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.

Remember, O most illustrious Patriarch St. Joseph, on the testimony of St. Teresa, thy devoted client, never has it been heard that anyone who invoked thy protection or sought thy mediation has not obtained relief.  In this confidence I come before thee, my loving protector, chaste spouse of Mary, foster-father of the Savior of men and dispenser of the treasures of His Sacred Heart. Despise not my earnest prayer, but graciously hear and obtain my petition…. (Here mention your request)

Let us pray.

O God, Who by Thine ineffable Providence didst vouchsafe to choose St. Joseph to be the spouse of Thy most holy Mother, grant, we beseech Thee, that he whom we venerate as our protector on earth may be our intercessor in Heaven, Who livest and reignest forever and ever.  Amen.

Saint Anthony of Padua was a Portuguese Catholic priest who had an astounding gift of preaching. He was proclaimed Doctor of the Church after his death. He is the patron saint of barren women, pregnant women, travelers, elderly people and so on. His powerful intercession is invoked for finding lost articles and by those in danger of shipwreck. Saint Anthony’s Feast is celebrated on the 13th of June. Here is a Novena to Saint Anthony which is to be recited for nine days from June 4th to June 12th.

O Gracious Saint Anthony, We praise you for your great virtues and remarkable humility. With the help of Jesus, nothing is impossible with you. So, we know that sickness and death, perils and snares, evils and dangers disappear through your intercession. You find what is lost; you comfort the afflicted; and you help the worst of sinners to repent. There is nothing impossible for you, O dear Saint Antony. O faithful friend of Baby Jesus, please be our support, our patron, and our eternal benefactor. Procure all our needs, both material and spiritual, from Heavenly Father through your kind and powerful intercession, and more especially, the one that we beg of you now …… (specify your intention here).

O most loving and gentle saint, we will always proclaim your blessings with a grateful heart. We commend our body and soul, our whole self and all that we have to your care. It is never heard that you have disowned anyone; so protect us from all dangers. Help us to face life and its problems with serenity and to live a virtuous life without any taint of sin.

May you, be our stronghold, in our moments of temptation. Give us a loving and generous heart. Finally, we pray to you to give us the readiness of heart to share all the good that we receive with our poor and needy brothers and sisters. Amen.

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

St. Rita of Cascia was an Augustinian Nun who lived in Italy between 1386 and 1456. She greatly desired to be a nun but was married at the age of 12 to a wealthy, cruel and immoral man. St. Rita endured his insults and abuse for 18 years. She gave birth to two sons. St. Rita helped convert her husband to lead a pious life. When her husband was murdered, she tried in vain to dissuade her twin sons from attempting to take revenge; she appealed to Heaven to prevent such a crime on their part, and they were taken away by natural death, reconciled to God. She was a model wife and mother in every aspect. After the deaths of her husband and sons, St. Rita miraculously entered the monastery of Saint Mary Magdalene at Cascia when she was 36. St. Rita  is the Patroness of Impossible & Hopeless causes, Mothers and Abused Women. Many seek her intercession for marital problems, infertility and sickness. Her Feast Day is on May 22nd. Here is a Prayer to Saint Rita. The Novena begins on May 13th and ends on May 21st.

Glorious St. Rita, O holy patroness of those in need, your intercession with our Lord is most powerful. Through the favors obtained by your prayers, you have been called the Advocate of the Hopeless and even of the Impossible. St. Rita, humble and pure; patient and compassionate lover of Christ Crucified! We have confidence that everyone who has recourse to you, will find comfort and relief. Listen to our petitions and show your power with God on our behalf. Obtain our petitions for us, if they are for the greater glory of God, and for our good. We promise, if our petitions are granted, to make known your favor, and to glorify God for His gift. Relying on your merits and power before the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we ask of you (here mention your request)

Obtain for us our Request

by the singular merits of thy childhood,
by thy perfect union with the Divine Will,
by thy heroic sufferings during thy married life,
by the consolation thou didst experience at the conversion of thy husband,
by the sacrifice of thy children rather than see them grievously offend God,
by thy miraculous entrance into the convent,
by thy severe penances and thrice daily bloody scourgings,
by the suffering caused by the wound thou didst receive from the thorn of the Crucified Savior,
by the divine love which consumed thy heart,

by that remarkable devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, on which alone thou didst exist for four years,
by the happiness with which thou didst part from thy trials to join thy Divine Spouse,
by the perfect example thou gavest to people of every state of life.

Pray for us, O holy St. Rita, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us Pray

Heavenly Father! In Your infinite love and mercy, you heed the prayer of Your beloved servant, Saint Rita. You graciously grant favors through her intercession, which are considered impossible to human foresight, skill and efforts. Relying on her compassionate love, we ask You to assist us in our trials and difficulties. Let unbelievers know that you are recompense helper of the humble, the defense of the helpless, and the strength of those who trust in You. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

May 1st, 2011 was a blessed day in every way. It was the beginning of May, the month dedicated to Mother Mary. It was the Feast of St. Joseph the worker. It was Divine Mercy Sunday. And it was the day Pope John Paul II was beatified.

For those of you who missed watching the Beatification of Pope John Paul II, you can still watch it on the Vatican website. Click on Agenda and select May 1st from the Calendar.

Quick Facts about Blessed Pope John Paul II

• Born: Karol Joseph Wojtyla, May 18th, 1920
• Priestly Ordination: Nov 1st, 1946
• Elected Pope: Oct 16th, 1978
• Died April 2nd, 2005 (Divine Mercy Sunday)
• Beatified: May 1st, 2011

“Have no fear of moving into the unknown. Simply step out fearlessly knowing that I am with you, therefore no harm can befall you; all is very well. Do this in complete faith and confidence.” – Blessed Pope John Paul II

 ”I leave you now with this prayer: that the Lord Jesus will reveal Himself to each one of you, that He will give you the strength to go out and profess that you are Christian, that He will show you that He alone can fill your hearts. Accept His freedom and embrace His truth, and be messengers of the certainty that you have been truly liberated through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. This will be the new experience, the powerful experience, that will generate, through you, a more just society and a better world. God bless you and may the joy of Jesus be always with you!” – Address of His Holiness John Paul II to the Students of the Catholic University, Washington, Sunday, 7th October, 1979.

Here is a beautiful Prayer seeking the intercession of Blessed Pope John Paul II.

Oh Blessed Trinity, We thank you for having graced the Church with Pope John Paul II and for allowing the tenderness of your Fatherly care, the glory of the cross of Christ, and the splendor of the Holy Spirit, to shine through him.

Trusting fully in your infinite mercy and the maternal intercession of Mary, he has given us a living image of Jesus the Good Shepherd, and has shown us that holiness is the necessary measure of ordinary Christian life and is the way of achieving eternal communion with you.

Grant us by his intercession, and according to your will, the graces we implore, hoping that he will soon be numbered among your saints. Amen.