# Pray for miracles: day 3
*2015-02-28*

> Bill Young leads a day of prayer focused on the intercession of the Holy Family and the Novena to Our Lady of Miracles during the Lenten season.

## Consecration to the Holy Family

Since March is dedicated to St. Joseph, we begin our prayer today with a consecration to Our Lady and St. Joseph. As God the Father, in His infinite wisdom and abundant love, entrusted you, Mary, and you, St. Joseph, to care for His only Son, Jesus Christ, while He lived here on earth, we—having become children of God through baptism—commend and consecrate ourselves to you with humble faith.

We ask that you look after us, our children, and our families with the same care and tenderness with which you looked after Jesus. Help us to know, love, and serve Jesus as you did. Protect us and defend us from all dangers and evil. Help our faith to grow, keep us faithful to our vocations and missions in the Church, and make us holy. At the end of this life, take us with you to paradise, where you already reign with Christ in eternal glory.

## The Novena to Our Lady of Miracles

We continue with day three of the Novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary of Miracles. We begin in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. We call upon the Lord to come to our aid and make haste to help us, offering glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever will be, world without end. We ground our prayer in the Apostles' Creed, affirming our belief in God the Father, Jesus Christ His only Son, and the Holy Spirit.

## Petitions for Grace and Humility

Our Lady of Miracles, Mother Mary, you revealed yourself as being so good as to honor us with your presence in this place, which you have chosen to be a center of devotion, pilgrimage, and a source of graces and blessings. Grant that I too may enjoy these wonderful benefits and obtain, in particular, that grace for which I pray to you this day with all my heart.

You have chosen simple and honest people to carry out your will, teaching us that humility is necessary to obtain graces and favors. Grant that I, too, may render my heart simple and humble, and therefore obtain from you the grace for which I pray today.

## Faith and Intercession

Our Lady of Miracles, you accepted and rewarded the faith and love of the fathers who built this church for you, showing yourself generous by granting every grace and benefit. Look upon my faith and my love for you, and show me your endless generosity by granting the grace for which I ask now.

We conclude this portion with the Hail Holy Queen, crying out to the Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. We turn to you, most gracious advocate, to turn your eyes of mercy toward us after our exile and show us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.

## A Lenten Prayer

As we continue our Lenten journey together, we pray: 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. 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.

*Through humility and faith in the intercession of the Holy Family and Our Lady of Miracles, we can find the grace needed to renew ourselves during Lent.*