POWERFUL NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF LOURDES: DAY 1 – (FOR HEALING AND PROTECTION OF ALL THE SICK)

ACT OF CONTRITION

Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you. I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell, but most of all, because they offend you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

INTRODUCTORY PRAYER

Ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, we call upon you as Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, and Comfort of the Afflicted. You know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings. Deign to cast upon me a look of mercy. By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a sanctuary whence you dispense your favours, and already many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and physical. I come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession. Obtain, O loving Mother, the granting of my requests (mention them here). Through gratitude for favours, I will endeavour to imitate your virtues that I may one day share your glory.

MEDITATION: THE STORY OF LOURDES

(Part 1 – Brief biography of St. Bernardette Soubirous)

In Lourdes, France, in 1844, a baby girl named Bernadette Soubirous was born.  Bernadette’s family was very poor, and Bernadette was responsible for looking after and caring for her brothers and sisters. Bernadette was a good-natured girl with dark eyes and a round face.  The only education Bernadette received was the Catholic teachings which she studied faithfully in the evenings. At the age of 13, Bernadette was preparing for her First Holy Communion.  One of Bernadette’s chores was to collect wood for the fire.  

On a cold day in February 1858, Bernadette and 2 companions headed off to the Gave River to collect pieces of wood.  The 2 companions ran ahead and left Bernadette struggling to keep up.  As Bernadette was taking off her shoes to make her way through the river, she was startled by a peculiar wind and rustling sound.  Bernadette looked up towards the grotto and the caves on the riverbank.  Near the opening of the grotto, Bernadette glanced and noticed the cave was suddenly filled with golden light.  Lifting up her eyes, she saw a lady of great beauty, dressed in a pure white robe with a blue sash, a veil over her head, a rosary clasped in her hands and yellow roses at her feet.  Bernadette rubbed her eyes.   What a beautiful lady!  But where did she come from?  And what was she doing here? The beautiful lady smiled at Bernadette and asked her to say her rosary.  Bernadette said her prayers and when she was finished she looked up, the lady had vanished.  Bernadette caught up to her 2 friends and discovered that they were upset with her.  What have you been doing? Playing in the river, while we are out here collecting wood? Bernadette told them about the vision she had just witnessed.  The girls told Bernadette she was silly and probably just seeing things.

Bernadette felt drawn to the grotto and returned there on the next Sunday.  Again Bernadette saw the beautiful lady.  The third time Bernadette went to the grotto, the lady spoke to her.  The beautiful lady asked Bernadette to come here every day for fifteen days.  She said that she wanted Bernadette to tell the priests to build a chapel there.  She told her to drink water from the stream.  The lady also told Bernadette to pray for the conversion of sinners.  Bernadette followed the requests. On March 25 1858, the Lady finally told Bernadette that she was the Immaculate Conception, and that her purpose in appearing to Bernadette was to warn her to pray and make sacrifices for sinners. The miracles of body and soul performed at Lourdes are proofs that this message was a true warning from the Queen of Heaven to her children and that she was deeply interested in their welfare.

Bernadette’s daily visits to the grotto caused quite a stir in the countryside.  Crowds of people began to gather and watch Bernadette as she examined the cave and obediently did the things the lady asked of her.  They watched Bernadette scrape away soil beside the grotto until a spring of water started to trickle out.  Would you believe this spring still provides 27,000 gallons of water every day?! This is the sacred Lourdes water which heals all!  At first, the priests, the town’s folk, and the families doubted Bernadette’s visions and the purpose in her activities.  But Bernadette was stubborn and determined to follow Mary’s plans for her.  Eventually, everyone did believe Bernadette and the grotto at Lourdes became a place of worship and the Lourdes holy water was sacred for performing miracles.

At the age of 22, Bernadette became a nun and devoted her life to Mary, to pray for the conversion of sinners and to the service of God.  Bernadette died on April 16, 1879, at the age of 36. She will be remembered for believing in the greater glory of God as she was faithful to her mission, she was humble in glory and she was valiant in her sufferings.  Today, Lourdes remains one of the most frequented Christian shrines in the world.  More than 3 million visitors, pilgrims and tourists come each year to the Grotto of Massabielle, where the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette 18 times in 1858.

DAY ONE PRAYER

O Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Lourdes, virgin and mother, queen of heaven, chosen from all eternity to be the Mother of the Eternal Word and in virtue of this title preserved from original sin, we kneel before you as did little Bernadette at Lourdes and pray with childlike trust in you that as we contemplate your glorious appearance at Lourdes, you will look with mercy on our present petition and secure for us a favourable answer to the request for which we are making this novena (make your request). O Brilliant star of purity, Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Lourdes, glorious in your assumption, triumphant in your coronation, show unto us the mercy of the Mother of God, Virgin Mary, Queen and Mother, be our comfort, hope, strength, and consolation. Amen.

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

Saint Bernadette, pray for us.

LITANY OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES

Lord have mercy; Lord have mercy.

Christ have mercy; Christ have mercy.

Lord have mercy; Lord have mercy.

 

Christ hear us; Christ graciously hear us.

 

God the Father of 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.

Holy Mother of God; Pray for us.

Mother of Christ; Pray for us.

Mother of our Savior; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Help of Christians; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Source of love; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Mother of the poor; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Mother of the handicapped; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Mother of orphans; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Mother of all children; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Mother of all nations; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Mother of the Church; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Friend of the lonely; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Comforter of those who mourn; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Shelter of the homeless; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Guide of travellers; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Strength of the weak; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Refuge of sinners; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Comforter of the suffering; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Help of the dying; Pray for us.

Queen of heaven; Pray for us.

Queen of peace; Pray for us.

 

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; Spare us O Lord.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; Graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; Have mercy on us.

 

Christ hear us; Christ graciously hear us.

 

Let us pray: Grant us, your servants, we pray you, Lord God, to enjoy perpetual health of mind and body. By the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, may we be delivered from present sorrows, and enjoy everlasting happiness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

CONCLUDING PRAYERS

Be blessed, O most pure Virgin, for having vouchsafed to manifest your shining with life, sweetness and beauty, in the Grotto of Lourdes, saying to the child, St. Bernadette: ‘I am the Immaculate Conception. ‘ A thousand times we congratulate you upon your Immaculate Conception. And now, O ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of mercy, Health of the sick, Refuge of sinners, Comforter of the afflicted, you know our wants, our troubles, our sufferings deign to cast upon us a look of mercy.

By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, whence you dispense your favours, and already many have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and physical. We come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession. Obtain for us, O loving Mother, the granting of our request (state your request) Through gratitude for your favours, we will endeavour to imitate your virtues, that we may one day share your glory.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your divine son while upon earth. You have the same influence now in Heaven. Pray for us; obtain for us from your Divine Son our special requests if it be the Divine Will. Amen.

O star of purity, Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Lourdes, glorious in your assumption, triumphant in your coronation, immaculate in your dignity, show unto us the mercy of thy Son. Virgin Mary, Queen and Mother, be our comfort, hope, strength, and consolation. Amen.

 

Blessing+

Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Our Lady of Lourdes, may the Lord bless + us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

N.B: FOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS NOVENA, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU PRAY THE HOLY ROSARY ALONGSIDE (AT LEAST 5 DECADES), HOWEVER, IT IS NOT COMPULSORY. IF YOU WANT THE BEST, THEN GO FOR IT…

👏🏼👏🏼 Great job praying Day 1! Click here for Day 2 Prayer👏🏼👏🏼

 

Shalom!
Compiled by Fr. Chinaka Justin Mbaeri, OSJ
Paroquia Nossa Senhora da Immaculada Conceição, Paulo Ramos, Maranhão, Brazil
nozickcjoe@gmail.com / fadacjay@gmail.com
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PS: Have you prayed your Rosary today?