Our Yearly Novena Schedule
When he founded the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Father Leonard Feeney intentionally established a simple devotional life for members of his foundation. Because his was to be an active Order, not primarily contemplative, and would be engaged in constant doctrinal combat with enemies of the Church, he limited required devotional practices to just three: daily recitation of the Rosary, wearing the Brown Scapular, and wearing the Miraculous Medal. Individual members could retain whatever other personal devotions they had, but they were not to attempt to spread them within the Order.
When we speak of a yearly novena schedule, as we do now, we are not violating this rule laid down by Father. The novenas described herein are not private devotions; they are well
established within Holy Mother Church, and she strongly recommends several of them for the participation of the faithful. Furthermore, they are not daily devotions, but are occasional, and have very specific intentions.
Not one of these novenas is to be considered as absolutely mandatory for members of the
Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Yet, they are a regular part of our yearly prayer life here at Saint Benedict Center, and we ask those of you who can do so to join with us in offering them in the spirit of the Order. This request applies most especially to the Novena to the Holy Ghost because, at its conclusion on Pentecost Sunday, all members of the Order, wherever they may be, renew their Act of Consecration to Jesus through Mary according to the method of Saint Louis Marie de Montfort.
Here, in chronological order, are the six novenas we celebrate at the Center:
- Chair of Unity Octave plus One January 17 thru January 25
- Novena of Grace March 4 thru March 12
- To the Holy Ghost Friday after Ascension Thursday thru Saturday, Vigil of Pentecost
- To the Immaculate Heart of Mary August 14 thru August 22
- In Honor of Christ the King October: Saturday before 2nd to last Sunday thru last Sunday
- For the Holy Souls in Purgatory November 1 thru November 9
The final page of this Appendix contains the Father Feeney Prayer.
This prayer is for private devotion only.
CHAIR OF UNITY OCTAVE — plus ONE
January 17 — January 25
The Chair of Unity Octave is celebrated between January 18 and January 25, and January
17 is the anniversary date of the founding of our Order. We add this latter date, so important
to us, to the octave to get our nine novena dates.
Primary Intention: On each day of the octave, pray for the specific intention of the
whole Church as shown below. Secondary Intention: On January 17, pray for effective unity
among the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Specific Intentions:
January 17 — Unity among the Slaves of IHM
January 18 — Return of “Other Sheep”
January 19 — Return of Oriental Separatists
January 20 — Submission of Anglicans
January 21 — Return of European Protestants
January 22 — Return of American Protestants
January 23 — Return of Lapsed Catholics
January 24 — Conversion of the Jews
January 25 — Missionary Conquest of the World
Form for the Novena: State the day’s intention, then pray as follows:
ANTIPHON: “That they may all be One, as Thou, Father, in Me and I in Thee; that they
also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me” (John 17-21).
V: “I say unto thee, that thou art Peter;
R: “And upon this Rock I will build My Church.”
LET US PRAY: O Lord Jesus Christ, Who didst say to Thine Apostles: “Peace I leave
with you, My peace I give unto you,” regard not our sins but the Faith of Thy Church, and grant
unto her that peace and unity which are agreeable to Thy Will: Who livest and reignest, God
forever and ever. Amen.
V. Mary, Mother of the Church, R. pray for us.
V. St. Peter, First Pope of Rome, R. pray for us.
V. St. Paul, Apostle to the Gentiles, R. pray for us.
[The Memorare] 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
petitions, but hear and answer me. Amen.
THE NOVENA OF GRACE March 4 — March 12
This is the powerful novena to Saint Francis Xavier which, in times past, was solemnly
celebrated on the above dates throughout the entire Church. This great Jesuit Saint is the Exemplar of our Crusade, and in March of every year we beg for his help in obtaining from God a favorable response to a particular request. We know he has heard us, for our requests have been granted.
The special intention for this novena will vary from year to year, and will be announced
beforehand in the January or February Mancipia. The form for a public Novena of Grace follows:
Preparatory Prayers
Priest: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. O Jesus,
answer our petitions as we kneel before Thee.
People: O Heart of Jesus, hear and grant our prayers.
Priest: Pray for us, Saint Francis Xavier,
People: that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Priest: Let us pray: Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful. Enkindle 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: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost,
People: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Priest and People (together):
O most lovable and loving Saint Francis Xavier — in union with thee — I adore the
Divine Majesty. — The remembrance of the favors —with which God blessed thee during life — and of thy glory after death — fills me with joy; — and I unite with thee — in offering to Him — my humble tribute of thanksgiving and of praise. — I implore thee to secure for me — through thy powerful intercession —the inestimable blessing — of living and dying — in the state of grace. — I also beseech thee — to obtain for me — the favor I ask in this novena. — (PAUSE FOR PETITIONS) — But if what I ask — is not for the glory of God — and for the good of my soul — do thou obtain for me — what is more conducive to both. Amen.
Our Father — Hail Mary — Glory Be
Priest: Pray for us, Saint Francis Xavier,
People: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Hymn to Saint Francis Xavier
Oh, Father Saint Francis, we kneel at thy feet, While blessings and favors we beg and
entreat, That thou from thy bright throne in heaven above wouldst look on thy clients with pity and love. Saint Francis Xavier, Oh pray for us! Saint Francis Xavier, Oh pray for us!
Oh, Father Saint Francis, thy words were once strong against Satan’s wiles and an infidel
throng. Not less is thy might where in heaven thou art; Oh, come to our aid, in our battle take part. Saint Francis Xavier, Oh pray for us! Saint Francis Xavier, Oh pray for us!
Xavier’s Prayer for Unbelievers
[Priest and People:] Eternal God, Creator of all things — remember that the souls of
unbelievers — have been created by Thee — and formed to Thy own image and likeness. —
Behold, O Lord, how to Thy dishonor — hell is being filled with these very souls. — Remember that Jesus Christ, Thy Son — for their salvation suffered a most cruel death. — Do not permit, O Lord, I beseech Thee — that Thy divine Son be any longer despised by unbelievers, — but rather, being appeased by the prayers of Thy saints — and the Church — the most holy spouse of Thy Son — deign to be mindful of Thy mercy — and forgetting their idolatry and their unbelief — bring them to know Him Whom Thou didst send —Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Our Lord — Who is our health, life, and resurrection — through Whom we have been redeemed and saved — to Whom be all glory forever. Amen.
Priest: Pray for us, Saint Francis Xavier,
People: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Priest: O God, Who did deign, by the preaching and miracles of Saint Francis Xavier, to
join unto Thy Church the nations of the Indies, grant, we beseech Thee, that we who
reverence his glorious merits, may also imitate his example, through Jesus Christ,
Our Lord. Amen.
Sermon – Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament
Closing Hymn — Holy God, We Praise Thy Name
When the novena is made privately, the Hymn to Saint Francis may be recited, and everything from the Sermon through the Closing Hymn may be omitted.
NOVENA TO THE HOLY GHOST
Friday after Ascension Thursday — Saturday, the Vigil of Pentecost
This is the prototype of all novenas. It commemorates the nine days between the Ascension of Our Lord and the descent of the Holy Ghost on the first Pentecost Sunday. During this time Our Lady and the twelve Apostles prayed in the Cenacle for the coming of the Paraclete.
Our Lord Himself instituted this novena, and it is celebrated every year by the whole Church.
Primary Intention: Like the Apostles, we pray that the Holy Ghost will come into our
lives and set the Church and faithful on fire with true Apostolic zeal.
Secondary Intention: On Pentecost Sunday every year, we renew our consecration to
Jesus through Mary as prescribed by Saint Louis Marie de Montfort. On this solemn occasion, we pray that we may be true to our consecration and live it ever more faithfully during the year to come. Every member of the Crusade should feel that he or she has a special obligation to
make this novena.
Form for the novena: State the intentions given above, and then open your heart to God
the Holy Ghost in this prayer:
O Holy Ghost, O my God, I adore Thee, and acknowledge, here in Thy divine presence,
that I am nothing and can do nothing without Thee. Come, great Paraclete, Thou father of the poor, Thou comforter the best, fulfil the promise of our blessed Savior, Who would not leave us orphans, and come into the mind and the heart of Thy poor, unworthy creature, as Thou didst descend on the sacred day of Pentecost on the holy Mother of Jesus and on His first disciples.
Grant that I may participate in those gifts which Thou didst communicate to them so wonderfully, and with so much mercy and generosity. Take from my heart whatever is not pleasing to Thee, and make of it a worthy dwelling-place for Thyself. Illumine my mind, that I may see and understand the things that are for my eternal good. Inflame my heart with pure love of Thee, that I may be cleansed from the dross of all inordinate attachments, and that my whole life may be hidden with Jesus in God. Strengthen my will, that I may be made comformable to Thy divine will, and be guided by Thy holy inspirations. Aid me by Thy grace to practice the divine lessons of humility, poverty, obedience, and contempt of the world, which Jesus taught us in His mortal life.
Oh, rend the heavens, and come down, consoling Spirit! that inspired and encouraged by
Thee, I may faithfully comply with the duties of my state, carry my daily cross most patiently, and endeavor to accomplish the divine will with the utmost perfection. Spirit of love! Spirit of purity! Spirit of peace! Sanctify my soul more and more, and give me that heavenly peace which the world cannot give. Bless our Holy Father the Pope, bless the Church, bless our bishops, our priests, all Religious Orders, and all the faithful, that they may be filled with the spirit of Christ and labor earnestly for the spread of His kingdom.
O Holy Ghost, Thou Giver of every good and perfect gift, grant me, I beseech Thee, the intentions of this novena. May Thy will be done in me and through me. Mayest Thou be praised and glorified forevermore! Amen.
NOVENA TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
August 14 — August 22
Holy Mother Church dedicates the month of August to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
On August 15 we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption, and on August 22, the Feast of the
Immaculate Heart. Our novena begins on the 14th, the Vigil of the Assumption, and ends on the 22nd, the patronal feast of our Order and doctrinal Crusade. The intention of this novena is twofold:
1) We pray that our doctrinal Crusade may be victorious, and that each and every member
will remain true to the ideals upon which it was founded.
2) We pray that the Church — Pope, hierarchy, clergy and faithful — will conform to the
requests of Our Lady of Fatima, that Russia will be consecrated to Her Immaculate
Heart and thereby converted, and that devotion to Her Immaculate Heart will then be
established throughout the world, as Our Lord desires.
The form of this novena is quite simple. It consists of these three parts (the prayers are
given below):
1) State the intention of the novena.
2) Pray the Magnificat.
3) Pray the Litany of Loreto (or the Blessed Virgin Mary).
We earnestly hope that you will join with us in praying this novena to Our Lady, and in
celebrating, in a fitting manner, the two great Marian feasts with the intervening octave.
The Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55)
My soul doth magnify the Lord:
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior
Because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid: for behold, from henceforth
all generations shall call me blessed.
For He that is mighty hath done great things to me: and Holy is His Name.
And His mercy is from generation to generations, to them that fear Him.
He hath showed might in His arm: He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their
heart.
He hath put down the mighty from their throne, and hath exalted the humble.
He hath filled the hungry with the good things: and the rich He hath sent empty away.
He hath received Israel, His servant, being mindful of His mercy.
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed, forever.
The Litany of Loreto (the Blessed Virgin Mary)
(Versicle) (Response)
Lord, have mercy Christ, 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 Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
[Response to the following: “pray for us”]
Holy Mary, Vessel of honor,
Holy Mother of God, Singular vessel of devotion,
Holy Virgin of virgins Mystical rose,
Mother of Christ, Tower of David,
Mother of divine grace, Tower of ivory,
Mother most pure, House of gold,
Mother most chaste, Ark of the covenant,
Mother inviolate, Gate of heaven,
Mother undefiled, Morning star,
Mother most amiable, Health of the sick,
Mother most admirable, Refuge of sinners,
Mother of good counsel, Comforter of the afflicted,
Mother of our Creator, Help of Christians,
Mother of our Savior, Queen of Angels,
Virgin most prudent, Queen of Patriarchs,
Virgin most venerable, Queen of Prophets,
Virgin most renowned, Queen of Apostles,
Virgin most powerful, Queen of Martyrs,
Virgin most merciful, Queen of Confessors,
Virgin most faithful, Queen of Virgins,
Mirror of justice, Queen of all Saints,
Seat of wisdom, Queen conceived without original sin,
Cause of our joy, Queen assumed into heaven,
Spiritual vessel, Queen of the most holy Rosary,
Queen of peace,
Lamb of God Who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord!
Lamb of God Who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord!
Lamb of God Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
R. That we made be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray:
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we Thy servants may enjoy lasting health of
mind and body, and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, be delivered from the present sorrow and enter into the joy of eternal happiness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
NOVENA TO HONOR CHRIST THE KING
October: Saturday before 2nd to last Sunday — last Sunday
The Feast of Christ the King is always celebrated on the last Sunday in October. Therefore,
our novena begins on the Saturday before the preceding Sunday.
The novena consists of the three parts given below. The first two express the intention.
The third part is optional, but strongly recommended.
1) An Act of Dedication of the Human Race
2) The Prayer
3) The Litany of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
An Act of Dedication of the Human Race
Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate
before Thine Altar [if outside a church or oratory, say: “in Thy presence”]. We are Thine, and Thine we wish to be; but to be more surely united to Thee, behold, each one of us this day freely dedicates himself to Thy Most Sacred Heart. Many, indeed, have never known Thee; many, too, despising Thy precepts have rejected Thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy Sacred Heart.
Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal sons who have abandoned Thee; grant that they may quickly return to their Father’s house, lest they perish of wretchedness and hunger.
Be Thou King of those whom heresy holds in error or discord keeps aloof; call them back to the harbor of truth and the unity of faith, so that soon there may be one fold and one Shepherd.
Be Thou King of all those who even now sit in the shadow of idolatry or Islam, and refuse not Thou to bring them into the light of Thy kingdom.
Look, finally, with eyes of pity upon the children of that race, which was for so long a time Thy chosen people; and let Thy Blood, which was once invoked upon them in vengeance, now descend upon them also in a cleansing flood of redemption and eternal life.
Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; unto all nations give an ordered tranquility; bring it to pass that from pole to pole the earth may resound with one cry: Praise to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to It be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer
O Christ Jesus, I acknowledge Thee to be the King of the universe; all that hath been made is created for Thee. Exercise over me all Thy sovereign rights. I hereby renew the promises of my Baptism, renouncing Satan and all his works and pomps, and I engage myself to lead henceforth a truly Christian life. And in an especial manner do I undertake to bring about the triumph of the rights of God and Thy Church, so far as in me lies. Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer Thee my poor actions to obtain the acknowledgment by every heart of Thy sacred kingly power. In such wise may the kingdom of Thy peace be firmly established throughout all the earth. Amen.
The Litany of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Lord, have mercy Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy. Christ, hear us Christ, graciously hear us.
[Response: “have mercy on us”]
God, the Father of Heaven,
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God, the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, One God,
Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father,
Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin Mother,
Heart of Jesus, substantially united to the Word of God,
Heart of Jesus, of Infinite Majesty,
Heart of Jesus, Sacred Temple of God,
Heart of Jesus, Tabernacle of the Most High,
Heart of Jesus, House of God and Gate of Heaven,
Heart of Jesus, burning Furnace of charity,
Heart of Jesus, Abode of justice and love,
Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love,
Heart of Jesus, Abyss of all virtues,
Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise,
Heart of Jesus, King and Center of all hearts,
Heart of Jesus, in Whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,
Heart of Jesus, in Whom dwells the fullness of divinity,
Heart of Jesus, in Whom the Father was well pleased,
Heart of Jesus, of Whose fullness we have all received,
Heart of Jesus, Desire of the everlasting hills,
Heart of Jesus, patient and most merciful,
Heart of Jesus, enriching all who invoke Thee,
Heart of Jesus, Fountain of life and holiness,
Heart of Jesus, Propitiation for our sins,
Heart of Jesus, loaded down with opprobrium
Heart of Jesus, bruised for our offenses,
Heart of Jesus, obedient unto death,
Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance,
Heart of Jesus, Source of all consolation,
Heart of Jesus, our Life and Resurrection,
Heart of Jesus, our Peace and Reconciliation,
Heart of Jesus, Victim for our sins,
Heart of Jesus, Salvation of those who trust in Thee,
Heart of Jesus, Hope of those who die in Thee,
Heart of Jesus, Delight of all the saints,
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Let us pray:
Almighty and eternal God, look upon the Heart of Thy most beloved Son and upon the praises and satisfaction which He offers Thee in the name of sinners; and to those who implore Thy Mercy do Thou of Thy great goodness grant forgiveness in the name of the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who with Thee liveth and reigneth world without end. Amen.
NOVENA FOR THE HOLY SOULS IN PURGATORY
November 1 —— November 9
The souls in purgatory need our help. They are no longer able to merit for themselves,
and it is only through the prayers of the Church Militant that they can be released from their torments. We are assured by our Holy Faith that they will be eternally grateful to those who pray for their release. But few Catholics pray for them in this time of weakening faith, so the responsibility to help them falls more heavily on the shoulders of those of us who will accept it.
The holy souls can be one of our secret weapons. We must remember that their prayers
for us are heard by God, so they can be very powerful allies while we yet struggle in this valley of tears. In addition, to pray for the dead is one of the spiritual works of mercy.
The whole month of November is dedicated to the holy souls. The novena begins on the
first day of the month, the feast of All Saints, and ends on November 9th, the feast of the
dedication of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome, which is also known as the Basilica of the Holy Savior. It follows almost immediately after the Novena to Christ the King and is the last novena of the liturgical year.
The intention of the novena: We pray for the early release of holy souls from their sufferings, and their entrance into the Beatific Vision. This intention is stated in the prescribed prayers.
The form of the novena:
1) Prayer of Saint Gertrude (see below)
2) Say the prayer of the Church for the deceased:
V. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
R. And let perpetual light shine upon them.
V. May they rest in peace.
R. Amen.
V. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest
in peace.
R. Amen.
3) Our Father — Hail Mary — Glory Be
Prayer of Saint Gertrude
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son Jesus in union
with the Masses said throughout the world today. I offer them for all the holy souls in purgatory, and for sinners everywhere; for sinners in the universal Church, for those in my own home and within my family. Amen.
A PRAYER FOR OUR HOLY FOUNDER
We have composed a prayer which we call: A Prayer for the Granting of Special Divine
Favors through the Immaculate Heart of Mary for the Purpose of Confirming the Heroic Virtues of Father Leonard Feeney, M.I.C.M. In short, we call it simply “The Father Feeney Prayer.” It is not yet Church-approved, but may be said privately and confidently for the following good reasons:
1) The most effective way for the Church to restore the dogma we defend to universal
belief is to canonize Father Feeney for defending it so heroically.
2) True peace will come to this world only when devotion to the Immaculate Heart of
Mary is established worldwide, as Our Lord requested at Fatima. This prayer will
certainly further that end.
3) Our Lady will provide miraculous answers to this prayer in order to confirm the sanctity
of Her Faithful Slave, and to confirm the efficacy of the Act of Consecration to
Mary of Saint Louis Marie de Montfort, which is the basis and pattern of the spirit of
our Religious Order.
If we pray confidently, Our Lady will grant what we ask, for it is for the greater
glory of Her Divine Son. Our Crusade is advancing, and this prayer can speed the
victory which we know must come soon.
THE FATHER FEENEY PRAYER
O Most Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of God, we place under your
protection the cause of Father Leonard Feeney, a true son of Saint Ignatius and devoted Slave of your Immaculate Heart. We come to you in childlike confidence to beg of you a divine favor. In order to enlighten the world with the Dogma of Faith for which our dear father fought and suffered while in this life, and to show the world the glory of True Slavery as personified in Father Feeney, we ask that you grant this our request: …(state your petition)… We promise to be ever more faithful to the Sacred Heart of your Divine Son through the merits of your own Immaculate Heart. We promise to do all in our power to know God’s Holy Will for us, to be faithful to it, and to defend valiantly all the dogmas of our Holy Faith, especially those most under attack today, and most especially the absolute necessity of living and dying in the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, outside of which there is no salvation at all. Father Feeney, pray for us! Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us! Amen.
