Novena to St. Aloysius

The first prayer of this novena is found page 114, beginning, Angelical youth, Aloysius, &c., then say the following prayer.

I ACKNOWLEDGE, O eternal God! that all things I have, or can possess, come from thy merciful goodness I adore all thy divine perfections. I firmly believe that I am in thy sacred presence, that thou beholdest all my actions, and the most secret desires of my heart. I moreover believe without doubting, all the sacred truths the holy Catholic and Apostolic Church believes and teaches, because thou, O my God! hast revealed them, who neither canst deceive nor be deceived.

I am sensible, O my dearest Saviour! that my past sins and infidelities have rendered me disgustful in thy divine eyes. Because they caused thy cruel sufferings, thy bitter death and passion, I most sincerely detest and hate them. Have mercy on my soul, dearest Saviour, redeemed with thy precious blood: I firmly purpose never more to plunge it into like guilt, but diligently to fly every occasion of sin. I do resolve to confess all my crimes, and to make satisfaction for them. It is not upon any merits of my own that I confide, but, O merciful Redeemer! I trust in thy promises and goodness, in thy sufferings, in thy precious blood, to obtain pardon for these my sins, and grace to amend my life, and persevere with fidelity in thy service to my last breath. Amen.

O Glorious St. Aloysius! appointed by the Church of Christ, as a worthy advocate for her children, intercede for me; obtain for me what I ask in this novena, if it be for the glory of God and the good of my soul; or at least, O faithful servant of God! direct my request, that it may turn to the honour of my dear and blessed Redeemer, that through thy patronage he may see in me the effect of his sacred passion and blood.

Omnipotent and eternal God of heaven and earth! who hast been pleased to adorn the ever glorious Virgin Mary with the treasures of heaven, making her a fit habitation for thy divine Son; permit thy servant to offer to thee those virtues which rendered her most pleasing in thy sight; accept in my behalf her pure virginity, her perfect obedience and humility, her poverty, and sufferings, together with the innocence, penance, and perfect resignation of thy worthy St. Aloysius. I beseech thee, grant me a true compunction of heart, give me a true spirit of mortification and humility, that may despise all worldly things, and rest in thee alone. Grant me also the petition I make in this novena, to thy greater honour and glory. Amen.

Here say six times, Our Father, and Hail Mary, &c., and as often, Glory be to the Father, &c., to these subjoin the prayer, beginning, Angelical Youth, most loving protector, &c., page 114, and the Litany of St. Aloysius, and terminate on each day the Prayers for the Novena, by this Antiphon to our Blessed Lady.

Hail, holy Queen! Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee we cry, poor banished sons of Eve. To thee we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping, in this valley of tears; turn, then, most gracious advocate, thy eyes of mercy towards us; and after this our exile ended, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus, O most clement, most pious, and most sweet Virgin Mary!

Vers. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God!

Resp. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray.

O Almighty and eternal God! who, by the co-operation of the Holy Ghost, didst prepare the body and soul of the glorious Virgin Mary, to become a worthy habitation of thy divine Son, grant that we, who rejoice in her commemoration, may, through her intercession, be delivered from present evils and eternal death, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Vers. May the divine assistance remain always with us. Amen.

Those who make this Novena are advised to conform their lives to a practice of those virtues recommended in the six Sundays