Novena for the Assumption

FIRST DAY.

Come, Holy Ghost, etc., as on page 231.

O Queen of all the virgin choir,
Enthroned above the starry sky!
Who with pure milk from thy own breast
Thy own Creator didst supply;

What man hath lost in hapless Eve,
Thy sacred womb to man restores;
Thou to the wretched here beneath
Hast opened heaven’s eternal doors.

Hail, O refulgent hall of light!
Hail, gate sublime of heaven’s high King!
Through thee redeemed to endless life,
Thy praise let all the nations sing.

O Jesu, born of Virgin bright!
Immortal glory be to Thee;
Praise to the Father infinite
And Holy Ghost eternally.

GLORY OF MARY IN DEATH.

She was well prepared to die.

Consider how glorious Mary was at the hour of her death, because in life she was so well prepared to die, by her most ardent longing to see her God and be forever united to her Son, and by the unapproachable merit of her consummate perfection. Then, considering how different we are from Mary in our preparation for death we shall thus address her:

Holiest Virgin, who, to prepare thyself for a holy death, didst live in ceaseless longing for the vision of thy God, oh! do thou, virgin Mother! take from us the vain desire of the frail things of earth.

Hail Mary, three times.

Holiest Virgin, who, to prepare thyself to die holily, didst in life sigh to be united forever to thy Son Jesus, oh! obtain for us fidelity to Jesus even unto death.

Hail Mary, three times.

Holiest Virgin, who, to die holily, didst make it thy care to acquire a degree of merit and virtue unapproachable by any other than thyself, oh! intercede for us that we may know that virtue and the grace of God alone are the road that leads to salvation.

Hail Mary, three times.

Now we will raise our voices in praise of Mary, who was so careful in preparing for death; and while we magnify her glory in union with the nine choirs of angels, who made her escort on her assumption into heaven, we shall say with the first choir:

The Litany of the Blessed Virgin and afterwards:

V. The holy Mother of God is exalted

R. High above the angel choirs to the heavenly kingdom.

Let us Pray.

We beseech Thee, Lord, pardon the shortcomings of Thy servants, that we, who by our own works are not able to please Thee, may be saved by the intercession of the Mother of Thy Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.

“God, who through,” etc., and “O God, the Pastor,” etc., as on page 234.

SECOND DAY.

Come, Holy Ghost, etc., as on page 231; O Queen of all the virgin choir, etc., as on page 333.

GLORY OF MARY IN DEATH.

She died in the midst of the Apostles and in the presence of her Son Jesus.

Consider how glorious Mary was at the hour of her death, comforted, according to the holy doctors of the Church, not only by the Apostles and saints, but also by her Son Jesus; and while we contemplate the unspeakable joy which she experienced in that hour through so extraordinary a favor, let us have recourse to her, saying:

Glorious Virgin, who for thy consolation didst deserve to die in the company of the Apostles and saints, oh! may we feel thee nigh when we breathe forth our souls, and may our holy patrons too be there to lend their aid.

Hail Mary, three times.

Glorious Virgin, who, at the moment of thy death, wast comforted by the sight of thy dear Son Jesus, oh! pray for us that at that awful moment we too may be comforted by receiving Jesus in the most holy Viaticum.

Hail Mary, three times.

Glorious Virgin, who in the arms of Jesus didst give up thy spirit, aid us that we may also give up our souls in the arms of the same dear Lord, with this one desire, that his most holy will may be forever done in us.

Hail Mary, three times.

Let us magnify Our Lady’s glory, assisted at her death by her Son Jesus and his Apostles, joining in jubilee at her triumph with the second choir of the heavenly host, saying:

The Litany, etc.

The holy Mother of God is exalted, etc., as on page 335.

THIRD DAY.

Come, Holy Ghost, etc., as on page 231; O Queen of all the virgin choir, etc., as on page 333.

GLORY OF MARY IN DEATH.

She died in an ecstasy of love.

Consider how glorious Mary was in her death, for she breathed forth her soul in an ecstasy of divine love. Wherefore, with eager longing to gather strength from that all-holy fire of love, let us have recourse to her, saying:

Mary, happiest Virgin, who didst give up thy mortal life through the vehemence of thy love for God, make it thy care that in our hearts, as God doth will, there be lit up this living fire of his love.

Hail Mary, three times.

Mary, happiest Virgin, who, dying of pure love for God, didst show what our love for God should be, oh! pray for us, that we may never leave our God in life or death.

Hail Mary, three times.

Mary, happiest Virgin, in leaving this mortal life through an ecstasy of love thou didst make known the fire which ever burned within thy breast, oh! pray for us, that at least one spark of that same fire may burn in us, giving us true sorrow for our sins.

Hail Mary, three times.

With the third choir of the angels let us exalt the ineffable glory of Mary, inflamed with burning love for God, saying:

The Litany, etc.

The holy Mother of God is exalted, etc., as on page 335.

FOURTH DAY.

Come, Holy Ghost, etc., as on page 231; O Queen of all the virgin choir, etc., as on page 333.

GLORY OF MARY AFTER DEATH.

In her dead body.

Consider how glorious Mary was after her death in her dead body; for from her body, clothed with majesty, most wondrous lustre shone, while it diffused around odors of sanctity, breathing the fragrance of paradise and by its mere presence working innumerable miracles. Then conscious of our many miseries, let us thus entreat her:

Lady unsullied, who by thy virginal purity didst merit the glory of being so bright and so majestic in thy body after death, oh! obtain for us the strength to detach ourselves from every foul spirit of impurity.

Hail Mary, three times.

Lady unsullied, who through thy rare virtue didst exhale from thy dead body the sweet fragrance of paradise, make it thy care that by our life we may both edify our neighbor and never more by our bad example become a stumbling-block to others.

Hail Mary, three times.

Lady unsullied, at the sight of whose sacred body were healed innumerable maladies, may thy prayers heal all our spiritual ills.

Hail Mary, three times.

Let us rejoice at the glory given to the dead body of Mary, while with the fourth choir of the angels we exalt her majesty, saying:

The Litany, etc.

The holy Mother of God is exalted, etc., as on page 335.

FIFTH DAY.

Come, Holy Ghost, etc., as on page 231; O Queen of all the virgin choir, etc., as on page 333.

GLORY OF MARY AFTER DEATH.

In the resurrection of her body.

Consider how glorious Mary was after death, since by the power of the Most High her sacred body, raised to life, acquired in an instant the gifts of brightness, subtlety, agility, and impassibility; and, filled with consolation at the excellence of her surpassing glory, let us thus invoke her:

Lady exalted, who by thy God wast so gloriously raised to life, help us so to live on earth that we, too, like thee, may rise again on the last judgment day.

Hail Mary, three times.

Lady exalted, whose risen body was endowed with the gifts of brightness and subtlety, by the bright example and the humility of thy life on earth, oh! take from us all movements of disdain and scorn, that, freed from the trammels of self-love, our souls may be adorned with holy humility.

Hail Mary, three times.

Lady exalted, God made thy risen body glorious with the gifts of agility and impassibility, because great was thy spiritual zeal and patience while on earth, oh! obtain for us courage to mortify with vigor our bodies, and to curb with patience our headstrong passions.

Hail Mary, three times.

Let us give to Mary the praise which is due to her and magnify the glory which adorns her risen body, while with the fifth choir of the angels we honor her, saying:

The Litany, etc.

The holy Mother of God is exalted, etc., as on page 335.

SIXTH DAY.

Come, Holy Ghost, etc., as on page 231; O Queen of all the virgin choir, etc., as on page 333.

GLORY OF MARY AFTER DEATH.

In her assumption into heaven.

Consider how Mary was gloriously taken up to heaven, for she was escorted by legions of the heavenly hosts and by blessed souls delivered by her merits from purgatory; and, joining in the majesty of her triumph, let us with all humility offer to her our supplications:

Great Queen, assumed so royally into the kingdom of eternal peace, oh! take from us all sordid earthly thoughts, and give us grace to fix our hearts firmly on the contemplation of the changeless bliss of heaven.

Hail Mary, three times.

Great Queen, who in thy assumption into heaven wast surrounded by the heavenly hosts, obtain for us strength to master Satan’s wiles and to lend a docile ear to the good counsels of that blessed Spirit who directs our path and aids our tottering steps.

Hail Mary, three times.

Great Queen, by the glory which thou didst enjoy in thy assumption into heaven from the company of the souls drawn by thy merits out of purgatory, obtain for us, that, freed from the slavery of sin, we may deserve to praise thee for all eternity.

Hail Mary, three times.

Let us not cease to applaud Mary’s royal triumph and the extraordinary glory which she obtained in her solemn assumption into heaven, but with the sixth choir of the angels let us honor her, saying:

The Litany, etc.

The holy Mother of God is exalted, etc., as on page 335.

SEVENTH DAY.

Come, Holy Ghost, etc., as on page 231; O Queen of all the virgin choir, etc., as on page 333.

GLORY OF MARY AFTER DEATH.

In her assumption into heaven.

Consider how glorious Mary is in heaven, where, as Queen of the universe, she is enthroned, and from countless hosts of angels and of saints is ever receiving homage and veneration. Wherefore, bending before her royal throne, we, too, implore her aid:

Sovereign Queen of the universe, who, through thy incomparable merit, art raised to such high glory in heaven, oh! in thy pity, look down on us and on our miseries, and with the gentle sway of thy protection rule over us.

Hail Mary, three times.

Sovereign Queen of the universe, who on thy throne art ever receiving worship and homage from all the heavenly hosts, suffer us, we beseech thee, to address thee, and grant that our invocations may be made with such reverence as befits thy dignity and greatness.

Hail Mary, three times.

Sovereign Queen of the universe, by that glory which accrues to thee from thy preëminent dignity in heaven, vouchsafe to take us for thy servants, and obtain for us that we may be quick and ready in the faithful observance of the commands of our God and Lord.

Hail Mary, three times.

Let us enter in some way into the joy which angels feel while they praise Mary, and be exceedingly glad, because we know that she is raised to the dignity of Queen of the universe, while with the seventh choir of the angels we say:

The Litany, etc.

The holy Mother of God is exalted, etc., as on page 335.

EIGHTH DAY.

Come, Holy Ghost, etc., as on page 231; O Queen of all the virgin choir, etc., as on page 333.

GLORY OF MARY AFTER DEATH.

From the crown which adorns her brow.

Consider how glorious Mary is in heaven from the royal diadem wherewith her divine Son hath crowned her, and from the vast knowledge which she has of the deep mysteries of God, past, present, and to come; and, full of reverence for the incomparable honors bestowed upon our great Queen, let us have recourse to her, saying:

Peerless Queen, who in heaven on high wast crowned with a priceless royal diadem by thy divine Son, make us share thy matchless virtues, that, purified in heart and mind, we may be worthy to wear a crown with thee in paradise.

Hail Mary, three times.

Peerless Queen, by that wide knowledge of all things in and on earth granted thee, for thy glory’s sake win pardon for our past offences, and never let us anger thee again by forward tongue or wanton thought.

Hail Mary, three times.

Peerless Queen, who would see us pure and stainless that we may be fit to stand before thy God, obtain for us forgiveness of our sins, and help us ever in look and word and deed to please his heavenly majesty.

Hail Mary, three times.

Let us purify our hearts to give meet praise to Mary, and to the glory she possesses in that bright crown which decks her royal brow let us add these humble tokens of our love, while with the joy of the eighth choir of the angels saying:

The Litany, etc.

The holy Mother of God is exalted, etc., as on page 335.

NINTH DAY.

Come, Holy Ghost, etc., as on page 231; O Queen of all the virgin choir, etc., as on page 333.

GLORY OF MARY AFTER DEATH.

In her patronage of men.

Consider how glorious Mary is in heaven by her patronage of men, and because she is able and most anxious to aid them in their needs. With most lively confidence, because for our patroness we have the very Mother of our God, let us with all our heart beseech her:

Mary, our most powerful patroness, who in heaven dost glory in being the advocate of men, preserve us from our infernal foe, and place us in the arms of him who is our God and our Creator.

Hail Mary, three times.

Mary, our most powerful patroness, who in heaven art the advocate of men, and dost wish that all men should be saved, grant that none of us despair when we behold our past relapses into sin.

Hail Mary, three times.

Mary, our most powerful patroness, whose delight it ever is, in the fulfilment of thine office, to be invoked by men, obtain for us true devotion, and make it thy care that we never fail to call thee to our aid in life, and, above all, at the awful moment of our death.

Hail Mary, three times.

Let us celebrate with all our heart the glory of Mary, and, full of consolation at the thought that we have in heaven an advocate, let us unite with the ninth choir of the angels in praising her, while we say:

The Litany, etc.

The holy Mother of God is exalted, etc., as on page 333.

For making the above novena an indulgence of three hundred days every day, and a plenary indulgence on the festival itself or on any day of its octave.—Pius VII., Aug. 4 and Nov. 24, 1808; Jan. 11, 1809.