Novena to St. Rose of Lima

August 30th.

1. Admirable St. Rose, who, in your earliest youth wast determined to walk in the path of holiness, and made a vow of perpetual virginity, and rejected with disdain the very idea of marriage: obtain for us the grace so to conduct ourselves at all times, as to edify our neighbour, especially by the practice of holy purity. Gloria.

2. Admirable St. Rose, who, not satisfied with finding your only delight in prayer, in which you employed the greatest part of the day, wast equally devoted to the practices of penance, living on bread and water, sleeping on a table, giving yourself disciplines unto blood, wearing on your body a garment woven of horsehair, and on your head a crown of sharp spikes: obtain for us all to take delight in the exercise of prayer, which is the key to all treasures, and in that of penance, which is a most powerful means of triumphing over our passions, and of continually advancing in Christian justice. Gloria.

3. Admirable St. Rose, who wast for five years troubled with the most dreadful suggestions of the infernal enemy, and tried with the most distressing aridity, to which was added the severest corporal suffering, by that profound humility with which you received the divine blessing, always preserving the lowest opinion of yourself, and by your heroic resignation in all sufferings, desiring to bear more instead of pouring forth lamentations: obtain for us the grace to receive, with sentiments of humility and gratitude, all the divine favours, and to be always patient in adversity, that we may attain at length to the eternal salvation of our souls, and the perpetual glorification of our bodies. Gloria.