# Novena to the Most Holy Name of Mary and Saint Gregory the Great
*2020-09-02*

> Bill Young leads the novena to the Most Holy Name of Mary and reflects on the feast of Saint Gregory the Great, sharing upcoming liturgical events and prayers.

## Opening Prayer and Novena

Good evening, I’m Bill Young. Let us begin with the novena to the Most Holy Name of Mary, prayed from September 3rd through September 11th. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 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. Amen.

We recite the Apostles’ Creed: 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; He ascended into heaven, and sits 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.

May the holy, sweet, and powerful name of Mary be a source of grace and happiness for us. 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 Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

## Prayer to the Holy Name of Mary

May the holy name of Mary be blessed forever; may the beloved and powerful name of Mary be praised, honored, and invoked always. Holy angels, grant that we may invoke this name at every need, especially at the hour of death.

Dear St. Anne, mother of our mother, may the sweet name of Mary always be on my lips. Hail Mary, full of grace…

O Mary, powerful Mother of God, though I am unworthy, grant that my tongue may always call upon your most holy name, for it is the help of the living and the salvation of the dying. May your name be the breath of my life, my refuge, my shield, my song, my prayer, and my tears, united with the name of Jesus, that peace may fill my heart and my lips.

When the moment of death approaches, may my last words be: “Jesus, Mary, I love you.” Jesus and Mary, I give you my heart and soul. Amen.

## Feast of Saint Gregory the Great

Today, September 3rd, we celebrate Saint Gregory the Great. He became pope at the age of fifty, a relatively young age for the papacy, and proved a capable shepherd, addressing both spiritual and civil matters with firm resolve. I have many fond memories of St. Gregory’s parish, St. David’s in Plantation, Florida, where we can attend confession before Mass and enjoy the 6 p.m. English Mass and the 7:30 p.m. Spanish Mass.

My son is named Gregory, and I pray that he may grow in greatness, following the example of this holy pope.

## Upcoming Liturgical Events

Tomorrow is Good Friday. We will attend the 8 a.m. Mass at St. David’s, followed by an hour of Eucharistic adoration. At noon we will join the Legion of Mary online, and at 3 p.m. we will hold a live Zoom chaplet of the Divine Mercy. Please feel invited to join.

Remember that tomorrow is also First Friday; if possible, attend Mass and spend time in adoration. On Saturday we will record the third episode of Catholic Conscience 2.0 with co‑host John O’Rourke, discussing recent Church news.

Let us also pray for our nation’s leaders—President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and all our political leaders—asking that they may be guided by the Holy Spirit.

*May the holy name of Mary and the intercession of Saint Gregory the Great accompany us in prayer and in the challenges of daily life.*