# Pray for miracles: day 2
*2008-01-28*

> Bill Young shares a personal testimony of the power of prayer and leads the second day of a novena to Our Lady of Miracles.

## A testimony of faith

We all have our stories about miracles and prayer. Mine happened when my son was born. About four months into the pregnancy, my wife had to be on bed rest. We had lost our first child due to complications and heavy bleeding, and with our second child, we were facing the same problem. My wife and I started to pray the Rosary every night. About a week later, the bleeding stopped, she recovered completely, and she had a normal pregnancy. We had a healthy boy who is now 14 years old. I believe in miracles and the power of prayer because when we pray, we are giving ourselves to the Lord.

## Opening prayers

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. O God, come to my aid; O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

## Novena to Our Lady of Miracles

Our Lady of Miracles, my Mother Mary, you revealed yourself as being so good as to honor with your presence this place which you have chosen to be the center of devotion and pilgrimages and a source of graces and blessings. Grant that I too may enjoy these wonderful benefits and may obtain, in particular, that grace for which I pray to you this day with all my heart. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Our Lady of Miracles, my Mother Mary, you have chosen a simple and honest people to carry out your will, and thus teach me that humility is necessary to obtain your graces and favors. Grant that I, too, may render my heart simple and humble, and therefore obtain from you that grace for which I pray to you today. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Our Lady of Miracles, my Mother Mary, who accepted and rewarded the faith and love of our fathers who built this church for you, and you have shown yourself to be generous to them by granting every grace and benefit: look at my faith and my love for you, and show your endless generosity by granting me the grace for which I now pray to you. Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, O Mother of God, that we may be worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.

## A Lenten prayer

As we continue on our Lenten journey, I would like to offer this prayer: Dear Lord, as I make my Lenten journey with you, send me your Spirit. Help me to give of myself. Help me to turn away from sin, and help me to fast and pray so that I may know you better. Let me be renewed through my journey to share your grace with the world. Amen.

*When we pray, we give ourselves to the Lord and open our hearts to His miracles.*