sweet Heart of Jesus,
be my Love!
Sweet Heart of Mary,
be my Salvation!
Recite the Prayer to Saint Mary Goretti above,
Say 1 Our Father...
Say 1 Hail Mary...
Say 1 Glory Be...
Saint Mary Goretti,
Pray for us!
In the Name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen.
DAY SIX
In the Name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Dear Little Saint!
Help me to greater love of my Faith.
I have many God-given opportunities to study it but,
sad to say, I neglect them.
I am even critical of the Priests,
Brothers and Sisters who offer their lives
that I may better know and love my holy religion.
Dear Saint Mary Goretti,
teach me to be thankful for these grace which you did not have.
Make me proud of my Faith and ready to die for it,
if God should require that of me.
Amen.
Recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin.
Sweet Heart of Jesus,
be my Love!
Sweet Heart of Mary,
be my Salvation!
Recite the Prayer to Saint Mary Goretti above,
Say 1 Our Father...
Say 1 Hail Mary...
Say 1 Glory Be...
Saint Mary Goretti,
Pray for us!
In the Name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen.
DAY SEVEN
In the Name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Dear Little Saint,
never was Jesus more welcome in a human heart than in yours.
The Great Day of First Communion
could not come quickly enough.
In borrowed clothes and head crowned with flowers of the field,
you knelt to receive Him into your soul,
so rich with Innocence and Love,
and this after months of keen anticipation!
O Powerful Intercessor with the Lamb of God,
inflame my soul with your "ardent longing to receive Jesus in the Eucharist."
Obtain for me the grace to put aside laziness and indifference,
so that I may often, even daily,
allow myself to be consumed in the "burning Furnace of Charity."
Teach me what true Love really is!
Amen.
Recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin.
Sweet Heart of Jesus,
be my Love!
Sweet Heart of Mary,
be my Salvation!
Recite the Prayer to Saint Mary Goretti above,
Say 1 Our Father...
Say 1 Hail Mary...
Say 1 Glory Be...
Saint Mary Goretti,
Pray for us!
In the Name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen.
DAY EIGHT
In the Name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Dear Little Martyr!
To the last you followed your beloved Jesus!
He, while hanging upon His Cross of Suffering,
uttered through parched lips,
"Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!"
And you upon your bed of pain,
burning with fever,
forgave your murderer with the words,
"I too, pardon him...
I too, wish him to join me in Paradise!"
Grant me the grace, O Heroic Saint,
to be charitable to others!
Much of my time is spent on vengeful thoughts,
seeking how I may pay back to others
the harm they have done to me.
Teach me to forgive,
so that I may not only gain Heaven,
but also lead others there
who might otherwise be doomed to Hell.
If I am to follow Christ,
help me to imitate His Charity,
even as you have done.
Amen.
Recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin.
Sweet Heart of Jesus,
be my Love!
Sweet Heart of Mary,
be my Salvation!
Recite the Prayer to Saint Mary Goretti above,
Say 1 Our Father...
Say 1 Hail Mary...
Say 1 Glory Be...
Saint Mary Goretti,
Pray for us!
In the Name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen.
DAY NINE (July 6, date of the Feast)
In the Name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen
Dear Saint Mary Goretti!
Once again I turn to you,
and beg of you in the words of Our Holy Father,
Pope Pius XII, that
"serenity of spirit and deep joy
which is the heritage of those who are pure of heart."
Help me to turn to Our Blessed Lady,
confident in the hope that she will take my hand as she did yours,
and lead me on to Paradise,
my heavenly country,
there to enjoy with you and Her,
the company of God the Father,
Son and Holy Ghost for all Eternity.
Amen.
Recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin.
Sweet Heart of Jesus,
be my Love!
Sweet Heart of Mary,
be my Salvation!
Recite the Prayer to Saint Mary Goretti above,
Say 1 Our Father...
Say 1 Hail Mary...
Say 1 Glory Be...
Saint Mary Goretti,
Pray for us!
In the Name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen.
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