Perpetual Novena in Honor of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

 Holy Mother Church celebrates the traditional feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal on November 27.  Mary appeared to St. Catherine Laboure on November 27, 1830, requesting that the young nun get a medal made and distributed from the image that also appeared to St. Catherine.  After much difficulty St. Catherine successfully fulfilled our Lady's request, and thus the Miraculous Medal became known, with Our Lady's words in remembrance:  "Persons who wear it will receive great graces especially if they wear it around the neck."

In 1927 the following novena was created by the Vincentian Order as a way to thank Mary for her great intercession in their needs.  It was written by combining prayers from the Raccolta, the Memorare, the Miraculous Medal prayer, and one of St. Alphonsus Liguori's prayers.  Originally it was written to be prayed before the Marian feast days of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Our Lady of Lourdes, our Lady, Help of Christians, and the Assumption.  The novena spread quickly, and in 1930 Vincentian Fr. Skelly extended the novena to become a perpetual novena to our Lady, with it being recited (with the additional prayers below) every Monday of the year to shower our Lady with our love.  This perpetual novena has continued unbroken for 90 years.

This year on the feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal let us honor our dear Mother with prayer and words of thanksgiving.  While we wear the Miraculous Medal, given to us by Mary herself, near our hearts, let us remember to truly give Mary our hearts, to turn from the world and strive to imitate her in serving and worshiping our Lord.

Perpetual Novena in Honor of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

[All stand and sing] "The Lourdes Hymn"

Opening Prayer:

Priest: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. 

People: Amen.

Priest: Come, O Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy love. Send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created. 

People: And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth. 

Priest: Let us pray. O God Who didst instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Ghost, grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise and ever to rejoice in His consolation, through Jesus Christ Our Lord. 

People: Amen.

Priest: O Mary, conceived without sin, 

People: Pray for us who have recourse to Thee. [3 times] 

Priest and People: O Lord Jesus Christ, Who hast vouchsafed to glorify by numberless miracles/ the Blessed Virgin Mary,/ immaculate from the first moment of Her conception,/ grant that all who devoutly implore Her protection on earth,/ may eternally enjoy Thy presence in Heaven,/ Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost,/ livest and reignest, God, forever and ever. Amen. O Lord Jesus Christ,/ Who for the accomplishment of Thy greatest works,/ hast chosen the weak things of the world,/ that no flesh may glory in Thy sight,/ and Who for a better and more widely diffused belief/ in the Immaculate Conception of Thy Mother,/ hast wished that the Miraculous Medal/ be manifested to Saint Catherine Laboure,/ grant, we beseech Thee,/ that filled with like humility,/ we may glorify this mystery by word and work. Amen.     Recite Memorare. 

Priest and People: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,/ that never was it known/ that anyone who fled to Thy protection,/ implored Thy help,/ or sought Thy intercession,/ was left unaided./ Inspired by this confidence,/ we fly unto Thee,/ O Virgin of Virgins, our Mother./ To Thee do we come;/ before Thee we kneel/ sinful and sorrowful./ O Mother of the Word Incarnate,/ despise not our petitions,/ but in Thy mercy hear and answer them. Amen. 

 

Novena Prayer: 

Priest and People: O Immaculate Virgin Mary,/ Mother of Our Lord Jesus and our Mother,/ penetrated with the most lively confidence/ in Thy all-powerful and never-failing intercession,/ manifested so often through the Miraculous Medal,/ we Thy loving and trustful children/ implore Thee to obtain for us/ the graces and favors we ask during this Novena,/ if they be beneficial to our immortal souls,/ and the souls for whom we pray./ [Here privately form your petitions.] Thou knowest, O Mary,/ how often our souls have been the sanctuaries of Thy Son! Who hates iniquity./ Obtain for us then/ a deep hatred of sin/ and that purity of heart/ which will attach us to God alone/ so that our every thought, word and deed! may tend to His greater glory./ Obtain for us also/ a spirit of prayer and self-denial/ that we may recover by penance/ what we have lost by sin/ and at length attain to that blessed abode/ where Thou art the Queen of Angels and of men. Amen. 

An Act of Consecration to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

Priest and People: O Virgin Mother of God,/ Mary Immaculate,/ we dedicate and consecrate ourselves to Thee/ under the title of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal./ May this Medal be for each one of us/ a sure sign of Thy affection for us/ and a constant reminder of our duties towards Thee./ Ever while wearing it,/ may we be blessed by Thy loving protection/ and preserved in the grace of Thy Son./ O most powerful Virgin,/ Mother of our Savior,/ keep us close to Thee/ every moment of our lives./ Obtain for us, Thy children,/ the grace of a happy death;/ so that in union with Thee,/ we may enjoy the bliss of Heaven forever. Amen. 

Priest: O Mary, conceived without sin, 

People: Pray for us who have recourse to Thee. [3 times] 

All stand and sing: "Hail, Holy Queen."

God bless!

+JMJ+