FIFTY FOUR DAY NOVENA Origin In an apparition of Our Lady of Pompeii, which occurred in 1884 at Naples, in the house of Commander Agrelli, the heavenly Mother deigned to make known the manner in which she desires to be invoked. For thirteen months Fortuna Agrelli, the daughter of the Commander, had endured dreadful sufferings and torturous cramps. The most celebrated physicians had given up. On February 16, 1884, the afflicted girl and her relatives commenced a novena of Rosaries. The Queen of the Holy Rosary favoured her with an apparition on March 3rd. Mary, sitting upon a high throne, surrounded by luminous figures, held the divine Child on her lap, and in her hand a Rosary. The Virgin Mother and the Holy Infant were clad in gold embroidered garments. They were accompanied by Saint Dominic and Saint Catherine of Siena. The throne was profusely decorated with flowers; the beauty of Our Lady was marvellous. Mary looked upon the sufferer with maternal tenderness and the patient saluted her with the words: “Queen of the Holy Rosary, be gracious to me; restore me to health! I have already prayed to thee in a novena O Mary, but have not yet experienced thy aid. I am so anxious to be cured!” “Child”, responded the Blessed Virgin, “thou hast invoked me by various titles and hast always obtained favours from me. Now, since thou hast called me by that title so pleasing to me, ‘Queen of the Holy Rosary’, I can no longer refuse the favour thou dost petition; for this name is most precious and dear to me. Make three novenas, and thou shalt obtain all”. Once more the Queen of the Holy Rosary appeared to her and said: “Whoever desires to obtain favours from me should make three novenas of the prayers of the Rosary, and three novenas in thanksgiving”. This miracle of the Rosary made a very deep impression on Pope Leo XIII, and greatly contributed to the fact that in so many circular letters, he urged all Christians to love the Rosary and say it fervently. Method The 54 Day Rosary Novena consists of five decades of the Rosary each day for 27 days in petition; then immediately five decades each day for 27 days in thanksgiving, whether or not the request has been granted. The meditations vary from day to day. On the first day meditate on the Joyful Mysteries; on the second day the Sorrowful Mysteries; on the third day the Glorious Mysteries and on the fourth day the Luminous Mysteries; and so on throughout the 54 days. Follow the format of the prayers for each of the mysteries as outlined in the guide below. This is an arduous novena but it is a novena of love. If you are sincere, you will not find it difficult to obtain your request. Should you not obtain the favour you seek, be assured that the Rosary Queen, who knows what each one stands most in need of, has heard your prayer. You will not have prayed in vain. No prayer ever went unheard and Our Blessed Lady has never been known to fail. Look upon each Hail Mary as a rare and beautiful rose which you lay at Mary’s feet. These spiritual roses, bound in a wreath with Spiritual Communions, will be a most pleasing and acceptable gift to her and will bring down upon you special graces. 2 Common Prayers The Sign of the Cross Ϯ In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Glory Be Ϯ 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. The Fatima Prayeri O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy. Our Father Our Father, who art in Heaven; hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. Hail Maryii 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 Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Apostles’ Creediii 1. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of Heaven and Earth. 2. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. 3. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. 4. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. 5. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again. 6. He ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 7. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 8. I believe in the Holy Spirit, 9. the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, 10. the forgiveness of sins, 11. the resurrection of the body, 12. and life everlasting. Amen. Hail Holy Queeniv Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, hail our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then, O most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus; O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray: O God, whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death and resurrection has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life; grant, we beseech you, that meditating on these mysteries of the most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may both imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. 3 Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangelv St Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our defence against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray and do thou, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into Hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen. The Memorarevi 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, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petition, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen. The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary Lord, have mercy Lord, have mercy Christ, have mercy Christ, have mercy Lord, have mercy Lord, have mercy Christ, hear us Christ, graciously hear us God the Father of Heaven Have mercy on us God the Son, Redeemer of the world Have mercy on us God the Holy Spirit Have mercy on us Holy Trinity, One God Have mercy on us Holy Mary Pray for us Holy Mother of God Pray for us Holy Virgin of virgins Pray for us Mother of Christ Pray for us Mother of divine grace Pray for us Mother most pure Pray for us Mother most chaste Pray for us Mother inviolate Pray for us Mother undefiled Pray for us Mother most amiable Pray for us Mother most admirable Pray for us Mother of good counsel Pray for us Mother of our Creator Pray for us Mother of our Saviour Pray for us Virgin most prudent Pray for us Virgin most venerable Pray for us Virgin most renowned Pray for us Virgin most powerful Pray for us Virgin most merciful Pray for us Virgin most faithful Pray for us Mirror of justice Pray for us Seat of wisdom Pray for us Cause of our joy Pray for us Spiritual vessel Pray for us Vessel of honour Pray for us Singular vessel of devotion Pray for us Mystical rose Pray for us Tower of David Pray for us 4 Tower of ivory Pray for us House of gold Pray for us Ark of the covenant Pray for us Gate of Heaven Pray for us Morning star Pray for us Health of the sick Pray for us Refuge of sinners Pray for us Comforter of the afflicted Pray for us Help of Christians Pray for us Queen of Angels Pray for us Queen of Patriarchs Pray for us Queen of Prophets Pray for us Queen of Apostles Pray for us Queen of Martyrs Pray for us Queen of Confessors Pray for us Queen of Virgins Pray for us Queen of all Saints Pray for us Queen conceived without original sin Pray for us Queen assumed into Heaven Pray for us Queen of the most Holy Rosary Pray for us Queen of Peace Pray for us Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world Spare us, O Lord Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world Graciously hear us, O Lord Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world Have mercy on us V.