Novena To Saint Maria Goretti
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
For the intentions of the Holy Father say one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.
Recite the prayer for the appropriate day of the Novena:
DAY ONE
Most lovable Saint Maria, who valued your purity above any earthly gain,
and who sealed this choice with a martyr's death, obtain for me also a
strong love of this virtue, so consoling to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The pleasures of the world create
many temptations for me. I turn to your powerful intercession in
Heaven, so that with this help I may remain ever loyal to God, no
matter what the price. In danger inspire me to repeat with you, "No, it
is a sin!" Amen.
DAY TWO
Dear Saint Maria Goretti, model of loving obedience to parents, teach me to
imitate your example. Help me to overcome all selfishness and stubborn
pride, draw my parents to you, then lead me to accept this authority
as the Voice of God in my life. Help them to direct me aright and
enable me to obey their every wish. Amen.
DAY THREE
Dear Saint Maria, you were ready for the moment of martyrdom because
your short life was given over to daily and heroic self-denial. Your
great love of the Sacred Hearts made all this possible. Teach me to
love Jesus and His Blessed Mother, so that I too will be inspired to
daily self-denial. I am inclined to pamper myself, to gratify my
senses, and to excuse myself from all penance. This keeps me from being
a true follower of Christ. Help me, lovable Little Martyr, to a sincere
practice of self-denial, so that I may be your worthy follower and
thus gain Heaven for all Eternity. Amen.
DAY FOUR
Dear Saint Maria, your days were spent in the filth of the marshes,
willingly helping your desperately poor parents and family. Obtain for
me the grace to accept my present circumstances in life, no matter how
difficult or humiliating they may be. "Just one little drop of water"
as the only request that fell from your parched lips during those last
horrible hours of life. How much I demand, how unhappy I am when I
cannot have my share of the world's conveniences and gaudy attractions!
Teach me by your heroic example to be content with what I have, to be
grateful for the blessings God has already showered upon me. Amen.
DAY FIVE
Dear Saint Maria, I depend a great deal upon the help of my friends in time
of trouble or sorrow. I look for their approval in many things I do. I
am disconsolate and lonely when they desert me. Through your powerful
intercession in Heaven, obtain for me the grace to place all my
confidence in God. Only by walking constantly in His presence and
depending upon His help, will I have the courage to stand up for His
laws, even though it may mean loss of friends, criticism and complete
removal of worldly comfort. Help me to look for all of my strength in
Him. Amen.
DAY SIX
Dear Saint Maria, help me to greater love of my Faith. I have many
God-given opportunities to study it but, sad to say, I neglect them. I
am even critical of the Priests, Brothers and Sisters who offer their
lives that I may better know and love my holy religion. Dear Saint Maria
Goretti, teach me to be thankful for these graces which you did not
have. Make me proud of my Faith and ready to die for it, if God should
require that of me. Amen.
DAY SEVEN
Dear Saint Maria, never was Jesus more welcome in a human heart than in
yours. The Great Day of First Communion could not come quickly enough.
In borrowed clothes and head crowned with flowers of the field, you
knelt to receive Him into your soul, so rich with Innocence and Love,
and this after months of keen anticipation!
O Powerful Intercessor with the Lamb of God, inflame my soul with your
"ardent longing to receive Jesus in the Eucharist." Obtain for me the
grace to put aside laziness and indifference, so that I may often, even
daily, allow myself to be consumed in the "burning Furnace of Charity."
Teach me what true Love really is! Amen.
DAY EIGHT
Dear Martyr Maria, to the last you followed your beloved Jesus! He, while
hanging upon His Cross of Suffering, uttered through parched lips,
"Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!" And you upon
your bed of pain, burning with fever, forgave your murderer with the
words, "I too, pardon him... I too, wish him to join me in Paradise!
Grant me the grace, O Heroic Saint, to be charitable to others! Much of my
time is spent on vengeful thoughts, seeking how I may pay back to
others the harm they have done to me. Teach me to forgive, so that I
may not only gain Heaven, but also lead others there who might
otherwise be doomed to Hell. If I am to follow Christ, help me to
imitate His Charity, even as you have done. Amen.
DAY NINE
Dear Saint Maria Goretti, once again I turn to you, and beg of you in the
words of Our Holy Father, Pope Pius XII, that "serenity of spirit and
deep joy which is the heritage of those who are pure of heart." Help me
to turn to Our Blessed Lady, confident in the hope that she will take
my hand as she did yours, and lead me on to Paradise, my heavenly
country, there to enjoy with you and Her, the company of God the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit for all Eternity. Amen.
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Add "pray for us" after each title:
Holy Mary Virgin most renowned Queen of martyrs
Holy Mother of God Virgin most powerful Queen of confessors
Holy Virgin of virgins Virgin most merciful Queen of virgins
Mother of Christ Virgin most faithful Queen of all saints
Mother of the Church Seat of wisdom Queen conceived without original sin
Mother of divine grace Cause of our joy Queen assumed into heaven
Mother most pure Spiritual vessel Queen of the most holy Rosary
Mother most chaste Vessel of honor Queen of the family
Mother inviolate Health of the sick Queen of Peace
Mother undefiled Refuge of sinners Singular vessel of devotion
Mother most amiable Mystical Rose Comfort of the afflicted
Mother most admirable Help of Christians Tower of David
Mother of good counsel Mirror of justice Tower of ivory
Mother of our Creator Queen of patriarchs House of gold
Mother of our Savior Queen of prophets Ark of the Covenant
Virgin most prudent Queen of apostles Gate of Heaven
Virgin most venerable Queen of angels Morning star
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray
Grant, we beseech You, O Lord God,
that we Your servants, may enjoy lasting health of mind and body,
and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin,
be delivered from present sorrow and enter into the joy of eternal happiness.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Precious Blood of Jesus, save us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Prayer To Saint Maria Goretti
Saint Maria Goretti, strengthened by God's grace, you did not hesitate, even at the age of eleven, to sacrifice life itself to defend your virginal purity. Look graciously on the unhappy human race that has strayed far from the path of eternal salvation. Teach us all, and especially our youth, the courage and promptness that will help us avoid anything that could offend Jesus. Obtain for me this grace I earnestly beg of you, (here mention your request). Obtain for me also a great horror of sin, so that I may live a holy life on earth and win eternal glory in heaven. Amen.
Say one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.
Saint Maria Goretti, pray for us!
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.