NV-Help of Christians

NOVENA IN PREPARATION FOR THE FEAST OF
OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS
FEAST DAY : MAY 24TH

What is a Novena?
A novena is a traditional devotion consisting of specific prayers recited on nine successive days. Besides being a form of praise, a novena is frequently offered for a particular intention. The first novena took place in the Cenacle, during the nine days preceding Pentecost, or the coming of the Holy Ghost. As a regular popular custom, this practice began in 12th century Christianity and continues to be beneficial today as a way of praying for healing, protection or other blessings for ourselves or others.

This particular novena is prayed to God in honor of the Our Lady Help of Christians. In praying this Novena, as in the case of all prayer, it is good to begin by opening ourselves wholeheartedly to God's will, offering a simple act of trust in God's wisdom and in His providential love for us all, that disposes all things for the ultimate benefit of our souls and their salvation.

How to Pray This Novena
This novena is based on our ultimate goal, which is to reach God in Heaven. Each day of the novena is divided into the following parts: (1) a quote from Our Lady spoken at one of here apparitions, or a quote from a Saint (2) a passage on the history and development of Our Lady Help of Christians; (3) a Meditation; (4) mentioning your intention for the novena; (5) a Prayer; (6) a Closing Invocations.

LITANY IN HONOR OF THE
OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS

Lord, have mercy!
Lord, have mercy!

Christ, have mercy!
Christ, have mercy!

Lord, have mercy!
Lord, have mercy!

God, our Father in Heaven,
Have mercy on us!
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us!
God, the Holy Spirit,
Have mercy on us!
Holy Trinity, one God,
Have mercy on us!

Holy, Mary, Pray for us!

Our Lady, Help of Christians,
Help us to preserve our Faith!
Our Lady, Help of Christians,
Help us preserve our Hope!
Our Lady, Help of Christians,
Help us preserve our Charity to God and neighbor!
Our Lady, Help of Christians,
Help us to love God more and more!
Our Lady, Help of Christians,
Help us preserve Sanctifying Grace in our souls!
Our Lady, Help of Christians,
Help us grow in the Grace of God!
Our Lady, Help of Christians,
Help us cooperate with the Grace of God!
Our Lady, Help of Christians,
Help us overcome the many temptations we face!
Our Lady, Help of Christians,
Help us against the attacks of devil and the world!
Our Lady, Help of Christians,
Help us become worthy Soldiers of Christ!
Our Lady, Help of Christians,
Help us in defending the Church and the Faith!
Our Lady, Help of Christians,
Help us grow in the knowledge of our Faith!
Our Lady, Help of Christians,
Help us grow in the practice of our Faith!
Our Lady, Help of Christians,
Help us spread the Gospel of Christ!
Our Lady, Help of Christians,
Help us bear witness to Christ!
Our Lady, Help of Christians,
Help us to pray well!
Our Lady, Help of Christians,
Help us to pray much!
Our Lady, Help of Christians,
Help us perform penances for our sins!
Our Lady, Help of Christians,
Help us achieve a true contrition for our sins!
Our Lady, Help of Christians,
Help us make sacrifices for other sinners!
Our Lady, Help of Christians,
Help us to lead a holy life!
Our Lady, Help of Christians,
Help us avoid damnation!
Our Lady, Help of Christians,
Help us to save our souls!

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us!

V. O Mary, Help of Christians,
R. Help us in all our needs!

Let us pray: Almighty and merciful Lord, in a marvelous manner you deigned to make the most holy Virgin Mary a powerful helper in defense of Christians. Grant that, having fought the good fight under her protection during our life, by the help of Our Lady of Christians, we may be victorious over our infernal enemy at the hour of our death. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us.

FIRST DAY OF THE NOVENA (new meditations posted daily)
Theme: Everyone Needs Help! All Help Comes Through Mary!

Our Lady Says:

The Blessed Virgin herself revealed to St. Bridget: “I am the Queen of Heaven and the Mother of Mercy; I am the joy of the just, and the gate of entrance for sinners to God; neither is there living on Earth a sinner who is so accursed that he is deprived of my compassion―for everyone, if he receives nothing else through my intercession, receives the grace of being less tempted by evil spirits than he otherwise would be. No one, therefore, who is not entirely accursed [by which is meant the final and irrevocable malediction pronounced against the damned], is so entirely cast-off by God, that he may not return and enjoy His mercy, if he invokes my aid. I am called by all the Mother of Mercy, and truly the mercy of God towards men has made me so merciful towards them. Therefore, he shall be miserable, and forever miserable in another life, who in this life, being able to do so, does not have recourse to me, who am so compassionate to all, and so earnestly desire to aid sinners.” (quoted by St. Alphonsus Liguori, Glories of Mary).

Reading on Our Lady Help of Christians

Under one form or another there is no title of the Mother of God which is older or more general than that which describes her as the Helper of the Church and the Helper of her children. Her office in the Incarnation and Redemption was that of helper, or cooperator, with Jesus. As we have seen, the Incarnation, as God designed it, could not have been accomplished without her help.

The name “Jesus” is in Hebrew “Yeshua” or “Jehousua” or “Josue”—which means “God saves,” “God is salvation,” or “God helps” ― so that Mary is the Help of the Helper. The Help of her Son, She is also the Help of His brethren—us, her other children, her spiritual children. The whole history of the Church, in its most critical moments, could be written from the view-point of Mary’s intervention and intercession. Ever since the Council of Ephesus (431), when the declaration of her Divine Maternity saved the doctrine of the Incarnation, she has been the Help of the Church against heresy, so that the Church has gratefully said to her: “Thou alone has destroyed all the heresies in the whole world.”

In the old apocryphal book of “The Passing of Mary,” which goes back to the fifth century, there is this passage: “Often, here in Rome, she appears to the people who confess her in prayer, for she has appeared here on the sea when it was troubled and raised itself and was going to destroy the ship in which they were sailing. And the sailors called out: ‘O Lady Mercy, Mother of God, have mercy on us!’ And immediately she rose upon them like the sun and delivered the ships, 92 of them, and rescued them from destruction, and none of them perished.”

And, in like manner, Mary has saved the Bark of Peter many times when it seemed threatened with destruction. Many of her Feasts have been instituted, many of her devotions established, or approved, and indulgenced in commemoration of the manifestation of the power of her arm.

Meditation

Who is there that needs no help? Nobody! Everyone needs help! Our Lord Himself said: “Without Me―you can do nothing!” (John 15:5). We need for everything! We need His grace for everything! We cannot be saved without His grace! Yet is it through Mary that God gives His graces to mankind. St. Louis de Montfort, in his True Devotion to Mary, writes: “It was only through Mary that God the Father gave His Only-Begotten to the world … God the Father communicated to Mary His fruitfulness, in order that He might give her the power to produce His Son and all the members of His Mystical Body … God the Son descended into her virginal womb to work, in secret, marvels of grace … God the Holy Ghost is become fruitful by Mary, whom He has espoused. It was with her, in her, and of her that He produced His Masterpiece―which is God made Man―and that He goes on producing daily, to the end of the world, the predestinate and the members of the Body of that adorable Head!

“God the Father made an assemblage of all His graces and he called it Mary―a most rich treasury in which He has laid up all that He has of beauty and splendor. This immense treasury is none other than Mary, whom the saints have named the Treasure of the Lord, out of whose plenitude all men are made rich. God the Son has communicated to His Mother all that He acquired―by His life and His death, His infinite merits and His admirable virtues―and He has made her the treasurer of all that His Father gave Him. It is by her that He applies His merits to His members, and that He communicates His virtues, and distributes His graces. She is His mysterious canal; she is His aqueduct, through which He makes His mercies flow gently and abundantly. To Mary, His faithful spouse, God the Holy Ghost has chosen her to be the dispenser of all He possesses, in such a way that she distributes to whom she wills, as much as she wills, as she wills and when she wills, all His gifts and graces. The Holy Ghost gives no heavenly gift to men, which He does not have pass through her virginal hands. Such has been the will of God, who has willed that we should have everything through Mary!” (St. Louis de Montfort, True Devotion to Mary).

If you want anything from God―then it is to Mary that you must go, for God gives all His help through Mary!

[Mention Intention]

Prayer for Day 1, Day 4 & Day 7

Mary, Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God and our Mother, thou seest how the Catholic Faith, in which we propose by the help of God to live and die, and so attain to eternal glory, is everywhere assailed by the devil and the world. Do thou, Help of Christians, renew thy victories as of old, for the salvation of thy children. To thee we entrust our firm purpose of never joining assemblies of heretics or sectaries. Do thou, all holy Virgin, offer to thy divine Son our resolutions, and obtain from Him the graces necessary to enable us to remain steadfast in them to the end. Bring consolation to the true visible head of the Church; support the valid Catholic Episcopate; protect the faithful Clergy and the people who proclaim thee Queen; hasten by the power of thy prayers the day when all nations shall be gathered together around the true Supreme Pastor. Amen. Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us.

(Indulgence: 100 Days, once a day. Pope Leo XIII, December 20th, 1890).

Pray the Memorare:

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession and was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Final Invocations:

O Mary, powerful help of those Christians who approach the throne of your mercy with trust! Listen to the prayers of your children who invoke your help to avoid sin and the occasions of sin.

Our Lady Help of Christians, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

LITANY IN HONOR OF THE
OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS

SECOND DAY OF THE NOVENA (new meditations posted daily)
Theme: Help Through the Holy Rosary

Our Lady Says:

At Fatima, the Blessed Virgin Mary said: “I am the Lady of the Rosary! ... Pray the Rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary, because only she can help you!”

Reading on Our Lady Help of Christians

Mary has saved the Bark of Peter many times when it seemed threatened with destruction. It is so in a particular manner with our present title, “Help of Christians.” It is maintained by scholars that the title was in existence long before the Battle of Lepanto―but, at any rate, it is Lepanto which glorified the title as one of tremendous significance. You may recall the history. All Europe was threatened with invasion by the Muslim Turks. They occupied Lepanto (now known as the Gulf of Corinth, in Greece). Catholics were panic-stricken. They surged in pilgrimages to Loreto to beg Our Lady’s help. The leader of the Christian forces, Don Juan of Austria, made a vow that he, too, would go there.

Our Lady listened and answered. The Holy League—a coalition of the fleets of Spain, Venice, Genoa, the Papal States, and a few others—under the command of Don Juan, won a major victory on October 7th, 1571. It was the greatest defeat of the infidels at sea. It was on the occasion of that victory, in answer to the prayers of Pope St. Pius V, and the Rosary associations, that Pope St. Pius V introduced the title “Help of Christians” into the Litany of Our Lady (Litany of Loreto). The next Pope, Gregory XIII, honored the day of the victory by dedicating it to Our Lady of the Rosary.

The next great manifestation of Mary’s help was the victory over the Turks at Vienna won by Sobieski. We have the memory of the great soldier serving the Mass of supplication to Our Lady, his arms extended in the form of a Cross. He received Holy Communion and placed himself and his soldiers under the protection of Mary. “Now let us march on,” he said, “under the powerful protection of the Mother of God.”

Meditation

Our Lady may well be the Help of Christians―but she wants Christians to work for that help and one of the chief instruments she wants us to use in procuring her help is the Holy Rosary. The Rosary has been a focal point of most of her modern day apparitions.

At Fatima, she said: “Continue to pray the Rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary, in order to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war, because only she can help you!” (July 1917) … “I am the Lady of the Rosary. Continue always to pray the Rosary every day!” (October 1917).

At Akita in Japan, Our Lady said: “The only weapons which will remain for you will be the Rosary and the Sign left by my Son! … Pray very much! … Continue to pray very much—very much! … Pray with fervor! … Each day recite the prayers of the Rosary. Pray very much the prayers of the Rosary! … I alone am able still to save you from the calamities which approach! Those who place their confidence in me will be saved!”

Sister Lucia of Fatima tells us: “God is giving two last remedies to the world―the Holy Rosary and devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary! … As for the Holy Rosary, Father, in these last times in which we are living, the Blessed Virgin has given a new efficacy to the praying of the Holy Rosary. This in such a way that there is no problem that cannot be resolved by praying the Rosary, no matter how difficult it is ― be it temporal or above all spiritual ― in the spiritual life of each of us, or the lives of our families, be they our families in the world or Religious Communities, or even in the lives of peoples and nations. I repeat, there is no problem, as difficult as it may be, that we cannot resolve at this time by praying the Holy Rosary. With the Holy Rosary we will save ourselves, sanctify ourselves, console Our Lord and obtain the salvation of many souls!”

Unfortunately, not many Catholics know how to use the weapon of the Rosary as it should be used. St. Louis de Montfort, in his book The Secret of the Rosary, writes: “A single Hail Mary said properly is worth more than a hundred and fifty said badly … In order to pray well, it is not enough to give expression to our petitions by means of that most excellent of all prayers, the Rosary, but we must also pray with great attention. To be guilty of willful distractions during prayer would show a great lack of respect and reverence; it would make our Rosaries unfruitful and make us guilty of sin. How can we expect God to listen to us if we ourselves do not pay attention to what we are saying? How can we expect him to be pleased if, while in the presence of His tremendous Majesty, we give in to distractions? Of course, you cannot say your Rosary without having a few involuntary distractions―it is even difficult to say a Hail Mary without your imagination troubling you a little, for it is never still; but you can say it without voluntary distractions, and you must take all sorts of precautions to lessen involuntary distractions and to control your imagination.

“Then of course there is the devil, who never tires of trying to distract us and keep us from praying. To what ends does not the evil one go against us while we are engaged in saying our Rosary against him. Being human, we easily become tired and slipshod, but the devil makes these difficulties worse when we are saying the Rosary. Before we even begin, he makes us feel bored, distracted, or exhausted; and when we have started praying, he oppresses us from all sides. Even if you have to fight distractions all through your whole Rosary, be sure to fight well, arms in hand: that is to say, do not stop saying your Rosary even if it is difficult to say and you have no sensible devotion. It is a terrible battle, but one that is profitable to the faithful soul. If you put down your arms, that is, if you give up the Rosary, you will be admitting defeat and then the devil, having got what he wanted, will leave you in peace, and on the Day of Judgment will taunt you because of your faithlessness and lack of courage. Remember that at your left hand is the devil, ready to pounce on every Hail Mary that comes his way and to write it down in his book of death, if they are not said with attention, devotion, and reverence.

“Our Lady said to Blessed Alan de la Roche in a vision: ‘When people say 150 Hail Marys, that prayer is very helpful to them and a most pleasing tribute to me. But they will do better still and will please me more if they say these salutations while meditating on the life, death, and passion of Jesus Christ, for this meditation is the soul of this prayer!’ For the Rosary said without the meditation on the sacred mysteries of our salvation would almost be a body without a soul, excellent matter, but without the form, which is the meditation.

“Take great care to avoid the two pitfalls that most people fall into during the Rosary. The first is the danger of not asking for any graces at all, so that if some good people were asked their Rosary intention they would not know what to say. So, whenever you say your Rosary, be sure to ask for some special grace or virtue, or strength to overcome some sin.

“The second fault commonly committed in saying the Rosary is to have no intention other than that of getting it over with as quickly as possible. This is because so many look upon the Rosary as a burden, which weighs heavily upon them when it has not been said, especially when we have promised to say it regularly or have been told to say it as a penance more or less against our will.

“It is sad to see how most people say the Rosary. They say it astonishingly fast, slipping over part of the words. We could not possibly expect anyone, even the most important person, to think that a slipshod address of this kind was a compliment, and yet we imagine that Jesus and Mary will be honored by it! Small wonder, then, that the most sacred prayers of our holy religion seem to bear no fruit, and that, after saying thousands of Rosaries, we are still no better than we were before!”

[Mention Intention]

Prayer for Day 2, Day 5 & Day 8

Our Lady Help of Christians, most powerful Virgin, loving help of the Christian people, what thanks are not due to thee from us for the help thou didst give to our fathers, who, when threatened by the infidel Turk, invoked thy maternal aid by devoutly reciting the Rosary. From Heaven thou didst behold their danger, thou didst hear their pitiful voices, thou didst lend a favorable ear to the humble prayer suggested by the great Pontiff, Pope St. Pius V, and didst promptly run to their assistance.

Grant, O dear Mother, that the present and long continued groaning of the holy Spouse of Christ may penetrate to thy throne; may they again move thy compassion and arouse thee afresh to free her from the powerful enemies who surround her. And so from every corner of the Earth there rises to thy throne that precious prayer to make thee propitious now, as then, in our present calamity, lest our sins hinder, or at least retard, their effect. Therefore, dearest Mother, obtain for us true sorrow for them, and a firm purpose to be ready rather to face death than return to sin. Intolerable is the thought that, through our fault, the aid we so desperately need should be denied or delayed.

Arise then, dear Mother, yielding to the prayers of the Catholic world, and beat down the pride of those wretched men who in their insolence outrage God, and would have that Church destroyed against which, by the infallible word of Christ, the gates of Hell shall never prevail. Let it once more be seen that, where thou dost arise to protect her, then the victory is assured, and even though it may be delayed, it is certain in the end; for so we are taught by the Faith, which bids us hope through thee to be mercifully heard by God. Amen.

(Indulgence: 200 Days, once a day. Pope Leo XIII, June 20th, 1891).

Pray the Memorare:
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession and was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Final Invocations:
O Mary, powerful help of those Christians who approach the throne of your mercy with trust! Listen to the prayers of your children who invoke your help to avoid sin and the occasions of sin.

Our Lady Help of Christians, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

LITANY IN HONOR OF THE
OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS

THIRD DAY OF THE NOVENA (new meditations posted daily)
Theme: A Helper at the Hour of Our Death

Our Lady Says:

The Blessed Virgin herself revealed to St. Bridget: “I am the Queen of Heaven and the Mother of Mercy; I am the joy of the just, and the gate of entrance for sinners to God; neither is there living on Earth a sinner who is so accursed that he is deprived of my compassion―for everyone, if he receives nothing else through my intercession, receives the grace of being less tempted by evil spirits than he otherwise would be. No one, therefore, who is not entirely accursed [by which is meant the final and irrevocable malediction pronounced against the damned], is so entirely cast-off by God, that he may not return and enjoy His mercy, if he invokes my aid. I am called by all the Mother of Mercy, and truly the mercy of God towards men has made me so merciful towards them. Therefore, he shall be miserable, and forever miserable in another life, who in this life, being able to do so, does not have recourse to me, who am so compassionate to all, and so earnestly desire to aid sinners.” (quoted by St. Alphonsus Liguori, Glories of Mary).

Reading on Our Lady Help of Christians

It was another Pius―Pope Pius VII―who instituted the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians. Napoleon had robbed the Pope of his temporal power and had driven him from Rome to Savona, where he remained a virtual prisoner for five years. He attributed his release from exile and captivity to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and, on the way back to Rome, he visited many of her shrines and crowned her images.

Other troubles threatened the Church when Napoleon left Elba, but the Blessed Virgin conquered again, and in thanksgiving Pope Pius instituted the Feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians, to be celebrated on May 24th, the anniversary of his first return from exile.

There is a beautiful prayer in the Mass for the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians: “Almighty and merciful God, Who for the defense of the Christian people hast wonderfully established in the Most Blessed Virgin Mary a perpetual help, grant that, fortified by such aid, we who are struggling in life may be able to obtain over the evil enemy victory in death.” For us the Church appoints all these Feasts as an inspiration to our own sanctification, urging upon us to go to Mary for that purpose.

Meditation

Our Lady is a most powerful helper at the time of our death. If Mary is present, Satan is powerless. Throughout our lives we will have said many thousands of times, in the Hail Mary, “Pray for now and at the hour of our death! Amen.” Death is the most crucial part of our life. The moment of death can lead to salvation or damnation. It is the last moment―a moment that cannot be changed afterwards and whose consequences are irrevocable.

Let us not forget that both Our Lord and Our Lady passed through the gates of death―and they were innocent and free from any all sin. They did not deserve death―yet they chose death. We―sinners that we are―we deserve death, for as Scripture says: “The wages of sin is death!” (Romans 6:23). “Sin, when it is completed, begets death” (James 1:15). Sin is the greatest evil in the world: “Sin is the only evil upon Earth” … Mortal sin is a great evil, the greatest evil in the world, a greater evil than disease, poverty, or war, because it separates us from God … Venial sin is second only in evil consequences to mortal sin” (The Catechism Explained, by Spirago-Clarke; also the Catechism, My Catholic Faith, by Bishop Morrow, STD).

Normally speaking, death after having committed many sins, should be terrifying due the account we have to render for our sins. Nevertheless, the mercy of God intervenes due to the merciful redemption by the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ, of which anyone can profit under the right conditions. We need to be baptized; we need to confess all our mortal sins; we need to be sorry for our sins; and we need to have done penance for our sins. Love or charity is crucial in all of this―“God is charity” (1 John 4:8) and we are commanded to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength (Matthew 22:37-40; Mark 12:30-31). “He that loves not, abides in death!” (1 John 3:14). On the other hand, “Charity covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8) … “Charity covers all sins” (Proverbs 10:12) … and Jesus said of Mary Magdalen: “Many sins are forgiven her, because she has loved much” (Luke 7:47).

Without charity, we are nothing and spiritually worthless: “If I speak with the tongues of men, and of angels, and have not Charity―then I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I should have all Faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not Charity―then I am nothing. And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and have not Charity―then it profits me nothing!” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

To obtain a great love of God, we need the help of grace―for, as Jesus said: “Without Me―you can do nothing!” (John 15:5). Yet since Jesus grants and channels all His graces through Mary, then obviously we need the help of Mary to obtain that grace of a great love of God. With Mary’s help we will obtain grace; we will obtain mercy; we will obtain salvation. In the Litany of Our Lady, we call her: “Virgin most powerful … Help of Christians … Singular Vessel of devotion … Mother of divine grace … Virgin most merciful … Refuge of sinners … Gate of Heaven … Mother of our Savior!”

St. Alphonsus Liguori, in his book The Glories of Mary, writes: “From the day on which Mary had the privilege and sorrow of being present at the death of Jesus her Son, it became her privilege to assist also at the deaths of the predestined. And for this reason the holy Church teaches us to beg this most Blessed Virgin to assist us, especially at the moment of death: ‘Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death!’ O how great are the sufferings of the dying! They suffer from remorse of conscience on account of past sins, from fear of the approaching judgment, and from the uncertainty of their eternal salvation. Then it is that Hell arms itself, and spares no efforts to gain the soul which is on the point of entering eternity; for it knows that only a short time remains in which to gain it! Ah, how quickly do the rebellious spirits fly from the presence of this Queen! If at the hour of death we have only the protection of Mary, what need we fear from all our infernal enemies? ‘This divine Mother,’ says St. Peter Damian, ‘is that powerful rod with which the violence of the infernal enemies is conquered!’ And therefore does St. Antoninus encourage us, saying: ‘If Mary is for us, who shall be against us?’

“The prophet Isaias tells us that when a man is on the point of leaving the world, Hell is opened and sends forth its most terrible demons, both to tempt the soul before it leaves the body, and also to accuse it when presented before the tribunal of Jesus Christ for judgment. But Richard of St. Laurence remarks that when the soul is defended by Mary, the devils dare not even accuse it, knowing that the judge never condemned, and never will condemn, a soul protected by his august Mother. He asks, ‘Who would dare accuse one who is patronized by the Mother of Him Who is to judge?’ Mary not only assists her beloved servants at death and encourages them, but she herself accompanies them to the tribunal-seat of God. St. Vincent Ferrer says, that not only does the most Blessed Virgin console and refresh them, but that ‘she receives the souls of the dying. This loving Queen takes them under her mantle, and thus presents them to the judge, her Son, and most certainly obtains their salvation.’

“You will, without doubt, experience the same joy and contentment in death, if you have loved this good Mother. Nor will this consolation be withheld, even if you have been for a time a sinner, provided that, from this day, you are careful to live well, and to serve this most gracious and benign Lady. Though you may have hitherto offended God, she will procure you a sweet and happy death. Let us then be of good heart, though we be sinners, and feel certain that Mary will come and assist us at death, and comfort and console us with her presence―provided only that we serve her with love during the remainder of the time that we have to be in this world.”

[Mention Intention]

Prayer for Day 3, Day 6 & Day 9

Most holy and immaculate Virgin Mary, our most tender Mother, and powerful Help of Christians, we dedicate ourselves entirely to thy most sweet love and holy service. We consecrate our minds with all their thoughts, our hearts with all their affections, our bodies with all their senses and powers, and we promise to desire always to work for the greater glory of God and for the salvation of souls. Meanwhile do thou, O incomparable Virgin, who hast always been the Help of the Christian people, continue to show thyself such, especially in these days. Humble the enemies of our holy religion, and frustrate their evil purposes. Enlighten and strengthen bishops and priests, and keep them ever united in obedience to the true Pope, their infallible master. Preserve incautious youth from irreligion and vice. Promote holy vocations and increase the number of thy sacred ministers, that by means of them the Kingdom of Jesus Christ may be preserved among us, and extended to the farthest boundaries of the Earth.

We pray thee also, most sweet Mother, to look at all times with compassion upon the young and thoughtless, exposed to so many dangers, and upon poor sinners and the dying; be for all a sweet hope, O Mary, Mother of Mercy and Gate of Heaven. Also we pray thee for ourselves, O great Mother of God. Teach us to copy thy virtues and especially angelic modesty, profound humility, and ardent charity; so that by word and example we may, as far as is possible in our state of life, present in the midst of the world a living image of blessed Jesus thy Son, and may cause thee to be known and loved, and so may succeed in saving many souls. Obtain for us, O Mary our Helper, that we may be all gathered under thy maternal mantle, that in temptation we may invoke thee promptly and confidently; in short, that the thought of thee, so good, so loving, and so dear, and the remembrance of the love which thou bearest to thy clients may be such a support to us, as to render us victorious over the enemies of our souls in life and in death, so that we may become thy crown in beautiful Paradise. Amen.

(Indulgence of 300 days, every time it is prayed. Leo XIII, March 10th, 1900).

Pray the Memorare:
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession and was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Final Invocations:
O Mary, powerful help of those Christians who approach the throne of your mercy with trust! Listen to the prayers of your children who invoke your help to avoid sin and the occasions of sin.

Our Lady Help of Christians, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

LITANY IN HONOR OF THE
OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS

FOURTH DAY OF THE NOVENA (new meditations posted daily)
Theme: Mary Helps Through Her Images, Statues, Scapulars & Medals

Our Lady Says:

The Blessed Virgin introduced the Miraculous Medal to us through St. Catherine Laboure, in 1830. She said the medal: Those who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck. Those who repeat this prayer with devotion will be, in a special manner, under the protection of the Mother of God. Graces will be abundantly bestowed upon those who have confidence.”

Reading on Our Lady Help of Christians

Another aspect of the devotion to Our Lady as Helper is that of the devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help. It was occasioned by the picture of that name. Some even attributed the picture to St. Luke, on account of its Byzantine style, though others considered it to belong to the 13th century. The picture represents Mary and her Child, while St. Michael and St. Gabriel hold the instruments of the Passion.

The story of the picture is an interesting one. There was a Christian merchant who lived in Crete at the end of the 15th century. Afraid of invasion by the Turks, he and some friends set sail for Rome, bringing the picture with them. A terrible storm threatened to destroy the ship, but all prayed before the miraculous picture and thus were saved. The merchant, when dying in Rome, made a will leaving the picture to one of the Roman Churches. It was given to the Augustinian Church of St. Matthew, where it was exposed for veneration, being borne there solemnly, in 1499, amid crowds of people. It was called “Our Lady of St. Matthew.” For 300 years the picture was honored and was the occasion of innumerable favors and many miracles, until in 1812 the French army occupied Rome.

At that time the picture disappeared when the Church of St. Matthew was destroyed. No trace of it was found for 40 years. Then one day it was discovered in an oratory of the Augustinians, and Pope Pius IX, who as a boy had prayed before it, ordered it to be given to the Church of St. Alphonsus built on the site of the Church of St. Matthew. On April 26th, 1866, it was brought to the Church. Pope Pius IX, who had great devotion to the picture and who was one of the first to visit it in its new home, had it solemnly crowned on June 23rd, 1867. In 1876 he granted a proper Mass and Office to the Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, as the picture was now called, and enriched with many indulgences the Archconfraternity of the same name. Since then many churches and altars have been dedicated to Our Lady under that title, and with the same image.

Meditation

Mary gives us her help in many different ways―and one of those ways is through her images, statues and Sacramentals. There is an excellent book that deals with some of them, entitled Miraculous Images of Our Lady: 100 Famous Catholic Portraits and Statues by Joan Carroll Cruz. You can also read about many miracles performed through the Sacramental of the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel [click here] and miracles that have been granted through the Miraculous Medal of Our Lady [click here]. There have also been many miracles reported as being granted through the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, as well as the Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima.

Any image, statue or medal that is blessed by a priest, becomes a Sacramental of the Church―and Sacramentals are, so to speak, magnets and channels for the grace of God―and without the grace of God we can do nothing supernaturally good, nor can we fight a spiritual warfare against the devil and the world without the grace of God. As St. Thomas Aquinas says, in his treatise on Grace in his Summa Theologica, grace is the root of all spiritual good and even natural good:

“Human nature needs the help of God to do or wish any good whatsoever … Without grace men do nothing good when they either think or wish or love or act! … Without grace men can do no good whatever! … Man cannot even know truth without Divine help! … Not only do men know by the light of grace what to do, but by its help they do lovingly what they know! … Man, by his natural endowments, cannot produce meritorious works proportionate to everlasting life―for this a higher force is needed, namely, the force of grace. And thus without grace man cannot merit everlasting life! … Man cannot prepare himself for everlasting life without the help of grace ... Man’s turning to God is by free-will―but free-will can only be turned to God by God, according to John 15:5: ‘Without Me, you can do nothing!’ … Man can do nothing unless moved by God ... Man needs the help of grace to heal his nature … Grace does not destroy nature but perfects it … Man cannot fulfill all the Divine commandments without healing grace … It is heresy to believe that without grace man can fulfill all the Divine commandments … Man cannot avoid every act of sin, except by grace … Man needs grace to entirely abstain from sin … Man by himself can in no way rise from sin without the help of grace … In order for a man rise from sin there is required the help of grace … God’s grace is the outcome of His mercy … Even a man who already possesses grace needs a further assistance of grace in order to live righteously … After anyone has been justified by grace, he still needs to beseech God for the gift of perseverance, so that he may be kept from evil until the end of his life. For grace is given to many persons to whom perseverance in grace is not given!” (St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Ia-IIae, questions 109 to 114; Quaestiones quodlibetales, 4, 6).

As we know, God and Our Lord Jesus Christ have chosen to distribute grace through the Blessed Virgin Mary. God could give us His grace directly to us, but He prefers to give His graces through Mary―just like a manufacturer could sell his goods directly to the public, but usually he sells them through a “middle-man”, the vendor. Likewise, a professor in some branch of knowledge can distribute his knowledge directly by word of mouth in his conferences―or he can choose to do so through the intermediary of books that he might write. Similarly, Our Lady could distribute all those graces directly and invisibly―but she chooses to distribute some of them through her images, statues and Sacramentals.

However, since blessed images, statues, scapulars and medals are not Sacraments but only Sacramentals―that means that the Sacramentals cannot automatically give grace (ex opere operato) like a Sacrament does, but they only give grace ex opere operantis―meaning that the amount of grace that is obtained depends upon the dispositions of the person asking for that grace through the Sacramental. If you lack fervor; have little confidence, Faith and perseverance; are lacking in desire and love; are addicted to sins―then you are going to get little grace. If your dispositions show you to be greatly fervent, confident, believing, desirous and virtuous―then you will receive much more grace: “Be not deceived, God is not mocked! For whatever things a man shall sow, those also shall he reap! For he that sows in his flesh, of the flesh he shall also shall reap corruption. But he that sows in the spirit, of the spirit he shall reap life everlasting” (Galatians 6:7-8). “He who sows sparingly, shall also reap sparingly” (2 Corinthians 9:6).

Our Lady―though she is a helper―is not a slave or a doormat to us! She is our Queen and Mother! Do not expect her to come running with tons of grace the very first time you click your fingers! She expects and wants to see some amendment in our lives and signs that we will be profit from the graces we request. At Fatima, Our Lady said she would answer a particular person’s prayers―but it would only be later that year and only if that person amended their life. St. Augustine, asks the question: “Why does not God not gives us what we ask for in prayer?” He then replies that there are three chief causes: (1) We ask badly; (2) We ask for what will be bad for us; and (3) We ourselves are bad!

The Miraculous Medal, which carries the image of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, is a perfect example of all the above. Our Lady, in showing the design of the medal to St. Catherine Labouré in 1830, said: “Have a medal struck upon this model. Those who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck. Those who repeat this prayer with devotion will be, in a special manner, under the protection of the Mother of God. Graces will be abundantly bestowed upon those who have confidence.” Mary’s hands were resplendent with jeweled rings, set with precious stones of different sizes, three on each finger, that glittered and flashed in a brilliant cascade of light. But some of the gems gave off no light at all. While Catherine was wondering why some jewels gave off no light. The Blessed Virgin made her understand with what generosity and great joy she dispensed grace. But she indicated that there are graces for which she is not asked, and it is for this reason that some of the gemstones did not send forth rays of light: “These rays symbolize the graces I shed upon those who ask for them. The gems, from which rays do not fall, are the graces for which souls neglect to ask.”

[Mention Intention]

Prayer for Day 1, Day 4 & Day 7

Mary, Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God and our Mother, thou seest how the Catholic Faith, in which we propose by the help of God to live and die, and so attain to eternal glory, is everywhere assailed by the devil and the world. Do thou, Help of Christians, renew thy victories as of old, for the salvation of thy children. To thee we entrust our firm purpose of never joining assemblies of heretics or sectaries. Do thou, all holy Virgin, offer to thy divine Son our resolutions, and obtain from Him the graces necessary to enable us to remain steadfast in them to the end. Bring consolation to the true visible head of the Church; support the valid Catholic Episcopate; protect the faithful Clergy and the people who proclaim thee Queen; hasten by the power of thy prayers the day when all nations shall be gathered together around the true Supreme Pastor. Amen. Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us.

(Indulgence: 100 Days, once a day. Pope Leo XIII, December 20th, 1890).

Pray the Memorare:
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession and was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Final Invocations:
O Mary, powerful help of those Christians who approach the throne of your mercy with trust! Listen to the prayers of your children who invoke your help to avoid sin and the occasions of sin.

Our Lady Help of Christians, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

LITANY IN HONOR OF THE
OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS

FIFTH DAY OF THE NOVENA (new meditations posted daily)
Theme: Not Only Spiritual Help, but also Physical & Material Help

Our Lady Says:
The Blessed Virgin herself revealed to St. Bridget: “I am the Queen of Heaven and the Mother of Mercy; I am the joy of the just, and the gate of entrance for sinners to God; neither is there living on Earth a sinner who is so accursed that he is deprived of my compassion―for everyone, if he receives nothing else through my intercession, receives the grace of being less tempted by evil spirits than he otherwise would be. No one, therefore, who is not entirely accursed [by which is meant the final and irrevocable malediction pronounced against the damned], is so entirely cast-off by God, that he may not return and enjoy His mercy, if he invokes my aid. I am called by all the Mother of Mercy, and truly the mercy of God towards men has made me so merciful towards them. Therefore, he shall be miserable, and forever miserable in another life, who in this life, being able to do so, does not have recourse to me, who am so compassionate to all, and so earnestly desire to aid sinners.” (quoted by St. Alphonsus Liguori, Glories of Mary).

Reading on Our Lady Help of Christians

When the Irish went into battle in the middle of the 17th century, their blue standards had a picture of Our Lady, upon whom they relied for victory, and the soldiers wore their Rosaries around their necks. Owen Roe O’Neill urged them to trust in the Blessed Virgin Mary, and gave them as their watch-word ― “Sancta Maria.” Many of the cities of Ireland called themselves “Our Lady’s City,” and on more than one occasion found her to be their help.

We have examples in our own country of Mary’s help. During the War of 1812 when New Orleans was threatened by the British, the Ursuline Sisters made a vow to Our Lady of Prompt Succor to have a Mass of Thanksgiving sung every year if the city were spared by an American victory. Just at Holy Communion time, a messenger arrived to tell of the American victory in the Battle of New Orleans, January 8th, 1815. General Jackson himself acknowledged the Divine intervention and paid a visit to the Sisters to thank them for their prayers.

It was Our Lady of Good Help (Notre-Dame de Bon Secours) who saved Montreal, when the ship-fever threatened to destroy the whole population.

Meditation

The miraculous help of Our Lady, shown in the above examples, is not something that is consigned to history―but it is something that is active all throughout the ages since Mary lived on Earth. Let us not imagine that she does not want to help us today! Our Lady will always when called upon―and, if necessary, in miraculous ways. As Our Lady said at Fatima, she prefers to help in spiritual matters that will pertain to our conversion; growth in grace and holiness; and ultimately our salvation. On the other hand, we are mainly preoccupied with obtaining material and physical help―because the spiritual side of things is not our prime focus and desire. Nevertheless, since we are made of body and soul, Our Lady will give help to us in matters of both body and soul. Look at Lourdes, for example―the Catholic Church has officially recognized only 70 miraculous cures at Lourdes, while there have been over 7,000 reported healings and inexplicable physical cures. Yet the spiritual healings, cures and conversions are far greater than that―but they rarely are reported by their beneficiaries.

Take also, for example, the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel―the chief benefit of the Scapular is Our Lady’s promise to save from Hell those who wear her Scapular faithfully. Nevertheless, Our Lady has also manifested her help and performed many material and physical miracles through the Scapular.

● Saved from Sinking into a Muddy Pool. In 1944, a Carmelite missionary in the Holy Land was called to an internment camp to give the Last Rites. The Arab bus driver made the priest get off the bus four miles from the camp because the road was dangerously muddy. After two miles, the missionary found his feet sinking deeper and deeper into the mire. He slipped into a muddy pool. Sinking to his death, he kissed his Scapular and cried out: “Holy Mother of Carmel! Help me! Save me!” A moment later, he found himself on solid ground. Later he said, “I know I was saved by the Blessed Virgin through her Brown Scapular. My shoes were lost in the mud, and I was covered with it, but I walked the remaining two miles praising Mary.”

● Saved from the Sea. In 1845 an English ship was sailing to Australia and found itself in the middle of a hurricane. Among the crew was a young Catholic Irishman, John McAuliffe. He opened his shirt, took off his Scapular, and, making the Sign of the Cross with it over the raging waves, tossed it into the ocean. At that very moment, the wind calmed. Only one more wave washed the deck, bringing with it the Scapular which came back to rest at the young man’s feet.

● Saved from Fire. In 1957, a Carmelite priest in Germany told of how the Scapular saved a home from fire. An entire row of homes had caught fire in Westboden, Germany. The Catholic inhabitants of a home in the middle of this row, seeing the fire, immediately fastened a Scapular to the main door of the house. Sparks flew over it and around it, but the house remained unharmed. Within 5 hours, 22 homes had been reduced to ashes. The one structure which stood undamaged, amidst all the destruction, was that which had the Scapular attached to its door. The hundreds of people who came to see the place Our Lady had saved are eyewitnesses to the power of the Scapular and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

● Saved from an Explosion. In 1955, a miracle occurred in the mid-western part of the United States. A 3rd-grader stopped in a gasoline station to put air in his bicycle tires, and at that very moment an explosion occurred. The boy’s clothing was burned off, but his Brown Scapular remained unaffected: a symbol of Mary’s protection. Today, although he still bears a few scars from the explosion, this man has special reason to remember the Blessed Mother’s protection in time of danger.

● Saved in a Plane Crash. In November of 1955 a plane carrying 27 passengers crashed. All died except one young lady. When this girl saw the plane was going down, she took hold of her Scapular, and called on Mary for help. She suffered burns, her clothing was reduced to ashes, but her Scapular was not touched by the flames and neither did she die with all the others.

● Saved from a Bullet. In France, as the town of Montpellier was in a state of siege, in 1622, there occurred a miracle in the sight of the entire army and under the eyes of the King of France, Louis XIII. One of his officers received a bullet wound in the chest. The wound should have been fatal―but the bullet, after piercing the clothing, flattened out against the Scapular, without doing the least bit of harm to the officer.

● Saved from Lightning. On August 27th, 1602, a Spanish soldier was saying prayers in honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, whose Scapular he was also wearing―when, all of a sudden, lightning and thunder exploded above his head. The lightning bolt hit his shoulder―and, without making any sort of injury, left on his shoulder the imprint of a cross — as a sign of salvation which demonstrates that it was to a special help from Heaven that he owed the favor of having been preserved from the terrible effects of the lightning.

● Food Provided in Time of Famine Through the Scapular. In the 16th Century, in Sicily, a drought occurred like that which happened in the days of Elias the prophet. The people appealed to Our Lady, and the Brown Scapular was offered everywhere in the streets for veneration by the people; suddenly the sky opened, the rain came, and soon the people had their lofts full with abundance.

● Miracles in Battle. Edward II, King of England, hearing about some miracles that were happening in all parts of his kingdom by virtue of the sacred habit, was one of the first princes to once again wear the Scapular. Shortly thereafter, he experienced the effect of the protection of the Blessed Virgin, to whom he was devoted. His army, which had already suffered two defeats, was on the verge of complete surrender. He invoked Mary and promised her that he would establish a monastery of the Order of Mount Carmel. Immediately, by a miraculous assistance, he won a complete victory over his enemies, who at that point thought they had already won the battle. Edward, wanting to perpetuate the memory of this powerful protection and to keep his vow, gave to the Carmelites his palace at Oxford to establish a monastery.

● Protection Against the Devil. In the life of Venerable Francis Ypes, one day his Scapular fell off. As he replaced it, the devil howled: “Take off the habit which snatches so many souls from us!” Then and there Francis made the devil admit that there are three things which the demons are most afraid of: the Holy Name of Jesus, the Holy Name of Mary, and the Holy Scapular of Carmel. To that list we could add: the Holy Rosary. One day a young woman, before entering the religious life, went to see St. John Vianney, the Curé of Ars, and during the conversation, he asked her: “Do you recall, my child, at the certain evening of dancing, where you were? There was a very young man, very handsome, unknown, distinguished, admired, and all the girls wanted to dance with him.” The woman replied: “Yes, I recall when he never came to ask me, I was sad, yet all the other girls were privileged to dance with that young man.” St. John Vianney said: “You would have liked to dance with him, wouldn’t you?” “Yes” she said. Vianney explained: “Do you recall, when that young man was leaving the dance hall, you saw under his feet two blue flames? And you thought it was an illusion of your eyes? When you saw that young man leave the dance hall, you saw fire under his feet! It was not an illusion of your eyes, my daughter. That man was a demon. And if he did not come to you to ask you to dance, it’s for one reason: you were wearing the vestment of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.”

[Mention Intention]

Prayer for Day 2, Day 5 & Day 8

Our Lady Help of Christians, most powerful Virgin, loving help of the Christian people, what thanks are not due to thee from us for the help thou didst give to our fathers, who, when threatened by the infidel Turk, invoked thy maternal aid by devoutly reciting the Rosary. From Heaven thou didst behold their danger, thou didst hear their pitiful voices, thou didst lend a favorable ear to the humble prayer suggested by the great Pontiff, Pope St. Pius V, and didst promptly run to their assistance.

Grant, O dear Mother, that the present and long continued groaning of the holy Spouse of Christ may penetrate to thy throne; may they again move thy compassion and arouse thee afresh to free her from the powerful enemies who surround her. And so from every corner of the Earth there rises to thy throne that precious prayer to make thee propitious now, as then, in our present calamity, lest our sins hinder, or at least retard, their effect. Therefore, dearest Mother, obtain for us true sorrow for them, and a firm purpose to be ready rather to face death than return to sin. Intolerable is the thought that, through our fault, the aid we so desperately need should be denied or delayed.

Arise then, dear Mother, yielding to the prayers of the Catholic world, and beat down the pride of those wretched men who in their insolence outrage God, and would have that Church destroyed against which, by the infallible word of Christ, the gates of Hell shall never prevail. Let it once more be seen that, where thou dost arise to protect her, then the victory is assured, and even though it may be delayed, it is certain in the end; for so we are taught by the Faith, which bids us hope through thee to be mercifully heard by God. Amen.

(Indulgence: 200 Days, once a day. Pope Leo XIII, June 20th, 1891).

Pray the Memorare:
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession and was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Final Invocations:
O Mary, powerful help of those Christians who approach the throne of your mercy with trust! Listen to the prayers of your children who invoke your help to avoid sin and the occasions of sin.

Our Lady Help of Christians, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

LITANY IN HONOR OF THE
OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS

SIXTH DAY OF THE NOVENA (new meditations posted daily)
Theme: Mary takes Personal Interest in Our Lives

Our Lady Says:

Our Queen, one day addressing St. Matilda, promised that she would assist all her clients at death, who, during their lives, had faithfully served her. “I, as a most tender Mother, will faithfully be present at the death of all who piously serve me, and will console and protect them!” (quoted by St. Alphonsus Liguori, Glories of Mary).

Reading on Our Lady Help of Christians

All of the above accounts are but a few instances of the aid given by Our Lady, Help of Christians. There is not one of the devotions to her—the Scapulars, the Ave Maria, the Salve Regina, etc.—that has not a thousand stories to tell of her aid in time of distress. Thus the Church, in the Mass of the Seven Dolors, applies to her the words of the Book of Judith (Chapter 13): “The Lord has blessed thee by His power, because by thee He has brought our enemies to naught. Blessed art thou, O Daughter, by the Lord, the Most High God, above all women upon the Earth! Blessed be the Lord, Who made Heaven and Earth, because He has so magnified thy name this day, that thy praise shall not depart out of the mouths of men, who shall be mindful of the power of the Lord forever―for that thou did not spare Thy life by reason of the distress and tribulation of thy people, but have prevented our ruin in the presence of God.”

But Mary’s help is not confined to the public needs of the Church, not to the great emergencies that threaten to hamper the work of Her Divine Son. She is ready to help every one of us individually. She is not merely the Help of Christianity, She is the Help of Christians. So the Church turns every commemoration of Mary’s aid into a lesson for us. In the Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of Ransom, for instance, in honor of the foundation of the Order of Our Lady of Mercy for the Redemption of Captives, the Church prays: “O God, Who by means of the most glorious Mother of Thy Son, wast pleased to give new offspring to Thy Church for the deliverance of Christ’s faithful from the power of the heathen; grant, we beseech Thee, that we who lovingly honor her as the Foundress of so great a work may by her merits and intercession be ourselves delivered from all sin and from the bondage of the evil one.”

St. Thomas Aquinas, when dying, said that he had never asked anything of God through the intercession of Mary without obtaining it. A truth that we, too, have experienced. The Help of Christians—what an inspiration to us to know that she is always waiting, the first aid to our poor injured souls, to bring them to life, sweetness and hope.

Meditation

St. Alphonsus Liguori, in his book The Glories of Mary, gives many examples of Mary’s help to individuals―even great sinners. Here are just a few extracts:

(1) Mary is a Queen so sweet, clement, and so ready to help us in our miseries … a Queen of mercy, intent only on commiserating and pardoning sinners … Who is ignorant of the power of the prayers of Mary with God? We read, in the life of Sister Catherine of St. Augustine, that in the place where she resided, there was a woman, of the name of Mary, who in her youth was a sinner, and in her old age continued so obstinate in wickedness, that she was driven out of the city, and reduced to live in a secluded cave; there she died, half consumed by disease, without the sacraments, and was consequently interred in a field like a beast. Sister Catherine, who always recommended the souls of those who departed from this world, with great fervor to God, on hearing the unfortunate end of this poor, poor old woman, never thought of praying for her, and she looked upon her (as did everyone else) as irrevocably lost.

One day, four years afterwards, a suffering soul appeared to her, and exclaimed: “How unfortunate is my lot, Sister Catherine! You recommend the souls of all those that die to God; but on my soul alone you have not had compassion.”
“And who are you!” asked the servant of God.
“I am,” she replied, “that poor Mary who died in the cave.”
“And are you saved?” said Catherine, astonished.
“Yes,” she answered, “by the mercy of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”
“And how?”
“When I saw myself at the point of death, loaded with sins, and abandoned by all, I had recourse to the Mother of God, saying: ‘Lady, you are the refuge of abandoned creatures! Behold me, at this moment, abandoned by all! You are my only hope! You alone can help me! Have pity on me!’ The Blessed Virgin obtained for me the grace to make an act of contrition. I died and am saved! And, besides this, she my Queen obtained for me another favor―that my Purgatory should be shortened by enduring in intensity, that which otherwise would have lasted for many years! I now want only a few Masses to be entirely delivered! I beg you to have them said; and, on my part, I promise always to pray for you to God and to Mary.”
Sister Catherine immediately had the Masses said; and after a few days that soul again appeared to her, shining like the sun, and said: “I thank you, Catherine! Behold, I go to Paradise, to sing the mercies of my God, and to pray for you!”

(2) Father Bovio relates that there was a wicked woman, named, Ellen, who entered a church, and by chance heard a sermon on the Rosary. On leaving the church she purchased a set of beads, but wore them concealed, as she did not wish it to be known that she had them. She began to recite them, and though she did so without devotion, our most Blessed Lady poured such sweetness and consolation into her soul during the whole time, that she could not cease repeating the Hail Marys.

At last she was filled with such a horror for her wicked life, that she could no longer find repose, and was obliged to go to confession. She accomplished this duty with such contrition that the priest was filled with astonishment. After her confession, she went to the foot of an altar of the most Blessed Virgin, and there, as a thanksgiving to her advocate, said the Rosary. The Divine Mother then addressed her from the image in the following words: “Ellen, you have already too much offended God and me! From this moment change your life, and I will bestow a large share of my graces upon you!”

The poor sinner, in the deepest confusion, replied: “Ah! Most Holy Virgin, it is true that hitherto I have been a wicked sinner; but you can do all things―help me! On my part I abandon myself to you, and will spend the remainder of my life in doing penance for my sins!”

With the assistance of Mary, she distributed all her goods among the poor, and began a life of rigorous mortification. She was tormented with dreadful temptations, but constantly recommended herself to the Mother of God, and thus was always victorious. She was favored with many extraordinary graces, with visions, revelations, and even the gift of prophecy. Finally, before her death, which was announced to her by Mary some days before it took place, the most Blessed Virgin came herself, with her divine Son, to visit her; and, when she expired, her soul was seen flying towards Heaven in the form of a beautiful dove.

(3) The history of St. Mary of Egypt, in the first book of the lives of the Fathers, is well known. At the age of twelve years she fled from the house of her parents, went to Alexandria, where she led an infamous life, and was a scandal to the whole city. After living for sixteen years in sin, she took it into her head to go to Jerusalem.

At the time the feast of the holy cross was being celebrated, and, moved rather by curiosity than by devotion, she determined on entering the church; but when at the door, she felt herself repelled by an invisible force. She made a second attempt, and was again unable to enter; and the same thing was repeated a third and a fourth time. Finding her efforts in vain, the unfortunate creature withdrew to a corner of the porch, and there, enlightened from above, understood that it was on account of her infamous life that God had repelled her even from the church.

In that moment she fortunately raised her eyes and beheld a picture of Mary. No sooner did she perceive it, than, sobbing, she exclaimed, “O Mother of God, pity a poor sinner! I know that on account of my sins, I do not deserve that you should cast your eyes upon me! But you are the refuge of sinners! For the love of your Son Jesus, help me! Permit me to enter the church and I promise to change my life; to go and do penance in whatever place you point out to me!”

She immediately heard an internal voice, as it were that of the Blessed Virgin, replying: “Since you have recourse to me, and wish to change your life, then go—enter the church, it is no longer closed against you!” The sinner entered, adored the cross, and wept bitterly. She then returned to the picture, and said, “Lady, behold I am ready! Where do you want me to go so that I should go and do penance?” “Go,” the Blessed Virgin replied, “across the Jordan, and you will find the place of your repose!”

She went to confession and Communion, and then passed the River Jordan, and finding herself in the desert, she understood that it was in that place she should do penance for her sinful life. During the first seventeen years, the assaults of the devil, by which he endeavored to make the saint again fall into sin, were terrible. And what were her means of defense? She constantly recommended herself to Mary, and this most Blessed Virgin obtained for her strength to resist during the whole of this time, after which her combats ceased.

After fifty-seven years spent in the desert doing penance, and having attained the age of eighty-seven years, by a disposition of Providence, she met the desert father, Abbot Zosimus. To him she related the history of her life, and entreated him to return the following year, and to bring her the Holy Communion. The saintly Abbot did so, and gave her the Bread of angels. She then requested that he would again return to see her. This also he did, but he found her dead. Her body was encompassed by a bright light, and, at her head, these words were written: “Bury my body here—it is that of a poor sinner, and intercede with God for me!” A lion came and dug a grave with his claws. St. Zosimus buried her, returned to his monastery, and related the wonders of God’s mercy towards this happy sinner.

[Mention Intention]

Prayer for Day 3, Day 6 & Day 9

Most holy and immaculate Virgin Mary, our most tender Mother, and powerful Help of Christians, we dedicate ourselves entirely to thy most sweet love and holy service. We consecrate our minds with all their thoughts, our hearts with all their affections, our bodies with all their senses and powers, and we promise to desire always to work for the greater glory of God and for the salvation of souls. Meanwhile do thou, O incomparable Virgin, who hast always been the Help of the Christian people, continue to show thyself such, especially in these days. Humble the enemies of our holy religion, and frustrate their evil purposes. Enlighten and strengthen bishops and priests, and keep them ever united in obedience to the true Pope, their infallible master. Preserve incautious youth from irreligion and vice. Promote holy vocations and increase the number of thy sacred ministers, that by means of them the Kingdom of Jesus Christ may be preserved among us, and extended to the farthest boundaries of the Earth.

We pray thee also, most sweet Mother, to look at all times with compassion upon the young and thoughtless, exposed to so many dangers, and upon poor sinners and the dying; be for all a sweet hope, O Mary, Mother of Mercy and Gate of Heaven. Also we pray thee for ourselves, O great Mother of God. Teach us to copy thy virtues and especially angelic modesty, profound humility, and ardent charity; so that by word and example we may, as far as is possible in our state of life, present in the midst of the world a living image of blessed Jesus thy Son, and may cause thee to be known and loved, and so may succeed in saving many souls. Obtain for us, O Mary our Helper, that we may be all gathered under thy maternal mantle, that in temptation we may invoke thee promptly and confidently; in short, that the thought of thee, so good, so loving, and so dear, and the remembrance of the love which thou bearest to thy clients may be such a support to us, as to render us victorious over the enemies of our souls in life and in death, so that we may become thy crown in beautiful Paradise. Amen.

(Indulgence of 300 days, every time it is prayed. Leo XIII, March 10th, 1900).

Pray the Memorare:
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession and was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Final Invocations:
O Mary, powerful help of those Christians who approach the throne of your mercy with trust! Listen to the prayers of your children who invoke your help to avoid sin and the occasions of sin.

Our Lady Help of Christians, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

LITANY IN HONOR OF THE
OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS

SEVENTH DAY OF THE NOVENA (new meditations posted daily)
Theme: Our Lady Helps in the Spiritual and Political Domain

Our Lady Says:
The Blessed Virgin herself revealed to St. Bridget: “I am the Queen of Heaven and the Mother of Mercy; I am the joy of the just, and the gate of entrance for sinners to God; neither is there living on Earth a sinner who is so accursed that he is deprived of my compassion―for everyone, if he receives nothing else through my intercession, receives the grace of being less tempted by evil spirits than he otherwise would be. No one, therefore, who is not entirely accursed [by which is meant the final and irrevocable malediction pronounced against the damned], is so entirely cast-off by God, that he may not return and enjoy His mercy, if he invokes my aid. I am called by all the Mother of Mercy, and truly the mercy of God towards men has made me so merciful towards them. Therefore, he shall be miserable, and forever miserable in another life, who in this life, being able to do so, does not have recourse to me, who am so compassionate to all, and so earnestly desire to aid sinners.” (quoted by St. Alphonsus Liguori, Glories of Mary).

Reading on Our Lady Help of Christians

Pope Pius VII established the feast which, under this glorious title of Help of Christians, is celebrated in honor of our Blessed Lady. It is usually kept upon May 24th. Upon that day the much-enduring and saintly Pontiff, after an exile of several weary years, returned to his capital, whence the violence and tyrannical injustice of the first Napoleon had banished him. Almighty God, in a most unexpected and almost miraculous way, restored him to the arms of his exulting flock, and the holy Pope ever afterwards attributed that restoration to the intercession of Mary, the Help of Christians. In order to show his gratitude to her he ordained that this feast should be kept throughout the Church. Thus we see Our Lady's help in the spiritual field, by restoring the Pope to his rightful place in Rome. Yet Our Lady also helps in the political field, or in dealings or battles between nations.

Already at several critical junctures in comparatively modern times, had she proved herself the shield and defense of the Christian people. When, in the sixteenth century, the Turks were threatening to pour down their devastating hordes upon Europe, and sweep away the civilization bequeathed to us by many generations of patient toilers and men of genius, another Pius―Pope St. Pius V―like a watchman upon the towers of Israel, roused up the nations to a sense of the peril which threatened them. The pope called for a Rosary crusade to seek the help of Mary in face of the dangers that threatened them. They responded to his call; gathered together their forces, under the leadership of John of Austria; and praying the Rosary while invoking the aid of Mary, Help of Christians, began, in the Gulf of Corinth or Lepanto, that famous sea battle which ended in the destruction of the fleet destined to bear the forces of Islam into Europe [read more about the Battle of Lepanto here].

Meditation

The above reading brings to mind what Our Lady of Fatima revealed to Sister Lucia of Fatima concerning the power and the helpfulness of the Holy Rosary. Sister Lucia, in a 1957 interview with Fr. Augustine Fuentes, states: “God is giving two last remedies to the world: the Holy Rosary and devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary … Prayer and sacrifice are the two means to save the world. As for the Holy Rosary, Father, in these last times in which we are living, the Blessed Virgin has given a new efficacy to the praying of the Holy Rosary. This in such a way that there is no problem that cannot be resolved by praying the Rosary, no matter how difficult it is ― be it temporal or above all spiritual ― in the spiritual life of each of us, or the lives of our families, be they our families in the world or Religious Communities, or even in the lives of peoples and nations. I repeat―there is no problem, as difficult as it may be, that we cannot resolve at this time by praying the Holy Rosary. With the Holy Rosary we will save ourselves, sanctify ourselves, console Our Lord and obtain the salvation of many souls.”

Similarly, Our Lady of Akita (1973) said: “The only weapons which will remain for you will be the Rosary and the Sign left by my Son! … Pray very much! … Continue to pray very much—very much! … Pray with fervor! … Each day recite the prayers of the Rosary. Pray very much the prayers of the Rosary! With the Rosary, pray for the Pope, the bishops and priests!”

Do not neglect the Holy Rosary! Do not content yourself with a mere lip-service Rosary that is said and not prayed properly as it is intended to be prayed. Make it a heartfelt Rosary that meditates on the Mysteries of the Rosary. The devil knows the power of such Rosaries―that is why he constantly pushes you to say it and not pray it! St. Louis de Montfort, in his book The Secret of the Rosary, quotes Our Lady as saying: “When people say 150 Hail Marys, that prayer is very helpful to them and a most pleasing tribute to me. But they will do better still and will please me more if they say these salutations while meditating on the life, death, and Passion of Jesus Christ, for this meditation is the soul of this prayer.”

St. Louis then laments at the manner in which most Catholics pray the Holy Rosary: For the Rosary said without the meditation on the sacred mysteries of our salvation would almost be a body without a soul, excellent matter, but without the form, which is the meditation. Take great care to avoid the two pitfalls that most people fall into during the Rosary. The first fault is the danger of not asking for any graces at all, so that if some good people were asked their Rosary intention they would not know what to say. So, whenever you say your Rosary, be sure to ask for some special grace or virtue, or strength to overcome some sin. The second fault commonly committed in saying the Rosary is to have no intention other than that of getting it over with as quickly as possible. This is because so many look upon the Rosary as a burden, which weighs heavily upon them when it has not been said, especially when we have promised to say it regularly or have been told to say it as a penance more or less against our will. It is sad to see how most people say the Rosary. They say it astonishingly fast, slipping over part of the words. We could not possibly expect anyone, even the most important person, to think that a slipshod address of this kind was a compliment, and yet we imagine that Jesus and Mary will be honored by it! Small wonder, then, that the most sacred prayers of our holy religion seem to bear no fruit, and that, after saying thousands of Rosaries, we are still no better than we were before!” (St. Louis de Montfort, The Secret of the Rosary).

[Mention Intention]

Prayer for Day 1, Day 4 & Day 7

Mary, Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God and our Mother, thou seest how the Catholic Faith, in which we propose by the help of God to live and die, and so attain to eternal glory, is everywhere assailed by the devil and the world. Do thou, Help of Christians, renew thy victories as of old, for the salvation of thy children. To thee we entrust our firm purpose of never joining assemblies of heretics or sectaries. Do thou, all holy Virgin, offer to thy divine Son our resolutions, and obtain from Him the graces necessary to enable us to remain steadfast in them to the end. Bring consolation to the true visible head of the Church; support the valid Catholic Episcopate; protect the faithful Clergy and the people who proclaim thee Queen; hasten by the power of thy prayers the day when all nations shall be gathered together around the true Supreme Pastor. Amen. Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us.

(Indulgence: 100 Days, once a day. Pope Leo XIII, December 20th, 1890).

Pray the Memorare:
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession and was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Final Invocations:
O Mary, powerful help of those Christians who approach the throne of your mercy with trust! Listen to the prayers of your children who invoke your help to avoid sin and the occasions of sin.

Our Lady Help of Christians, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

LITANY IN HONOR OF THE
OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS

EIGHTH DAY OF THE NOVENA (new meditations posted daily)
Theme: Our Lady Will Triumph in Our Days

Our Lady Says:
The Blessed Virgin herself revealed to St. Bridget: “I am the Queen of Heaven and the Mother of Mercy; I am the joy of the just, and the gate of entrance for sinners to God; neither is there living on Earth a sinner who is so accursed that he is deprived of my compassion―for everyone, if he receives nothing else through my intercession, receives the grace of being less tempted by evil spirits than he otherwise would be. No one, therefore, who is not entirely accursed [by which is meant the final and irrevocable malediction pronounced against the damned], is so entirely cast-off by God, that he may not return and enjoy His mercy, if he invokes my aid. I am called by all the Mother of Mercy, and truly the mercy of God towards men has made me so merciful towards them. Therefore, he shall be miserable, and forever miserable in another life, who in this life, being able to do so, does not have recourse to me, who am so compassionate to all, and so earnestly desire to aid sinners.” (quoted by St. Alphonsus Liguori, Glories of Mary).

Reading on Our Lady Help of Christians

In the seventeenth century, in 1683, the same inveterate foes of Christianity had actually invaded Austria and surrounded Vienna, and were, to all human appearances, sure of an easy victory. The Christian people once more invoked Mary’s aid, and another Christian hero led the insignificant army of Christ, to a glorious triumph over the forces of the false prophet. Just over thirty years later, the Emperor Charles VI, smote them once again at the Island of Corfu, and by the powerful intercession of Mary, snatched victory from the warlike sons of Mahomet.

It is with reason, therefore, that we look upon Mary as a tower of strength against the face of our enemies, and as the helper of the Christian people. Though she is bright as the sun, and beautiful as the moon, yet, to those who would trample upon the people whom her Son willed to save, and crush out the Faith which He came on Earth to establish, she is terrible as an army in battle-array.

As in the past, Mary has proved herself to be the powerful helper of Christians, so will she still prove herself to be their protectress, at the present day. The power of her intercession with Jesus is as great now as it was then. For, as He is always the Almighty, so is she always our powerful advocate, able to obtain from Him an opportune intervention of His mighty arm, to avert the danger which threatens to overwhelm us.

First, there is the Church of God, over which she stretches the shield of her all-helping hand. The powers of the world gather together, and take counsel against it. They look upon it as an antiquated institution, which is no longer of any use in the world. They imagine that it is an obstacle to the march of what they call “modern progress”; that it is a galling fetter upon the political and the intellectual well-being of man.

Consequently, they unite together and say to one another: “Let us burst her bonds asunder, and cast her out from before our face. Let us thrust her aside as a worthless piece of machinery, which must make way for the modern improvements invented by a more enlightened wisdom to overawe and rule the souls of men.” So they bring to bear upon her all the force and all the cunning that worldly wisdom can array upon its side. They stop at no calumny, they shrink from no injustice to compass their ends. They lash themselves into fury, and dash themselves madly against her; but in the very feverish heat of their rage, we remain calm and fear not, for their efforts are vain.

Like the billows of the sea, foaming, and chafing, and hurling themselves upon the rocks which bound our coast, they may seem, for a time, to overwhelm her, but when they retire she still stands there unmoved―victorious, and triumphant over every storm. For, in the midst of persecution, we cry to the Help of Christians, and her powerful intercession gives worth to our prayer, and wins God over to listen to us, and to look upon our trouble. Then does He arise in His strength; He laughs our enemies to scorn; and scatters them with the breath of His fierce anger, as chaff is scattered before the storm.

Meditation

Fighting human foes is one thing―fighting the devil and infernal foes is quite another thing. When read of the victories brought about the Holy Rosary in bygone days, they were largely concerned with human foes―even though those human foes were manipulated by the devil. Today, the stakes are higher as Satan tightens his grip on the world.

Pope Leo XIII was granted a vision in the 1880s which revealed to him Satan’s future onslaught on the Church in attempt to destroy it.

The Secretary of State under Pius XI, Msgr. Eugenio Cardinal Pacelli, prior to his elevation to the papacy in 1939 as Pope Pius XII, made the following astonishing prophecy about a coming upheaval in the Church: “Suppose, dear friend, that Communism [one of “the errors of Russia” mentioned in the Message of Fatima] was only the most visible of the instruments of subversion to be used against the Church and the traditions of Divine Revelation… I am worried by the Blessed Virgin’s messages to Lucia of Fatima. This persistence of Mary about the dangers which menace the Church is a divine warning against the suicide of altering the Faith, in Her liturgy, Her theology and Her soul. … I hear all around me innovators who wish to dismantle the Sacred Chapel, destroy the universal flame of the Church, reject Her ornaments and make Her feel remorse for Her historical past. A day will come when the civilized world will deny its God, when the Church will doubt as Peter doubted. She will be tempted to believe that man has become God. In our churches, Christians will search in vain for the red lamp where God awaits them. Like Mary Magdalene weeping before the empty tomb, they will ask, ‘Where have they taken Him?’”
The Third Secret of Fatima is thought to contain warnings of a two-pronged catastrophe for mankind: (1) A collapse of the Faith, and, consequently (2) a plethora of material and physical chastisements. Sister Lucia of Fatima said in 1957: “Father, the Blessed Virgin is very sad, because no one has paid attention to her Message―neither the good nor the bad. The good merely continue on with their life on the road of goodness, but without paying attention to this Message and uniting their lives to the Message of Fatima. The bad―the sinners―because of their sins, keep following the road of evil, ignoring the Message and do not see the terrible chastisement about to befall them. But you must believe me that God is going to punish the world and chastise it in a tremendous way! The chastisement from Heaven is imminent!

“Father, the Devil is engaging in a battle with the Virgin, a decisive battle. It is a final battle where one party will be victorious and the other will suffer defeat. So, from now on, we are either with God, or we are with the Devil―there is no middle ground … The Devil is fighting a decisive battle against the Virgin and, as you know, what most offends God and what will gain him the greatest number of souls in the shortest time is to gain the souls consecrated to God. For this also leaves unprotected the field of the laity and the Devil can more easily seize them! … For this reason, Father, it is my mission not just to speak about the material punishments, that will certainly come over the Earth, if the world does not pray and do penance. No, my mission is to also tell everyone the imminent danger we are in of losing our souls for all eternity, if we remain fixed in sin.

“Father, we should not wait for a call to the world from Rome on the part of the Holy Father to do penance. Nor should we wait for a call for penance to come from the Bishops in our Dioceses, nor from our Religious Congregations. No―Our Lord has often used these means, and the world has not paid heed! So, now each one of us must begin to reform himself spiritually. Each one has to save not only his own soul, but also all the souls that God has placed on his pathway.”

The other apparitions of Our Lady reinforce that viewpoint: “The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against bishops. The Church will be full of those who accept compromises! … The Church will be in eclipse, the world will be in dismay. How the Church will suffer during this dark night! … The Church will yield to large persecution, a time of darkness and the Church will witness a frightful crisis ... Churches will be locked up or desecrated … and altars will be sacked … Priests and religious orders will be hunted down, and made to die a cruel death ... The Church will decompose and the devil will make himself the king of all hearts … Many will abandon the Faith, and a great number of priests and members of religious orders will break away from the true religion; among these people there will even be bishops ... A number of religious institutions will lose all Faith and will cause many souls to be damned ... The Christian spirit will rapidly decay, extinguishing the precious light of Faith until it reaches the point that there will be an almost total and general corruption of customs [morals]. In these unhappy times, people will only think of amusements and there will be unbridled luxury and impurity that will conquer innumerable frivolous souls who will be lost! … This, in turn, will call down every type of chastisement―such as plagues, famines, internal fighting and external disputes with other nations, and apostasy!”

“There will be occasions when all will seem lost and paralyzed. This then will be the happy beginning of the complete restoration … This will mark the arrival of my hour, when I, in a marvelous way, will dethrone the proud and cursed Satan, trampling him under my feet and fettering him in the infernal abyss … I alone am able still to save you from the calamities which approach. Those who place their confidence in me will be saved … God will take care of His faithful servants and men of good will ... The children of the holy Church, the true disciples of the living God, the true faithful, those who have given themselves to me, the children of my Faith, my true followers, they will grow in their love for God! … Their prayers, their penances and their tears will rise up to Heaven and all of God’s people will beg for forgiveness and mercy and will plead for my help and intercession … At the blood, the tears and prayers of the righteous, God will relent ... Then Jesus Christ, in an act of His justice and His great mercy, will command His Angels to have all His enemies put to death.

“The fire of Heaven will fall and consume cities. All the universe will be struck with terror and many will let themselves be led astray, because they have not worshiped the true Christ. Suddenly, with one blow, the persecutors of the Church of Jesus Christ, and all those given over to sin, will perish and the Earth will become like a desert ... In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph ... Russia will be converted … Pagan Rome will disappear. And then peace will be made, and man will be reconciled with God ... and a period of peace will be granted to the world … Jesus Christ will be served, adored, worshiped and glorified. Charity will flourish everywhere. The new kings will be the right arm of the Holy Church, which will be strong, humble, pious in Its poor but fervent imitation of the virtues of Jesus Christ. The Gospel will be preached everywhere and mankind will make great progress in its Faith, for there will be unity among the workers of Jesus Christ and man will live in fear of God.” (Our Lady of Good Success, at Quito in Ecuador, Our Lady of La Salette, France; Our Lady of Fatima, Portugal; Our Lady of Akita, Japan).

[Mention Intention]

Prayer for Day 2, Day 5 & Day 8

Our Lady Help of Christians, most powerful Virgin, loving help of the Christian people, what thanks are not due to thee from us for the help thou didst give to our fathers, who, when threatened by the infidel Turk, invoked thy maternal aid by devoutly reciting the Rosary. From Heaven thou didst behold their danger, thou didst hear their pitiful voices, thou didst lend a favorable ear to the humble prayer suggested by the great Pontiff, Pope St. Pius V, and didst promptly run to their assistance.

Grant, O dear Mother, that the present and long continued groaning of the holy Spouse of Christ may penetrate to thy throne; may they again move thy compassion and arouse thee afresh to free her from the powerful enemies who surround her. And so from every corner of the Earth there rises to thy throne that precious prayer to make thee propitious now, as then, in our present calamity, lest our sins hinder, or at least retard, their effect. Therefore, dearest Mother, obtain for us true sorrow for them, and a firm purpose to be ready rather to face death than return to sin. Intolerable is the thought that, through our fault, the aid we so desperately need should be denied or delayed.

Arise then, dear Mother, yielding to the prayers of the Catholic world, and beat down the pride of those wretched men who in their insolence outrage God, and would have that Church destroyed against which, by the infallible word of Christ, the gates of Hell shall never prevail. Let it once more be seen that, where thou dost arise to protect her, then the victory is assured, and even though it may be delayed, it is certain in the end; for so we are taught by the Faith, which bids us hope through thee to be mercifully heard by God. Amen.

(Indulgence: 200 Days, once a day. Pope Leo XIII, June 20th, 1891).

Pray the Memorare:
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession and was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Final Invocations:
O Mary, powerful help of those Christians who approach the throne of your mercy with trust! Listen to the prayers of your children who invoke your help to avoid sin and the occasions of sin.

Our Lady Help of Christians, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

LITANY IN HONOR OF THE
OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS

NINTH DAY OF THE NOVENA (new meditations posted daily)
Theme: Nobody is Outside the Scope of Mary's Help

Our Lady Says:
The Blessed Virgin herself revealed to St. Bridget: “I am the Queen of Heaven and the Mother of Mercy; I am the joy of the just, and the gate of entrance for sinners to God; neither is there living on Earth a sinner who is so accursed that he is deprived of my compassion―for everyone, if he receives nothing else through my intercession, receives the grace of being less tempted by evil spirits than he otherwise would be. No one, therefore, who is not entirely accursed [by which is meant the final and irrevocable malediction pronounced against the damned], is so entirely cast-off by God, that he may not return and enjoy His mercy, if he invokes my aid. I am called by all the Mother of Mercy, and truly the mercy of God towards men has made me so merciful towards them. Therefore, he shall be miserable, and forever miserable in another life, who in this life, being able to do so, does not have recourse to me, who am so compassionate to all, and so earnestly desire to aid sinners.” (quoted by St. Alphonsus Liguori, Glories of Mary).

Reading on Our Lady Help of Christians

Mary is the helper not only of the great Christian commonwealth of the Church, but of the individual members who constitute that vast body of which Christ is the head. For what is true of the great body of Christians in general, is true also of each individual Christian man. If the great mass suffers persecution and bitter trial, the individual member is not left unmolested. There are enemies who combine against his individual soul, just as the powers of the world unite their strength, in order to divide and conquer the mighty army of which he is but a private soldier. Some of these attack him from without, and others from within. Against each of these he stands in need of help.

Examine your own life and you will see that all this is perfectly true. Is not your peace of mind often disturbed by the envy and the jealousy of companions; by the ignorance and the prejudice of those who misinterpret your actions, ascribe to you unworthy motives, and perhaps punish you for that of which you have never even dreamed? Have you not also much to suffer from yourself? Are there not cares, which though small in themselves, nevertheless harass and worry you? Have you no passions to keep under control; no evil habits which hold you in bondage, and make you feel what a bitter thing it is to be a slave?

Added to all this, do you not feel that there are powers of darkness surrounding you and laying snares to entrap your soul? Where shall you turn for help? You feel that you are not worthy to approach to God, that your sins render you displeasing in His sight. Where shall you go in your anguish but to the Mother of Jesus, that Mother who is so pleasing to Him, and so spotlessly pure? You know that she loves you, that she feels for you, and that she is ready to help you. You call upon her and she hears you. She unites her prayers with yours, and Jesus listens. You become patient of suffering and of wrongs; you accept the ills of life, as penance for past sin; you courageously resist the devil; you acquire virtues; you become fixed in your resolve to love and serve God. In one word, you triumph over the enemies of your soul, through the powerful intercession of the ‘Help of Christians,’ who by praying unto God for you, makes Him more ready to hear your cry, and more willing to grant your petition.

Meditation

If there is one thing that we will all need help with―it is help with mercy! At the end of your life, nothing will matter more than mercy! All the things that we have done―the prayers said; the Masses attended; the sacrifices made; the reading and meditations we have done; the help given to others, etc. ―all that will be pointless and useless if we fail to obtain mercy for other things we have done all throughout our lives, namely, our sins! “The soul that sins, the same shall die!” (Ezechiel 18:4). “Everyone shall die for his own sin!” (Deuteronomy 24:16). “Who can say: ‘My heart is clean, I am pure from sin!’?” (Proverbs 20:9). Who dare say: “I am clean, and without sin! I am unspotted, and there is no iniquity in me!” (Job 33:9). “For in many things we all offend!” (James 3:2). “There is no man who sins not!” (3 Kings 8:46).

If Jesus is the King of the universe, Mary is also its Queen. Kings should occupy themselves principally in works of mercy, but not so as to forget the just punishments that are to be inflicted on the guilty. It is, however, not thus with Mary, who, although a Queen, is not a Queen of justice―intent on the punishment of the wicked―but a Queen of mercy, intent only on commiserating and pardoning sinners. And this is the reason for which the Church requires that we should expressly call her “the Queen of Mercy.” Mary, then, is a Queen―but, for our common consolation, be it known that she is a Queen so sweet, clement, and so ready to help us in our miseries, that the holy Church wills that we should salute her in prayer under the title of Queen of Mercy. Kings and queens, with their ostentation of majesty, inspire terror, and cause their subjects to fear to approach them: but what fear, says St. Bernard, can the miserable have to approach this Queen of Mercy, for she inspires no terror, and shows no severity, to those who come to her, but is all sweetness and gentleness.

[Mention Intention]

Prayer for Day 3, Day 6 & Day 9

Most holy and immaculate Virgin Mary, our most tender Mother, and powerful Help of Christians, we dedicate ourselves entirely to thy most sweet love and holy service. We consecrate our minds with all their thoughts, our hearts with all their affections, our bodies with all their senses and powers, and we promise to desire always to work for the greater glory of God and for the salvation of souls. Meanwhile do thou, O incomparable Virgin, who hast always been the Help of the Christian people, continue to show thyself such, especially in these days. Humble the enemies of our holy religion, and frustrate their evil purposes. Enlighten and strengthen bishops and priests, and keep them ever united in obedience to the true Pope, their infallible master. Preserve incautious youth from irreligion and vice. Promote holy vocations and increase the number of thy sacred ministers, that by means of them the Kingdom of Jesus Christ may be preserved among us, and extended to the farthest boundaries of the Earth.

We pray thee also, most sweet Mother, to look at all times with compassion upon the young and thoughtless, exposed to so many dangers, and upon poor sinners and the dying; be for all a sweet hope, O Mary, Mother of Mercy and Gate of Heaven. Also we pray thee for ourselves, O great Mother of God. Teach us to copy thy virtues and especially angelic modesty, profound humility, and ardent charity; so that by word and example we may, as far as is possible in our state of life, present in the midst of the world a living image of blessed Jesus thy Son, and may cause thee to be known and loved, and so may succeed in saving many souls. Obtain for us, O Mary our Helper, that we may be all gathered under thy maternal mantle, that in temptation we may invoke thee promptly and confidently; in short, that the thought of thee, so good, so loving, and so dear, and the remembrance of the love which thou bearest to thy clients may be such a support to us, as to render us victorious over the enemies of our souls in life and in death, so that we may become thy crown in beautiful Paradise. Amen.

(Indulgence of 300 days, every time it is prayed. Leo XIII, March 10th, 1900).

Pray the Memorare:
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession and was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Final Invocations:
O Mary, powerful help of those Christians who approach the throne of your mercy with trust! Listen to the prayers of your children who invoke your help to avoid sin and the occasions of sin.

Our Lady Help of Christians, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

ANOTHER ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
Based upon the "True Devotion" Act of Consecration to Mary by St. Louis de Montfort

O Virgin Mary, most powerful Mother of Mercy, Queen of Heaven and Earth, in accordance with your wish made known at Fatima, I consecrate myself today to thy Immaculate Heart. To you I entrust all that I have, all that I am. Reign over me, dearest Mother, that I may be thine in prosperity, in adversity, in joy and in sorrow, in health and in sickness, in life and in death.

Most compassionate Heart of Mary, Queen of Virgins, watch over my mind and heart and preserve me from the deluge of impurity, which you lamented so sorrowfully at Fatima. I want to be pure like thee. I want to atone for the many crimes committed against Jesus and thee. I want to call down upon this country and the whole world the peace of God in justice and charity.

Mindful of this consecration, I now promise to strive to imitate thee by the practice of the Christian virtues, without paying attention to human respect. I resolve to receive Holy Communion on the first Saturday of every month when possible, and to offer daily at least five decades of the Rosary, with all my sacrifices in the spirit of penance and reparation.

I, . . ., a faithless sinner, renew and ratify today in thy Heart, O Immaculate Mother, the vows of my Baptism; I renounce forever Satan, his pomps and works; and I give myself entirely to Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom, to carry my cross after Him all the days of my life, and to be more faithful to Him than I have ever been before.

Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, in the presence of all the heavenly court, I choose thee this day for my Mother and Mistress. I deliver and consecrate to thee, and to thy Immaculate Heart, as thy child and slave of love, my body and soul, my goods, both interior and exterior, and even the value of all my good actions, past, present and future; leaving to thee the entire and full right of disposing of me, and all that belongs to me, without exception, according to thy good pleasure, for the greater glory of God, in time and in eternity. Amen.