Novena to St. Valentine

Whose sacred body is deposited under the high altar of the Carmelite Church, Whitefriar-street, Dublin.

V. Incline unto my aid, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

1. O most glorious martyr of Jesus, saint Valentinus, who received the palm and crown of martyrdom; and now, full of merits, enjoys and possesses the mansions of the blessed, behold us before thee, humbly praising and thanking divine Providence, which, through thee, our advocate, has poured on us signal favours. We supplicate thee to look down upon us, abject creatures, in this vale of tears, and intercede with God, that we may obtain grace to live and die in holiness; and that whatever temporal blessings we may receive, may be available to our eternal happiness: through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.

Our Father, &c. Hail Mary, &c. Glory, &c.

2. O glorious advocate and protector, St. Valentinus, look with pity upon our wants, hear our supplications, attend unto our prayers, relieve by thy intercession the miseries under which we labour, and obtain for us the divine blessing, that we may be found worthy to join thee in praising the Almighty for all eternity: through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our Father, &c. Hail Mary, &c. Glory, &c.

3. Most glorious martyr, St. Valentinus, illustrious champion of the church, who offered up thy body as a willing sacrifice to the faith of Jesus, and thus triumphed over death and hell, intercede with God for us, that our faith may be firm and persevering; that we may overcome the impediments which might deprive us of the beatific vision of the Lord; and that we attain to everlasting happiness: through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our Father, &c. Hail Mary, &c. Glory, &c.

ANTHEM.

O BLESSED Valentinus, may we possess the same spirit of love and fortitude which our Lord Jesus Christ infused into thy heart.

HYMN.

O GOD, the lot, the crown, the gain,
Of soldiers in thy service slain!
Make us forsake our sinful ways,
Who meet to sing this martyr’s praise.

This saint esteeming worldly joys,
As pleasing cheats, deceitful toys,
And bitter, too, with secret gall,
For bliss above despised them all.

He bravely ran his painful race,
And look’d his torments in the face;
For thee he fearless sheds his blood,
And wades to heaven thro’ the flood.

To thee, O gracious Lord, we fly,
Beseeching thee with humble cry,
That, by this martyr’s triumph, we
From sin may be absolv’d by thee.

To God the Father, and the Son,
And Holy Spirit—three in one—
Be equal glory, equal praise,
For an eternal length of days. Amen.

V. thou hast crowned him, O Lord, with glory and honour.

R. And placed him over the works of thy hands.

LET US PRAY.

GRANT, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that we who honour the triumphs of blessed Valentinus, thy martyr, may, by his intercession, be strengthened in the love of thy name: through our Lord Jesus Christ, who livest and reignest with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

N.B.—An Indulgence of 40 days may be obtained on every day in the year, by all those, who being truly penitent, and having confessed, and received the holy communion, shall devoutly recite three times, a Pater, Ave, and Glory be to the Father, &c. in the church of the Carmelites, Whitefriar-street, in honour of St. Valentinus, martyr, and according to the intention of his holiness, the Pope.

Also a Plenary Indulgence on the 8th of November in each year, being the anniversary of the translation of the saint’s body.