Stations of the Cross by Saint Alphonsus Ligouri

THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS COMPOSED BY SAINT ALPHONSUS LIGUORI

The devotion arose first in Jerusalem among the Christians who dwelt there out of veneration for those sacred spots which were sanctified by the suffering of our Divine Redeemer. From the Holy City this devout exercise was introduced into Europe. When, in 1342, the Franciscan Fathers established their house in Jerusalem, and undertook the custody of the sacred places of the Holy Land, they began to spread, throughout the Catholic world, the devotion of the Way of the Cross. This excellent devotion has been repeatedly approved by the Holy See, and is enriched with many Indulgences. To gain them, it is necessary to meditate, according to one’s ability, on the Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to go from one Station to another, as the space and number of persons will admit.

PREPARATION
Let each one, kneeling before the High Altar, make an Act of Contrition and form the intention of gaining the Indulgences whether for themselves or for the souls in Purgatory.

ACT OF CONTRITION

O my God,
I am heartily sorry for
having offended Thee,
and I detest all my sins,
because I dread the loss of heaven,
and the pains of hell;
but most of all because
they offend Thee, my God,
Who are all good and
deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve,
with the help of Thy grace,
to confess my sins,
to do penance,
and to amend my life.
Amen.

My Lord Jesus Christ, You have made this journey to die for me with love unutterable, and I have so many times unworthily abandoned You, but now I love You with my whole heart, and because I love You, I repent sincerely for ever having offended You. Pardon me, my God, and permit me to accompany You on this journey. You go to die for love of me; I wish also, my beloved Redeemer, to die for love of You. My Jesus, I will live and die always united to You. 

Stabat Mater (At the Cross Her Station Keeping) 
Hymn: 

At the Cross her station keeping, 
Stood the mournful Mother weeping, 
Close to Jesus to the last.

THE FIRST STATION 

JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH

Pilate said to them, “Then what am I to do with Jesus, the so-called Messiah?” “Crucify him”, they all cried. He said, “Why, what has He committed?” But they only shouted the louder, “Crucify Him!” At that, he released Barabbas to them. Jesus, however, he first had scourged; then he handed Him over to be crucified. Mt 27:22-23, 26

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. 

R: Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world. 

Priest: Consider how Jesus, after having been scourged and crowned with thorns, was unjustly condemned by Pilate to die on the Cross. 

People : My adorable Jesus, it was not Pilate, it was my sins that condemned You to die. I beseech You, by the merits of this sorrowful journey, to assist my soul in its journey towards eternity. I love You, my beloved Jesus; I repent with my whole heart for having offended You. Never permit me to separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will. 

OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE 

Hymn :  

Through her heart, His sorrow sharing, 
All His bitter anguish bearing, 
Now at length the sword had passed! 

THE SECOND STATION 

JESUS CARRIES HIS CROSS

Afterward they took hold of the reed and kept striking Him on the head. Finally, when they had finished making a fool of Him, they stripped Him of the cloak, dressed Him in His own clothes, and led Him off to crucifixion. Mt 27:30-31

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. 

R: Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world. 

Priest : Consider how Jesus, in making this journey with the cross on His shoulders thought of us, and for us offered to His Father the death He was about to undergo. 

People : My most beloved Jesus, I embrace all the tribulations You have destined for me until death. I beseech You, by the merits of the pain You did suffer in carrying Your Cross, to give me the necessary help to carry mine with perfect patience and resignation. I love You, Jesus my love; I repent for having offended You. Never permit me to separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will. 

OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE

Hymn: 

O how sad and sore distressed, 
 Was that Mother highly blessed 
Of the sole-begotten One.

THE THIRD STATION 

JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME

Yet it was our infirmities that He bore, our sufferings that He endured, while we thought of Him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted. But He was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins; upon Him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by His stripes we here healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; But the Lord laid upon Him the guilt of us all. Is 53:4-6

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. 

R: Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world. 

Priest :  Consider this first fall of Jesus under His Cross. His flesh was torn by the scourges; His head crowned with thorns, and He had lost a great quantity of blood. He was so weakened that He could scarcely walk, and yet He had to carry this great load upon His shoulders. The soldiers struck Him rudely, and thus He fell several times in His journey. 

People : My most beloved Jesus, it is not the weight of the Cross, but my sins, which have made You suffer so much pain. Ah, by the merits of this first fall, deliver me from the misfortune of falling into mortal sin. I love You, O my Jesus, with my whole heart; I repent for having offended You. Never permit me to separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will. 

OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE 

Hymn:

 Christ above in torment hangs, 
She beneath behold the pangs 
Of her dying, glorious Son. 

THE FOURTH STATION 

JESUS MEETS HIS SORROWFUL MOTHER

Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother: “This child is destined to be the downfall and the rise of many in Israel, a sign that will be opposed, and you yourself shall be pierced with a sword, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be laid bare”… His mother meanwhile pondered all these things in her heart. Lk 2:34-35, 51

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. 

R: Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world. 

Priest :  Consider the meeting of the Son and the Mother, which took place on the journey. Jesus and Mary looked at each other, and their looks became as so many arrows to wound those hearts which loved each other so tenderly. 

People : My most loving Jesus, by the sorrow You experienced in this meeting, grant me the grace of a truly devoted love for Your Most Holy Mother. And you, my Queen, who was overwhelmed with sorrow, obtain for me by your intercession a continual and tender remembrance of the Passion of your Son. I love You, Jesus my love; I repent for having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will. 

OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE 

Hymn: 

Is there one who would not weep, 
Whelmed in miseries so deep, 
Christ’s dear Mother to behold?

THE FIFTH STATION 

SIMON HELPS JESUS TO CARRY THE CROSS

As they led Him away, they laid hold of one Simon the Cyrenian who was coming in from the fields. They put a crossbeam on Simon’s shoulder for him to carry along behind Jesus. A great crowd of people followed Him, including women who beat their breasts and lamented over Him. Lk 23:26-27

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. 

R: Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world. 

Priest :  Consider how the Jews, seeing that each step Jesus took was weakening Him to the point of expiring, and fearing that He would die on the way, when they wished Him to die the ignominious death of the Cross, constrained Simon the Cyrenian to carry the Cross behind our Lord. 

People : My most sweet Jesus, I will not refuse the Cross, as the Cyrenian did; I accept it; I embrace it. I accept in particular the death You have destined for me; with all the pains that may accompany it; I unite it to Your death, I offer it to You. You have died for love of me; I will die for love of You, and to please You. Help me by Your grace. I love You, Jesus my love; I repent for having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will. 

OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE 

Hymn:

 Can the human heart refrain 
From partaking in her pain 
In that Mother’s pain untold?

THE SIXTH STATION 

VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS

There was in Him no stately bearing to make us look at Him, nor appearance that would attract us to Him. He was spurned and avoided by men, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, One of those from whom men hide their faces. Is 53:2-3

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. 

R: Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world. 

Priest: Consider how the holy woman named Veronica, seeing Jesus so afflicted, and His face bathed in sweat and blood, presented Him with a towel, with which He wiped His adorable face, leaving on it the impression of His holy countenance. 

People : My most beloved Jesus, Your face was beautiful before, but in this journey it has lost all its beauty, and wounds and blood have disfigured it. Alas, my soul also was once beautiful, when it received Your grace in Baptism, but I have disfigured it since by my sins. You alone, my Redeemer, can restore it to its former beauty. Do this by Your Passion, O Jesus. I repent for having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will. 

OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE 

Hymn: 

 Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled, 
She beheld her tender Child, 
All with bloody scourges rent.

THE SEVENTH STATION 

JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME

I am a man who knows affliction from the rod of his anger, one whom he has led and forced to walk in darkness, not in the light... He has blocked My ways with fitted stones, and turned My paths aside… He has broken My teeth with gravel, pressed My face in the dust. Lam 3:1-2, 9, 16

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. 

R: Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world. 

Priest: Consider the second fall of Jesus under the Cross, a fall which renews the pain of all the wounds of the head and members of our afflicted Lord. 

People : My most gentle Jesus, how many times You have pardoned me, and how many times have I fallen again, and begun again to offend You. Oh, by the merits of this new fall, give me the necessary help to persevere in Your grace until death. Grant that in all temptations which assail me I may always commend myself to You. I love You, Jesus my love; I repent for having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will. 

OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE 

Hymn: 

For the sins of His own nation 
Saw Him hang in desolation 
Till His spirit forth He sent.

THE EIGHTH STATION 

THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM WEEP OVER JESUS 

Jesus turned to them and said: Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me. Weep for yourselves and for your children. The days are coming when they will say, ‘Happy are the sterile, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed’. Then they will begin saying to the mountains, ‘Fall on us’, and to the hills, ‘Cover us’. If they do these things in the green wood, what will happen in the dry? Lk 23:28-31

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. 

R: Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world. 

Priest :  Consider how those women wept with compassion at seeing Jesus in such a pitiable state, streaming with blood, as He walked along. But Jesus said to them: “Weep not for Me, but for your children”. 

People : My Jesus, laden with sorrows, I weep for the offenses I have committed against You, because of the pains they have deserved, and still more because of the displeasure they have caused You, who have loved me so much. It is Your love, more than the fear of hell, which causes me to weep for my sins. My Jesus, I love You more than myself; I repent for having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will. 

OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE 

Hymn: 
O thou Mother! Font of love, 
Touch my spirit from above, 
Make my heart with yours accord.

THE NINTH STATION 

JESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME 

It is for a man to bear the yoke from his youth, Let him sit alone and in silence when it is laid upon him. Let him put his mouth to the dust; there may yet be hope. Let him offer his cheek to be struck, let him be filled with disgrace. For the Lord’s rejection does not last forever; Though He punishes, He takes pity, in the abundance of His mercies. Lam 3:27-32

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. 

R: Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world. 

Priest:  Consider the third fall of Jesus Christ. His weakness was extreme, and the cruelty of His executioners was excessive, who tried to hasten His steps when He had scarcely strength to move. 

People : Ah, my outraged Jesus, by the merits of the weakness You did suffer in going to Calvary, give me strength sufficient to conquer all human respect, and all my wicked passions, which have led me to despise Your friendship. I love You, Jesus my love, with my whole heart; I repent for having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will. 

OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE 

Hymn: 

 Make me feel as You have felt; 
Make my soul to glow and melt 
 With the love of Christ my Lord.

THE TENTH STATION 

JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS 

Upon arriving at a site called Golgotha, a name which means Skull Place, they gave Him a drink of wine flavored with gall, which He tasted but refused to drink. When they had crucified Him, they divided His clothes among them by casting lots; then they sat down there and kept watch over Him. Mt 27:33-36

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. 

R: Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world. 

Priest :  Consider the violence with which the executioners stripped Jesus. His inner garments adhered to His torn flesh, and they dragged them off so roughly that the skin came with them. Comfort your Savior that was cruelly treated, and say to Him: 

People : My innocent Jesus, by the merits of the torment You felt, help me to strip myself of all affection to things of earth, in order that I may place all my love in You, who are so worthy of my love. I love You, O Jesus, with my whole heart; I repent for having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will. 

OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE 

Hymn:

Holy Mother! Pierce me through, 
In my heart each wound renew 
Of my Savior crucified.

THE ELEVENTH STATION 

JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS 

It was about nine in the morning when they crucified Him. The inscription proclaiming His offenses read: “The King of the Jews.” With Him they crucified two insurgents, one at His right and one at His left. Mk 15:25-27

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. 

R: Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world. 

Priest: Consider how Jesus, after being thrown on the Cross, extended His hands and offered to His Eternal Father the sacrifice of His death for our salvation. These barbarians fastened Him with nails, and then, raising the Cross, allowed Him to die with anguish on this infamous gibbet. 

People : My Jesus! Loaded with contempt, nail my heart to Your feet, that it may ever remain there, to love You, and never quit You again. I love You more than myself; I repent for having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will. 

OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE 

Hymn:

Let me share with you His pain, 
Who for all my sins was slain, 
Who for me in torment died.

THE TWELFTH STATION 

JESUS IS RAISED UPON THE CROSS AND DIES 

From noon onward, there was darkness over the whole land until midafternoon. Then toward midafternoon Jesus cried out in a loud tone, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” That is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” This made some of the bystanders who heard it remark, “He is invoking Elijah!” Once again Jesus cried out in a loud voice, and then gave up His spirit.
Mt 27:45-47, 50

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. 

R: Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world. 

Priest: Consider how Jesus, after three hours of Agony on the Cross, consumed at length with anguish, abandons Himself to the weight of His body, bows His head, and dies. 

People : O my dying Jesus, I kiss devoutly the Cross on which You died for love of me. I have merited by my sins to die a miserable death; but Your death is my hope. Ah, by the merits of Your death, give me grace to die, embracing Your feet, and burning with love for You. I yield my soul into Your hands. I love You with my whole heart; I repent for ever having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will. 

OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE 

Hymn:

 Let me mingle tears with Thee, 
Mourning Him who mourned for me, 
All the days that I may live.

THE THIRTEENTH STATION 

JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS 

The centurion and his men who were keeping watch over Jesus were terror-stricken at seeing the earthquake and all that was happening, and said; “Clearly this was the Son of God!” Many women were present looking on from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to attend to His needs. Mt 27:54-55

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. 

R: Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world. 

Priest: Consider how, after the death of our Lord, two of His disciples, Joseph and Nicodemus, took Him down from the cross, and placed Him in the arms of His afflicted Mother, who received Him with unutterable tenderness, and pressed Him to her bosom. 

People : O Mother of sorrow, for the love of your Son, accept me as your servant, and pray to Him for me. And You, my Redeemer, since You have died for me, permit me to love You; for I wish for You, and nothing more. I love You, my Jesus, and I repent for ever having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will. 

OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE 

Hymn: 

By the cross with You to stay; 
There with You to weep and pray, 
Is all I ask of You to give.

THE FOURTEENTH STATION 

JESUS IS LAID IN THE SEPULCHER 

When evening fell, a wealthy man from Arimathea arrived, Joseph by name. He was another of Jesus’ disciples, and had gone to request the body of Jesus. There upon Pilate issued an order for its release. Taking the body, Joseph wrapped it in fresh linen and laid it in his own new tomb which had been hewn from a formation of rock. Then he rolled a huge stone across the entrance of the tomb and went away. Mt 27:57-60

V: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. 

R: Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world. 

Priest: Consider how the disciples carried the body of Jesus to bury it, accompanied by His holy Mother, who arranged it in the sepulcher with her own hands. They then closed the tomb, and all withdrew. 

People : Oh, my buried Jesus, I kiss the stone that enclosed You. But You rose again on the third day. I beseech You, by Your resurrection, make me rise gloriously with You on the last day, to be always united with You in heaven, to praise You and love You forever. I love You, and I repent for ever having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will. 

OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE 

Hymn:

Virgin of all Virgins best! 
Listen to my fond request; 
Let me share your grief divine.

PRAYER TO JESUS CRUCIFIED 

Behold, O kind and most sweet Jesus, I cast myself upon my knees in Your sight, and with the most fervent desire of my soul, I pray and beseech You that You would impress upon my heart lively sentiments of Faith, Hope and Charity, with true contrition for my sins and a firm purpose of amendment; while with deep affection and grief of soul, I ponder within myself and mentally contemplate Your five wounds, having before my eyes the words which David the prophet put on Your lips concerning You: “They have pierced My hands and My feet, they have numbered all My bones.”

OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY

Source: http://www.fatherpeffley.org/docs/StationsBook2011.pdf

St. Cajetan Novena

Cajetan was born in 1480 in Vincenza, Italy. At the University of Padua, he was an outstanding student in theology and law. Cajetan became a priest and could have had a successful career in the Curia as an advisor to the pope. Instead, he chose to serve those who were poor or the sick. Other men wanted to help him in his work, so he began a religious order called the Theatines. Cajetan trained his priests in the study of the Bible, in the faith, and in restoring prayerful worship in the parishes. His followers always looked after people who needed help in the cities.

In 1527, an army attacked Rome. Cajetan was treated cruelly because he did not have the riches the soldiers were looking for. He escaped to Venice, where he recovered his health. It was there that he began a monte de pieta (a “mountain of compassion”). This name was given to an organization that loaned money to people in need in return for pawned objects. Cajetan developed this plan to help people avoid going to men who charged enormous interest. His plan was the first of what has come to be known as parish credit unions.

St. Cajetan often prayed eight hours daily. While attending the Christmas celebration at St. Mary of the Crib, he is said to have been given the grace of receiving from Mary the Child Jesus into his arms.

His concern for the unemployed, giving them the necessary financial help in their time of need, made him their patron. He died in Naples in 1547. His feast is celebrated on August 7.

Prayer:

Daily Prayer


O glorious St. Cajetan, you studied to be a lawyer, but when you felt that the Lord was calling you to his service, you abandoned everything and became a priest. You excelled in virtues, shunning all material rewards for your labor, helping the many unemployed people of your time. You provided loans without interest and you attracted a lot of benefactors who donated to your resources so that you could go on with your activities. Look on us with mercy. We wish to find employment that could help us and our families live with dignity. Listen to our petitions, dear saint; you, who could easily give up the food on your table for the needy, bring our petitions to Jesus (here make your request). Amen.



First Day


You were a model of virtue among the priests of your time, O St. Cajetan. You sought not to receive payments from your ministry, and you taught people how to pray the rosary and develop devotions to saints. You were truly a spiritual shepherd, and your concern was always focused on the salvation of souls. But despite this, you were also aware that with hungry stomachs, the faithful would have difficulty in understanding God’s Word. You embarked to help them, not just by giving them bread but helping them gain their living by work. Look on us with pity, O glorious saint. We have many unemployed people in our midst and their families go hungry. We ask you to guide the fathers and mothers who are looking for work. Amen.


Daily Prayer
(3) Our Father, (3) Hail Mary, (3) Glory Be
(3) St. Cajetan, pray for us.


Second Day

Despite your busy schedule, dear saint, you spent eight hours a day in prayer. Your happiness consists in being united with Jesus, to savor his presence in the Eucharist. Guide us to be like you by giving priority to prayer in our life. Enable us to savor Jesus’ presence and help us become contemplatives like you. Inspire us to understand that prayer is not just asking Jesus for our needs, but being with him, delighting in his presence. We ask you, dear saint, to lead us in this direction that we may learn to delight in Jesus’ presence. Amen.


Daily Prayer
(3) Our Father, (3) Hail Mary, (3) Glory Be
(3) St. Cajetan, pray for us.



Third Day

Since your death, dear St. Cajetan, the unemployed people of the world had sought your intercession. Work is the key to a happy life. Look with pity on the millions of people in our country who wake up each morning without certainty of finding food because they don’t have work. These people become victims of desperation and some even resort to crimes to survive. Help our government leaders formulate policies that will bring about employment. You who established a bank for the needy inspire our leaders to extend loans for the poor so that they may provide for the needs of their families. Amen.


Daily Prayer
(3) Our Father, (3) Hail Mary, (3) Glory Be
(3) St. Cajetan, pray for us.


Fourth Day

O glorious St. Cajetan, like the society where you lived, we are also beset by the same economic set up where the poor are becoming poorer and the rich, richer. You fasted so that the money you saved could be used to buy food for the poor, you did not accept any payment for your ministries because you wanted people to help the needy. You lived very frugally because you wanted to teach the rich about the need to share. Look with pity on our society where resources are wasted in buying useless goods, while the poor and the needy among us have not received the basic necessities. Inspire us to share that nobody among us would go hungry, and that everybody may live with dignity. Amen.


Daily Prayer
(3) Our Father, (3) Hail Mary, (3) Glory Be
(3) St. Cajetan, pray for us.


Fifth Day

O glorious St. Cajetan, you spent long hours helping the sick and worked yourself to exhaustion in helping victims of plagues which were frequent in your time. You cared for the sick not just to heal them, but to guide them to a happy death. You wanted their souls, not their bodies. Help us to understand that we have to prepare ourselves to a happy death. May we likewise see that the most terrible sickness is our sinfulness, and we always have to examine ourselves for the sins we commit daily. Inspire us to have repentant hearts that we may always be prepared to meet the Lord. Amen.


Daily Prayer
(3) Our Father, (3) Hail Mary, (3) Glory Be
(3) St. Cajetan, pray for us.


Sixth Day

O humble St. Cajetan, you spoke with rulers and kings, but you never gave them much importance. You know that prestige, honor, and positions in society could only be good if they are use to help the needy and the poor. For this reason, you also confronted tyrants and stood against armies that looted, killed, and raped. Your humility did not prevent you from becoming a prophet. You only feared Jesus. Help us to remain humble and self-effacing, knowing that before God, we remain nothing. We can only be someone if we stand close to Jesus. Inspire us to follow your footsteps so that we, too, may fight for justice and help stop corruption in our government. Amen.


Daily Prayer
(3) Our Father, (3) Hail Mary, (3) Glory Be
(3) St. Cajetan, pray for us.


Seventh Day

O glorious St. Cajetan, your unceasing fasting and penance help people understand that God must be loved above all things and above all persons. You sacrificed anything or anyone that could block you from loving God with your whole soul, mind, heart and body. By eating little, you showed to others that man does not live on bread alone. You renewed the faith of many people, touched their hearts, and helped much in the reformation of the Church. Inspire us to fast and do penance for our sins. Instill on us the spirit of sacrifice that we, too, may love God intensely as you did. Amen.


Daily Prayer
(3) Our Father, (3) Hail Mary, (3) Glory Be
(3) St. Cajetan, pray for us.


Eight Day

O glorious St. Cajetan, it pained you to see the Catholic Church divided into hostile groups. You always prayed for unity in the Church, asking laypersons, priests, and bishops to support the Pope through preaching, prayer, and sacrifices. You see the Church as the bride of Christ, the sacrament by which men and women can become holy. You worked hard for the return of the Protestants to the Catholic Church, and you preached against Protestant reformers who were attacking the heart of Catholic teachings. Teach us then to work for unity in our Church and at the same time, to defend her from sects and religious movements that attack her. Inspire us to follow your path. Amen.

Daily Prayer
(3) Our Father, (3) Hail Mary, (3) Glory Be
(3) St. Cajetan, pray for us.


Ninth Day

O glorious St. Cajetan, you received many special blessings from Jesus, visions and mystical experiences because of your union with him. While contemplating the mystery of incarnation, Mary appeared to you and put on your lap the baby Jesus. You held on to the baby and made your heart his dwelling place. Jesus truly loved you and his Mother trusted you. Listen then to our petitions on this last day of our novena and bring them to Jesus. Prove to us that now in heaven you are closer to Jesus and he listens to you. Amen.


Daily Prayer
(3) Our Father, (3) Hail Mary, (3) Glory Be
(3) St. Cajetan, pray for us.

Prayer Source: Prayers from Various Websites

St. Thérèse of Lisieux Novena

Little Flower Novena

Prayers to be said each day:

Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, who have instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be ever truly wise and rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love: O my God! I believe in Thee: strengthen my faith. All my hopes are in Thee: do Thou secure them. I love Thee: teach me to love Thee daily more and more.

The Act of Contrition: O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance , and to amend my life. Amen.

Special Prayers for Each Day:

First Day

St. Thérèse, privileged Little Flower of Jesus and Mary, I approach you with childlike confidence and deep humility. I lay before you my desires, and beg that through your intercession they may be realized. Did you not promise to spend your heaven doing good upon earth? Grant me according to this promise the favors I am asking from you.

Intercede for us all the days of our life, but specially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: Confidence in God. We can never have too much confidence in the good God who is so powerful and so merciful. We obtain from Him as much as we hope for.

If you are nothing, do you forget that Jesus is everything? You have only to lose your nothingness in His Infinity and think only of loving Him.
Concluding Prayer Prayed Each Day:
O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.


Second Day

O dear little Saint, now that you see the crucified Jesus in heaven, still bearing the wounds caused by sin, you know still more clearly than you did upon earth the value of souls, and the priceless worth of that Precious Blood which He shed to save them. As I am one of those children for whom Christ died, obtain for me all the graces I need in order to profit by that Precious Blood. Use your great power with our divine Lord and pray for me.

Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: Sin. The only grace I ask, O Jesus, is never to offend Thee. 

By love and not by fear, does a soul avoid committing the least fault.

Yes, even if I have on my conscience every possible crime, I should lose none of my confidence; my heart breaking with sorrow, I should go and throw myself into the arms of my Savior. 

The remembrance of my faults humbles me and makes me afraid to rely on my own strength, which is nothing but weakness.

Concluding Prayer Prayed Each Day:

O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

Third Day

Dear Little Flower, make all things lead me to heaven and God, Whether I look at the sun, the moon, the stars and the vast expanse in which they float, or whether I look at the flowers of the field, the trees of the forest, the beauties of the earth so full of color and so glorious, may they speak to me of the love and power of God; may they all sing His praises in my ear. Like you may I daily love Him more and more in return for His gifts. Teach me often to deny myself in my dealings with others, that I may offer to Jesus many little sacrifices.

Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: The Use of God’s Gifts. How much benefit have I received from the beauties of nature, bestowed in such abundance. How they raise me to Him who placed such wonders in this land of exile which is only to last a day.

O sparkling nature, if I did not see God in you, you would be naught but a great tomb.

With your little hand which caresses Mary, You sustain the universe and bestow life; and You think of me, O Jesus my little King.

I do not wish creatures to have one atom of my love. I wish to give all to Jesus, since He has shown me that He alone is perfect happiness.

Concluding Prayer Prayed Each Day:

O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

Fourth Day

Dear Little Flower of Carmel, bearing so patiently the disappointments and delays allowed by God, and preserving in the depths of your soul an unchanging peace because you sought only God’s will, ask for me complete conformity to that adorable Will in all the trials and disappointments of life. If the favors I am asking during this Novena are pleasing to God, obtain them for me. If not, it is true I shall feel the refusal keenly, but I too wish only God’s Will, and pray in the words you used, that I "may ever be perfectly fulfilled in me."

Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: Abandonment to God. I fear only one thing---to keep my own will; take it, my God, for I choose all that You choose.

The only happiness here below is to strive to be always content with what Jesus gives us.

I can demand nothing with fervor, except the perfect accomplishment of God’s will in my soul.

O my Beloved, I offer myself to You, that You may perfectly accomplish in me Your holy designs, and I will not allow anything created to be an obstacle in their path.

Concluding Prayer Prayed Each Day:

O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

Fifth Day

Little Flower of Jesus, from the very first moment of your religious life you thought only of denying yourself in all things so as to follow Jesus more perfectly; help me to bear patiently the trials of my daily life. Teach me to make use of the trials, the sufferings, the humiliations, that come my way, to learn to know myself better and to love God more.

Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: Patience in Sufferings. I do not fear trials sent by Jesus, for even in the most bitter suffering we can see that it is His loving hand which causes it.

When we are expecting nothing but suffering, we are quite surprised at the least joy; but then suffering itself becomes the greatest of joys when we seek it as a precious treasure.

Far from resembling those beautiful saints who practiced all sorts of austerities from childhood, my penance consisted in breaking my self-will, in keeping back a sharp reply, in doing little kindnesses to those about me, but considering these deeds as nothing.

Concluding Prayer Prayed Each Day:

O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

Sixth Day

St. Thérèse, Patroness of the Missions, be a great missionary throughout the world to the end of time. Remind our Master of His own words, "The harvest is great, but the laborers are few." Your zeal for souls was so great, obtain a like zeal for those now working for souls, and beg God to multiply their numbers, that the millions to whom Jesus is yet unknown may be brought to know, love and follow Him.

Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: Zeal for souls. Let us work together for the salvation of souls. We have only the day of this life to save souls and to give them to the Lord as proofs of our love.

I tell Jesus that I am glad not to be able to see, with the eyes of my soul, this beautiful heaven which awaits me, in order that He may vouchsafe to open it forever to poor unbelievers.

I cannot perform brilliant works; I cannot preach the Gospel or shed my blood. But what matter? My brothers work in place of me, and I a little child, keep very close to the royal throne. I love for those who are carrying on the warfare.

My deeds, my little sufferings, can make God loved all over the world.

Concluding Prayer Prayed Each Day:

O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

Seventh Day

O little martyr of Love, you know now even better than in the days of your pilgrimage that Love embraces all vocations; that it is Love alone which counts, which unites us perfectly to God and conforms our will with His. All you sought on earth was love; to love Jesus as He had never yet been loved. Use your power in heaven to make us love Him. If only we love Him we shall desire to make Him loved by others; we shall pray much for souls. We shall no longer fear death, for it will unite us to Him forever. Obtain for us the grace to do all for the love of God, to give Him pleasure, to love Him so well that He may be pleased with us as He was with you.

Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: Love of God. I will love God alone and will not have the misfortune of attaching myself to creatures, now that my heart perceive what He has in store for those who love Him.

What attracts me to the kingdom of Heaven is the call of our Lord, the hope of loving Him as I have so desired and the thought that I shall be able to make Him loved by a great number of souls who will bless Him forever.

When Christ said, "Give Me a Drink," it was the love of His poor creatures that He, the Creator of all things, desired. He thirsted for love.

Remember that the dear Jesus is there in the tabernacle expressly for you, for you alone. Remember that He is consumed with a desire to come into your heart.

Concluding Prayer Prayed Each Day:

O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

Eighth Day

Dear St. Thérèse, like you I have to die one day. I beseech you, obtain from God, by reminding Him of your own precious death, that I may have a holy death, strengthened by the Sacraments of the Church, entirely resigned to the most holy Will of God, and burning with love for Him. May my last words on earth be, "My God. I love You."

Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: Death. It says in the catechism that death is nothing but the separation of the soul and body. Well, I have no fear of a separation which will unite me forever with the good God.

I am happy to die because I shall be able to help souls who are dear to me, far more than I can here below.

Life is not sad; it is very joyous. If you say, "This exile is sad," I understand you. We are wrong to give the name "life" to something which will end; it is only to the things of Heaven that we should apply this beautiful name.

Concluding Prayer Prayed Each Day:

O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

Ninth Day

Dear Little St. Thérèse, by love and suffering while you were on earth, you won the power with God which you now enjoy in heaven. Since your life there began, you have showered down countless blessings on this poor world; you have been an instrument made use of by your divine Spouse to work countless miracles. I beg of you to remember all my wants. Sufferings must come to me also, may I use them to love God more, and follow my Jesus better. You are especially the little missionary of love. Make me love Jesus more, and all others for His sake. With all my heart I thank the most Holy Trinity for the wonderful blessings conferred on you, and upon the world through you.

Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: The Mission of the Little Flower. I do not intend to remain inactive in Heaven. I want to work for the Church and for souls. I have asked this of God and I am certain that He will grant my request.

I will spend my Heaven doing good upon earth. This is not impossible, since the angels though always enjoying the beatific vision, watch over us. No, I cannot be at rest until the end of the world.

I beseech Thee, O Jesus, to cast Thy divine glance on a great number of little souls. I beg of Thee to choose in this world a legion of little victims, worthy of Thy Love.

Concluding Prayer Prayed Each Day:

O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

St. Joseph Novena From The 16th Century

O Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires.

O Saint Joseph, assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.

O Saint Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. Amen

O Saint Joseph, hear my prayers and obtain my petitions. O Saint Joseph, pray for me. (Mention your intention)

(Note: This prayer was found in the 50th year of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Sometime during the 16th century, it was sent by the Pope to Emperor Charles when he was going into battle. It is said that whoever shall read this prayer or take it with them, shall never die a sudden death or be drowned, nor shall poison take effect on them; neither shall they fall into the hands of the enemy, or shall be burned in any fire or shall be overpowered in battle.)

Prayer to Saint Joseph For Employment

Dear Saint Joseph,
you were yourself once faced
with the responsibility of providing
the necessities of life for Jesus and Mary.
Look down with fatherly compassion upon me
in my anxiety with my present inability to support my family.
Please help me find gainful employment very soon,
so that this great burden of concern will be lifted from my heart
and that I am soon able to provide for those
whom God has entrusted to my care.
Help me guard against discouragement,
so that I may emerge from this trial spiritually enriched
and with even greater blessings from God.

Amen.

Prayer For Those In Financial Hardship

Almighty God and Father of all, You lovingly provide for the needs of Your children.
We trust in you. You know how desperate Your children feel when faced with financial difficulties.
Please look upon us with kindness and help us with gainful employment and the ability to provide for those whom you have put under our care.
May we use wisely the energy, gifts and talents You have given us to work hard and meet our obligations.
Help us to learn what is important in life and to know the difference between our needs and our wants.
Help us to have the discipline to live within our means and to be content knowing that Your love is our true wealth.
When the material things of this world fail us, may we always look toward our treasure in heaven, where we may someday behold You face to face.
You are our all, and with the joy of having You by our side, we are truly rich.
Help us to be generous with others, even as we struggle ourselves.
When financial hardship comes and can't be avoided, help us to embrace it as You did in choosing to enter into the poverty of mankind.
Keep peace in our hearts and help us to trustfully surrender any anxiety, discouragement or bitterness that may attempt to steal our joy.

God of mercy and compassion, You promise to give us all that we need.
As we face this time of financial struggle, help us to trust in Your providence
and keep our hearts fixed on the treasures of heaven.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saint Joseph, whose laboring fed Jesus and Mary, pray for us.
Amen.

Traditional Morning Offering

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day 

in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. 

I offer them for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart: 

the salvation of souls, reparation for sin, and the reunion of all Christians. 

I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and of all Apostles of Prayer, 

and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father this month.

Amen.

Composed by Father Francois Xavier Gaulrelet in 1844 for his Apostleship of Prayer which he founded that year.

A Wife's Prayer For Her Husband

I pray to Thee O Lord
To keep me strong and pure
Make me ever kind and good
From evil thoughts my mind secure.

Make me more worthy of Thee
Of Thy great and boundless love
Make this prayer of mine to Thee
Be heard in the starry home above.

This I beg of Thee O Father
That we in perfect love may dwell.
Make us ever for one another
In vows of love that bind us well.

Make him gentle, true and kind,
Wherever he may be placed.
Pure in heart as well as in mind
With honest deeds his life be graced.

Give him manhood strength and courage
To fight his foes unseen.
Make him conquer at length
Over his own self and win.

Bless the ties that make us
Understand each other more.
Make it tighter as days pass
That no man may put us two asunder.

Make us know each other more
Let harmony in our lives reign.
Keep in tune that heretofore
Perfect bliss do in us will find.

Make our youth dreams, O Lord
Come as true as broad daylight,
Then our united efforts will hold
For Thy honor and glory in Thy sight.

AMEN

Husband and Wife Prayer

O God, who hast ordained and sanctified the holy estate of matrimony, 

for replenishing the earth, for mutual consolation, 

and as a type of the union of Christ and His Church; 

give me grace both thankfully to accept its blessings, 

and carefully to fulfill its duties.

I beseech thee continually to bless our union, 

and to enable us to live together in peace and love, 

in the faithful discharge of all our duties to Thee, 

and to each other.

Deliver us from every evil temper, 

from every heedless action, 

which may in any way weaken or embitter the sacredness 

of that tie by which Thou hast bound us together, 

and which can never be severed.

Make me faithful and affectionate, studious to please, 

and ready to deny my own will and inclination in all things. 

Let not the trials and crosses of this life induce me to complain, 

nor any earthly blessings cause me to forget Thee, 

the Author and Giver of all; 

but by patience and meekness, by prayer and thankfulness, 

may all things be sanctified unto me, 

and fit me for eternal union with Thee, 

through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Amen

Parent's Prayer For Themselves and For Their Children

O God the Father of mankind,

who hast given unto us these our children, 

and committed them to our charge to bring them up for Thee, 

and to prepare them for eternal life: 

assist us with Thy heavenly grace, 

that we may be able to fulfill this most sacred duty and stewardship.

Teach us both what to give and what to withhold; 

when to reprove and when to forbear; 

make us to be gentle, yet firm; 

considerate and watchful; 

and deliver us equally 

from the weakness of indulgence, 

and the excess of severity; 

and grant that, both by word and example, 

we may be careful to lead them 

in the ways of wisdom and true piety, 

so that at last we may, with them, 

be admitted to the unspeakable joys 

of our true home in Heaven, 

in the unity of the blessed angels and Saints.
O Heavenly Father, 

we commend our children to Thy care. 

Be Thou their God and Father; 

and mercifully supply whatever is 

lacking in us through frailty or negligence.

Strengthen them to overcome 

the corruptions of the world, 

to resist the solicitations of evil,
whether from within or without; 

and deliver them from the secret snares of the enemy.

Pour Thy grace into their hearts, 

and strengthen and multiply in them

the gifts of Thy Holy Spirit, 

that they may daily grow in grace

and in knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ; 

and so, faithfully serving Thee here, 

may come to rejoice before Thee hereafter;
through the merits of the same our Lord Jesus Christ,
who with Thee and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest.
Amen.