We encourage you, through this novena - drawn from the official prayer of the Diocese of Rome - to ask for the intercession of St. John Paul II and Our Blessed Mother for the New Evangelization of the Church. In light of the new challenges the Church faces in the contemporary world, St. John Paul II said it is the "supreme duty" of the Church to "proclaim Christ to all peoples" (Redemptoris Missio, 3).
Together in prayer, let's follow his call. On behalf of my fellow Marians and Marian Helpers around the world, I invite you to join in this novena as we pray that the Light of Christ may shine ever more brightly to all the corners of the world.
You'll find below that on each of the nine days, we have chosen a specific intention for the New Evangelization.
- Fr. Joseph, MIC
Director of the Association of Marian Helpers
Oct. 13: Our Holy Father
Oct. 14: Our Bishops
Oct. 15: Our Priests and Deacons
Oct. 16: Religious and Consecrated
Oct. 17: Lay Apostles and Teachers
Oct. 18: Married Couples and Families
Oct. 19: The Youth
Oct. 20: Sick and Suffering
Oct. 21: Holy Souls in Purgatory
Oct. 22: Happy Feast Day of St. John Paul II.
Day Nine: Preparing the world for the Second Coming
We pray especially for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.
Meditation
Saint John Paul II, when you dedicated the international Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Lagiewniki, Poland, in 2002, you said, "I wish solemnly to entrust the world to Divine Mercy. I do so with the burning desire that the message of God's merciful love, proclaimed here through Saint Faustina, may be made known to all the peoples of the earth and fill their hearts with hope. May this message radiate ... throughout the world. May the binding promise of the Lord Jesus be fulfilled: from here there must go forth 'the spark which will prepare the world for his final coming'" (see Diary, 1732). Through your powerful intercession, help us to do our part to spread this message of Divine Mercy and prepare the world for the Second Coming of Jesus.
Prayer
"God, merciful Father, in your Son, Jesus Christ, you have revealed your love and poured it out upon us in the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. We entrust to you today the destiny of the world and of every man and woman. Bend down to us sinners, heal our weakness, conquer all evil, and grant that all the peoples of the earth may experience your mercy. In You, the Triune God, may they ever find the source of hope. Eternal Father, by the Passion and Resurrection of your Son, have mercy on us and upon the whole world!" Amen.
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If you missed a day of this novena, fear not. Read this.