The Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a solemnity in the Roman Catholic  Church and is celebrated nineteen days after Pentecost. Since Pentecost is always celebrated on Sunday, Feast of the Sacred Heart will be on a Friday. The Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is on June 15th, 2012. The Alliance of the Heart of Jesus and Mary is based on the joint devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is celebrated on the Saturday after the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It falls on June 16th, 2012. In preparation for these two Feasts, here is a Novena Prayer to the Two Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Let us recite this Novena from June 6th – June 14th.

Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary (Image Source : http://stbrigidsacademy.blogspot.com/)

O Heart of Jesus pierced for our sins and giving us your Mother on Calvary! O Heart of Mary pierced by sorrow and sharing in the sufferings of your divine Son for our redemption! O sacred union of these Two Hearts! Praised be the God of Love who united them together!

May we unite our hearts and every heart so that all hearts may live in unity in imitation of that sacred unity which exists in these Two Hearts. Triumph, O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary! Reign, O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus! – in our hearts, in our homes and families, in the hearts of those who as yet do not know you, and in all nations of the world. Establish in the hearts of all mankind the sovereign triumph and reign of your Two Hearts so that the earth may resound from pole to pole with one cry: Blessed forever be the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary!

Obtain for me a greater purity of heart and a fervent love of the spiritual life. May all my actions be done for the greater glory of God in unions with the divine heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Hear and answer our prayers and intentions (mention your petition) according to your most merciful will. Amen.

It is said that this prayer was found in the fiftieth year or Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  In 1505 it was sent from the Pope to Emperor Charles when he was going into battle.  Whoever shall read this prayer, or hear it or keep it about themselves shall never die a sudden death, or be drowned, nor shall poison take effect of them; neither shall they fall into the hands of the enemy, or shall be burned in any fire or shall be overpowered in battle. Let us recite this prayer as a Novena for nine days in preparation of the Feast of St. Joseph on March 19th.

Oh St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the Throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires. (Mention your Petition)

Oh St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your Heavenly power, I may offer my Thanksgiving and Homage to the most Loving of Fathers.

Oh St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me, and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath.

St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for us.
Amen

In preparation for the Feast of St. Joseph on March 19th, here is a Prayer to St. Joseph. When our day-to-day duties and responsibilities tire us and make us weary, let us look to our loving father St. Joseph for inspiration and encouragement.

Loving St. Joseph, may your holy life be an inspiration to me when I find it difficult to be faithful in the fulfillment of my duties.

You are now glorified with Jesus and Mary and are a powerful intercessor at the throne of God.

Blessed foster-father of Jesus, extend to me the same tender care with which you protected Jesus and Mary that I may walk securely in the path of salvation.

Obtain for me strong faith, ardent love and zeal in doing good.

With Jesus and Mary, help me at the hour of my death so that I may partake of the complete redemption of the children of God and eternally praise the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska was a Polish nun, mystic and visionary. She is known as the Apostle of Divine Mercy as she is the cause for the Divine Mercy devotion. The devotion includes prayers like the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Novena to the Divine Mercy. Divine Mercy Sunday is celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. St. Faustina is the first saint of the 21st Century. She was canonized by Pope John Paul II in April 2000. Her Feast is celebrated on October 5th. She is the Patron Saint of Mercy.

O Jesus, who filled your handmaid Saint Faustina with profound veneration for your boundless Mercy, deign, if it be your Holy Will, to grant me, through her intercession, the grace for which I fervently pray (here make your request).

My sins render me unworthy of Your Mercy, but be mindful of Saint Faustina’s spirit of sacrifice and self-denial, and reward her virtue by granting the petition, which, with childlike confidence, I present to You through her intercession. Amen.

The St. Andrew Christmas Novena, also known as Christmas Anticipation Novena is prayed 15 times a day for 25 days beginning on the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle (Nov 30th) until the Eve of Christmas (Dec 24th). It is piously believed that whoever recites this novena prayer 15 times a day for 25 days will obtain what is asked. The novena is not addressed to Saint Andrew but to God Himself, asking Him to grant our request in the honor of the birth of His Son at Christmas.

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold.
In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayers and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.

Imprimatur – Michael Augustine, Archbishop of New York – Feb 6, 1897.

Saint Therese of Lisieux (Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face), more popularly known as “The Little Flower of Jesus” is a Roman Catholic Saint and Carmelite nun who lived in France in the 19th century. She died at the tender age of 24. The world came to know St. Therese through her autobiography “Story of a Soul“. She is one of the greatest saints of modern times. She is a Doctor of the Church. Her feast is celebrated on October 1st. She is the Patron Saint of Missionaries, florists, people suffering from tuberculosis and so on.

This is a very popular Prayer to St. Therese. This prayer can be used as a Daily Prayer or as a Nine-Hour Novena or as a Nine Day Novena to St. Therese.

St. Therese, the Little Flower,
please pick me a rose from the
heavenly garden and send it to me
with a message of love.
Ask God to grant me the favor I thee implore
and tell Him I will love Him
each day more and more.

(Mention petitions here)

The above prayer is usually followed by 5 Our Father’s, 5 Hail Mary’s and 5 Glory Be’s.

• Our Father – 5
• Hail Mary – 5
  
• Glory be to the Father – 5

Saint Martin de Porres is a Roman Catholic Saint who lived between 1579-1639. He was a lay brother of the Dominican friary at Lima. He was well known for his humility and charity as well miraculous cures. He was kind and compassionate to the poor and the sick. He treated people without regards to their race, color or status. He is the Patron Saint of African-Americans, mixed-race people, poor people, Peru, social justice, hair-stylists and so on. His Feast is celebrated on November 3rd. St. Martin was a close friend of St. Rose of Lima.

O Saint Martin, teach us to be generous with the gifts that God has given us. Make us sympathetic towards those who are suffering and afflicted. Pray to Our Redeemer and to Our Lady of Mercy that our hearts may not be hardened by sin and selfishness, but that we may always be kind and generous to our neighbors because they are the children of Our Heavenly Father. Amen.

Saint Gerard Majella is the Patron & Protector of Expectant Mothers. The Feast of Saint Gerard is celebrated on October 16. Here is a prayer to St. Gerard which can be used by expectant mothers for a healthy & safe delivery.

O great Saint Gerard, beloved servant of Jesus Christ, perfect imitator of thy meek and humble Savior, and devoted child of the Mother of God, enkindle within my heart one spark of that heavenly fire of charity which glowed in thee and made thee a seraph of love.

O glorious Saint Gerard, because when falsely accused of crime, thou didst bear, like thy Divine Master, without murmur or complaint, the calumnies of wicked men, thou hast been raised up by God as the patron and protector of expectant mothers. Preserve me from danger and from the excessive pains accompanying childbirth, and shield the child which I now carry, that it may see the light of day and receive the lustrial waters of baptism, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Recite Nine Hail Marys.

Saint Anthony of Padua was born on August 15th. I have a special devotion to St. Anthony, the miracle worker. Here is a powerful prayer to St. Anthony. You can recite this prayer as a Novena for 9 days for any special intention. I love this miraculous prayer so much.

O Holy St. Anthony, gentlest of Saints, your love for God and Charity for His creatures, made you worthy, when on earth, to possess miraculous powers. Miracles waited on your word, which you were ever ready to speak for those in trouble or anxiety. Encouraged by this thought, I implore of you to obtain for me (mention your request). The answer to my prayer may require a miracle, even so, you are the Saint of Miracles. O gentle and loving St. Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the ears of the Sweet Infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms, and the gratitude of my heart will ever be yours. Amen.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary, in her role as patroness of the Carmelite Order. The Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (also known as the Brown Scapular), is the habit/garment of that Order. The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Simon Stock holding the scapular in her hand. The earliest form of the Scapular promise states simply that wearers of the brown scapular, the Carmelite habit, will be saved. The scapular must consist of two pieces of brown cloth with one segment hanging on the wearer’s chest, and the other hanging on his/her back. These pieces are joined by two straps or strings which overlap each shoulder. It is a sign of belonging to Mary and a pledge of her motherly protection in this life and afterwards. The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is celebrated on July 16th.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Queen of Carmel, Mother of God and of poor sinners; special protectress of all who wear the holy Scapular, I ask thee to obtain for me the pardon of my sins, amendment of my life, salvation of my soul, comfort in my suffering, and particularly, the grace I now ask: (mention your request).

1. Our Father
2. Hail Mary
3. Glory be to the Father

Novena Prayer composed by St. Simon Stock

O most beautiful Flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein you are my Mother.

O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart, to succor me in this my necessity, there are none that can withstand your power. O show me herein you are my Mother.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us that have recourse to thee. (3 times)

Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands. (3 times) Amen.