Novena to St. Francis de Sales

January 29th.

1. O true marvel of innocence and purity, glorious St. Francis, who, despising the comforts and luxuries of your station, sought from your earliest years continual mortification of your flesh; and not satisfied to afflict your body with fasts and hair shirts in order to resist the most dangerous temptations, consecrated yourself to God by a vow of perpetual virginity: obtain for us of the Lord the grace so to fight continually against our sensual appetites, that, keeping ourselves like you chaste and pure even unto death, we may obtain with you the blessedness promised to the pure in heart. “Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God.” Gloria.

2. O true marvel of meekness and sweetness, glorious St. Francis, who, when falsely accused and loaded with insults at home and abroad; when contradicted in your most holy designs, calumniated for your charity, never gave way to the slightest emotion of anger, or made a single complaint, but replied only with prayers and benefits to those who persecuted you: obtain for me of the Lord the grace to endeavour continually to mortify my anger, that, preserving like you peace and tranquillity amidst persecutions, I may obtain, with you, the blessedness promised to the meek: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the land.” Gloria.

3. O true marvel of humility, glorious St. Francis, who, gifted with great talents, possessed of abundant wealth, venerated by Catholics, feared by heretics, consulted by Popes, and desired by Kings, never felt the smallest movement of vanity; but studiously kept your merits concealed from the eyes of the world, generously refusing the most honourable stations: obtain for me from the Lord, the grace to fight against self-love, so that living like you a hidden life in Jesus Christ, and offering all I have to Him I may obtain the blessedness promised to the poor in spirit: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Gloria.

4. O true marvel of charity, glorious St. Francis, who, although continually united to God by contemplation and prayer, knew how to become, like the apostle, all things to all men, devoting yourself perpetually to the assistance of the poor, the consolation of the afflicted, the defence of the oppressed, the instruction of the ignorant, the correction of sinners, the support of the weak, and the perfecting of the strong; obtain for me of the Lord the grace to employ all my powers, not for my own sanctification alone, but for that of my neighbours also; that continually spreading abroad the sweet odour of Jesus Christ by my words and works, I may attain with you to the blessedness promised to the merciful: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” Gloria.

5. O true marvel of patience and resignation, Glorious St. Francis, who wast tried by God with such great afflictions, sometimes by the death of those most dear to you, sometimes by doubts of your salvation or by deep desolation of spirit, sometimes by the ruin of your designs, yet, always tranquil and serene, blessed, like Job, the hand which smote you, making all things work together for your good: obtain for me of the Lord the grace of conforming myself in all things to His supreme will, so that, resting my hopes on Him alone, and remaining always faithful to Him amidst the most disastrous circumstances, I may possess with you the blessedness promised to the peace-maker: “Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God.” Gloria.

6. O true marvel of zeal, glorious St. Francis, who, being sent as an apostle amongst the heretics, feared no labour to gain souls to Jesus Christ, and joyfully encountered all the inconveniences of the journeys, the rigours of the season, the snares of your enemies, always ready like a good shepherd to give your life for your sheep, and to become anathema for the salvation of souls: obtain for me of the Lord the grace never to allow myself to be overcome by difficulties in the practice of devotion, or in the execution of my duties; that I may attain with you to the blessedness promised to those who hunger and thirst after justice: “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice, for they shall have their fill.” Gloria.

7. O true marvel of penance, glorious St. Francis, who not content to bear, like the Apostle, the mortification of Jesus Christ in your members, sighed and groaned like another Jeremiah over the losses and desolation of the Church of God, and never ceased your tears till, by your labours, you brought more than seventy thousand heretics into the way of salvation: obtain for me of the Lord the grace to bewail my own sins, and to weep over the sins of others, that I may attain to the blessedness of those that mourn: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Gloria.

8. O true marvel of courage, glorious St. Francis, who,—surrounded by dangers, combatted by temptations, attacked by calumnies, and persecuted even to death by those for whom you had laboured to procure eternal life,—offered yourself as a victim ready to be immolated for the salvation of others, and for the glory of God: obtain for me of the Lord the grace courageously to despise whatever the world shall say, so that persevering to the end in the Divine service, I may attain with you to the blessedness promised to those who suffer persecution for justice sake: “Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Gloria.

9. O true marvel of holiness, glorious St. Francis, who knew how to unite the simplicity of the dove with the prudence of the serpent, the conversation of the world with the recollection of the cloister, and the austerity of the desert; who, enriched with all the gifts of the Spirit, wast able to open to the lovers of piety a new life by which, with ease and delight, they might arrive at the most sublime sanctity: obtain for me that I may follow your holy instructions; that living like you in the bright light of faith, after sanctifying myself and edifying others in justice, I may become not only an admirer of your merits, but a sharer in the glory which you enjoy with the angels and saints in Paradise, where those who edify others shall shine like stars for ever and ever: “They that instruct to justice, shall shine as stars for all eternity.” Gloria.