# Day Seven of the Novena to Our Lady Help of Christians
*2015-05-21*

> Bill Young leads the seventh day of the novena to Our Lady Help of Christians, invoking St. Rita’s intercession for the sick and praying a series of traditional prayers.

## Opening and Intentions

Good morning, I’m Bill Young. Today is Friday, May 22, the feast day of St. Rita, patron of lost causes. We ask for her intercession for Dwayne’s speedy recovery, for his family and friends, and for all who are suffering.

## Novena Prayer to Our Lady Help of Christians

We continue with the seventh day of the novena to Our Lady Help of Christians, composed by St. John Bosco.

Praise be to God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

O Mary, Mother of Mercy, who so often saved Christians from plagues and bodily scourges by your powerful intercession, help them and deliver them now from the plague of impiety and irreligion, which insidiously attacks souls, keeping many from the Church and its sacraments. I humbly ask you to preserve the good, strengthen the weak, call the wayward and sinners to repentance, so that the truth and the Kingdom of Jesus Christ may triumph on earth, increasing your glory and that of your Son, and saving souls.

## Traditional Prayers

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

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 now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

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.

Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, our hope. To you we cry, O compassionate Mother, children of the faithful. Turn your merciful eyes toward us; after our exile, show us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O loving, sweet Virgin Mary, pray for us that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

## Scripture Reading

A short reading from Acts 1:12‑14: “Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem. On the day of Pentecost they all gathered together in one place—Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the brother of James—along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers—being of one mind, they devoted themselves to prayer.”

## Closing Prayer to Our Lady

O Mary, powerful Virgin, great and luminous defender of the Church, Help of Christians, you who have triumphed over heresies, protect us in our sorrows and conflicts, defend us from the enemy, and at the hour of our death welcome us into Paradise. Amen.

*May St. Rita’s intercession and Mary’s maternal care bring healing and peace to those in need.*