# Day 2 of the novena of the Miraculous Medal
*2015-11-19*

> Bill Young reflects on the life of St. Agnes of Assisi and leads the second day of the novena to the Miraculous Medal.

## The Feast of St. Agnes of Assisi

Today is Thursday, November 19th, and it is the feast day of St. Agnes of Assisi. Agnes was the younger sister of St. Clare. When Agnes was 15, she wished to join her older sister in the monastery. Her family attempted to bring her back home by force, but they were unable to lift her; it was as if Agnes had become so heavy that it was impossible to move her. One of her uncles attempted to strike her, but he was suddenly paralyzed and could not do so.

Agnes eventually joined St. Clare, and together they spent their lives helping the poor. When St. Clare was on her deathbed, Agnes returned to her side. Three months after Clare passed away, Agnes joined her in heaven.

## Opening Prayers and the Apostles' Creed

We continue today with the Novena of the Miraculous Medal, which typically runs from November 18th to the 26th. We begin in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Oh God, come to my aid; oh 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, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell, and on the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again 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.

## Petitions for the Church and Clergy

Immaculate Virgin Mary, may you be blessed for having chosen the humble daughter of St. Catherine Labouré in order to manifest your motherly concern for humankind. Oh merciful advocate of ours, who in your first apparition designed to show yourself to be crying out over the miseries of your children and the disasters which were going to strike them—in particular the persecutions against the clergy and religious communities—and who promised your particular protection to those faithful to you, turn your eyes of mercy toward your people, tormented by the same miseries and threatened by the same calamities. Have mercy on us. Defend and sanctify the clergy, protect the Church, exalt its gracious head, and grant that by means of your medal, many of your children may be converted and saved.

## Seeking the Graces of the Miraculous Medal

Immaculate Virgin, our powerful Queen, you showed yourself to your servant with your hands full of brilliant rays which covered the earth, symbols of the graces which you shower upon your faithful. You said with sorrow that some rays did not come forth, representing those graces that we did not ask of you, which you desired to grant. Mother of mercy, not on our unworthiness, but through the love that you have for us, let your power shine upon us in all its splendor. Grant those graces which your goodness holds in reserve for those who ask with trust.

Immaculate Virgin, our sure refuge, may you always be praised because, by giving us your medal as a powerful shield against spiritual enemies and sure protection from every danger of the body, you taught us the petitions which we must present to you in order to move your heart to mercy. Look therefore upon us, prostrated at your feet, as we invoke you with the short prayer you brought to us from heaven, reminding you of the glorious privilege of the Immaculate Conception, by virtue of which we ask the graces for which we are in need.

## Intercession for the Afflicted and Victory over Evil

Immaculate Virgin, Comforter of the afflicted, may you always be blessed because you wanted to render your medal an instrument of the most marvelous acts of mercy in favor of all the afflicted, using it to convert sinners, to heal the sick, and to bring consolation to all kinds of misery. Do not allow, O merciful Mother, that the name for which your grateful people gave to your medal be ever said in vain, but rather pour your graces and miracles upon us and all the people whom we commend to you, so that your medal may be truly miraculous also for us.

O Mary, you wished to be shown in a triumphant act of crushing the head of the infidel serpent. In a devotion to your medal, you indicated to us a secret victory. Turn then, oh Mary, your eyes upon us, so that we may not be victims of our enemy, and having taken refuge under your protection, grant that your medal may be for us a successful shield and a powerful weapon in order to conquer the evil one. May we praise your Immaculate Conception forever.

*Through the intercession of the Miraculous Medal, we can find a powerful shield against spiritual enemies and a source of mercy for all our needs.*