# Fourth day: novena to merciful love
*2016-02-05*

> Bill Young leads the fourth day of the Novena to Merciful Love, written by Venerable Mother Speranza of Jesus, focusing on the petition "Thy kingdom come."

## Opening prayers

Good afternoon. This is Bill Young, and welcome to the Prayer N Lunch podcast. We are continuing with the Novena to Merciful Love; today is the fourth day. We begin in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Oh God, come to my aid. Our Lord, make haste to help me. We pray the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Apostles' Creed.

## Introduction in prayer

My Jesus, my sorrow is great considering the disgrace I have had of offending you many times. And yet you, with the heart of a father, have not only forgiven me, but with your words—"ask and you shall receive"—you invite me to ask for what I need. 

Full of confidence, I turn to you, Merciful Love, so that it may grant me what I have prayed for in this novena, especially the grace to change my behavior from now on, to bear witness to my faith with my works while living according to your precepts, and to burn in the fire of your love.

## Meditation: Thy kingdom come

In this request, we ask that the kingdom of His grace and of the favor from heaven may come and reign within us—the kingdom of righteousness and the kingdom of glory where He reigns in perfect communion with the blessed. Therefore, we ask also for the end of the kingdom of sin, of the evil one, and of the darkness.

My Jesus, I turn to you in this time of tribulation. If you wish to show your clemency towards this poor creature, may your goodness triumph in your love and mercy and forgive my faults, even if I am unworthy of obtaining what I ask of you. Graciously hear and grant my desires, if they serve for your glory and for the good of my soul. I put myself into your hands. Do with me as you please.

## Personal intentions and closing

We ask for the grace which we desire to obtain through this novena. I pray for my son and my wife, that they may be closer to the Lord Jesus Christ, through the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lord, have mercy on me and do what your heart inspires you to do. Have mercy on me, my God, and free me from all that impedes me from coming close to you. Grant that at the hour of my death, my soul may not hear the terrible silence, but rather hear the voice that speaks the kind words: "Come, you whom my Father has blessed," so that my soul may rejoice in the sight of your face.

*We pray for the kingdom of grace and righteousness to reign within us and for the strength to bear witness to our faith through our works.*