Novena to Saint John of the Cross(December 5–13)

4OPENING NOVENA PRAYER (to be said each day)

LEADER: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

LEADER O glorious St. John of the Cross, through a pure desire of being like Jesuscrucified, you longed for nothing so eagerly as to suffer, to be despised, and to bemade little of by all; and your thirst after sufferings was so burning that your nobleheart rejoiced in the midst of the cruelest torments and afflictions. Grant, I beseechyou, O dear Saint, by the glory which your many sufferings have gained for you, tointercede for me and obtain from God for me a love of suffering, together withstrength and grace to bear with firmness of mind all the trials and adversities whichare the sure means to the happy attainment of all that awaits me in heaven. DearSaint, from your most happy place in glory, hear, I beseech you, my prayers, so thatafter your example, full of love for the cross I may deserve to be your companion inglory. Amen.

Feast of St. John of the Cross, December 14

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4Day 1: Unwavering Faith• Opening Prayer — see above• DAILY PRAYER (LEADER):My glorious father St. John of the Cross;overflowing with love for Mary and forthe cross of her divine Son by which youmerited to become the protector ofafflicted souls, obtain for me from Jesusand Mary, I beseech you, an unwaveringfaith and a love of the cross so deep andso valiant that no possible misfortunewill ever be able to separate me from thelove of my God. Obtain for me also thespecial grace I ask through yourintercession during this novena if it befor the glory of God and for mysalvation.• Mention your petitionsCLOS ING PRAYERS:3 Our Fathers and 3 Hail Marys.

4Day 2: Spirit of Penitence • Opening Prayer — see above• DAILY PRAYER (LEADER):Glorious St. John of the Cross, youpreserved to death in unspottedbrilliancy the radiant whiteness of yourbaptismal innocence, whilenevertheless practicing the most crueland persevering penance. In honorand imitation of this crucifying love, Ientreat you that I may share yourmortified and penitential life so that,even in this world, I may receivethe grace to atone for my many sins,purify my soul, and acquire merit, thatI may also enjoy heaven’s glory withyou. Obtain for me also the specialgrace I ask through your intercessionduring this novena, if it be for theglory of God and for my salvation.• Mention your petitionsCLOS ING PRAYERS:3 Our Fathers and 3 Hail Marys.

Sponsored by Our Lady of Mercy Lay Carmelite Community, Holy Spirit Church.

St. John of the Cross, pray for us.

chaste in soul and body, I may reachheaven where nothing stained may enterand where choirs of virgins follow theLamb wherever He goes. Obtain for mealso the special grace I ask through yourintercession during this novena,if it be for the glory of God and for mysalvation.• Mention your petitionsCLOS ING PRAYERS:3 Our Fathers and 3 Hail Marys.

4Day 7: Humility• Opening Prayer — see page 1• DAILY PRAYER [LEADER]:Blessed father St. John of the Cross, inyou was joined the most profoundhumility to the most sublime knowledgeof the ways of God. Obtain for mereal humility of heart, making me lovehumiliation and contempt that,despairing worldly vanity, I may learnfrom you to esteem only God andheavenly things. Obtain for me also thespecial grace I ask through yourintercession during this novena, if it befor the glory of God and for mysalvation.• Mention your petitionsCLOS ING PRAYERS:3 Our Fathers and 3 Hail Marys.

4Day 8: Comfort inAffilication

• Opening Prayer — see page 1• DAILY PRAYER [LEADER]:St. John of the Cross, my gloriousprotector, in your lifetime you were thefather of the poor, the consoler of theafflicted and the assured refuge ofthe suffering; you worked miracles of

charity for all, miracles which yourepeat even now by means of your holyimages and relics. Deign also to bemy consoler and my father; comfort mein my sorrows and aid me to see inevery cross a pledge of divine mercythat, through the cross, I may gainheaven. Obtain for me, too, the specialgrace I ask through yourintercession during the novena, if it befor the glory of God and for mysalvation.• Mention your petitionsCLOS ING PRAYERS:3 Our Fathers and 3 Hail Marys.

4Day 9: HolyAbandonment

• Opening Prayer — see page 1• DAILY PRAYER [LEADER]:O my loving father St. John of theCross, to imitate more perfectly ourLord, you generously renounced everyconsolation, even the spiritual; prayedto suffer and to be despised for God’ssake; and finally died suffering,happy to be condemned by men. Obtainfor me the grace of abandonment to theWill of God that, placing all my joy andmy hope in the passion of mySavior, I may at last rest eternally withyou in His glory. Obtain for mealso the special grace I ask through yourintercession during this novena,if it be for the glory of God and for mysalvation.• Mention your petitionsCLOS ING PRAYERS:Three Our Fathers and three Hail Marys

Source: Meditations of Carmel,http://www.meditationsfromcarmel.com/

4Day 3: HolyEnlightenment

• Opening Prayer — see page 1• DAILY PRAYER [LEADER]:O my beloved father St. John of theCross, your continual prayer merited foryou the name of Ecstatic Doctor, favoredwith special graces in the guidanceand direction of souls. I humbly beg youto enlighten my soul and to giveme a relish for holy meditation that,detached from earthly things, I maylove God alone and desire heaven only.Obtain for me also the special graceI ask through your intercession duringthis novena, if it be for the gloryof God and for my salvation.• Mention your petitionsCLOS ING PRAYERS:3 Our Fathers and 3 Hail Marys.

4Day 4: Holy Patience• Opening Prayer — see page 1• DAILY PRAYER [LEADER]:Great St. John of the Cross, model ofpatience and generosity, for the gloryof God and for the propagation of theholy reform of Carmel, you enduredgrievous trials and undertook heavylabors, finding, as did St. Paul, joy inopprobrium. Obtain from our Lord forme the grace of unalterable patiencein adversity that I may thereby glorifyGod, have cleansed my souls of everystain, advance in the practice of solidvirtue, and obtain at last the crownpromised to those who suffer for thelove of God. Obtain for me also thespecial grace I ask through yourintercession during this novena, if it befor the glory of God and for mysalvation.

• Mention your petitions

ALL:3 Our Fathers and 3 Hail Marys.

4Day 5: Protection fromTemptation

• Opening Prayer — see page 1• DAILY PRAYER [LEADER]:Dear St. John of the Cross, youexercised dominion over the powers ofhell,often obliging them to relinquish thesouls, as well as the bodies of theirvictims. Have compassion on me; askGod to preserve me from the temptationsand deceits of these wicked spirits, notonly throughout my life, but aboveall at the hour of my death, thatpersevering to the end in the grace andlove of God, I may possess Him withyou forever. Obtain for me also thespecial grace I ask through yourintercession during this novena, if it befor the glory of God and for mysalvation.• Mention your petitionsCLOS ING PRAYERS:3 Our Fathers and 3 Hail Marys.

4Day 6: Purity of Soul andBody

• Opening Prayer — see page 1• DAILY PRAYER [LEADER]:Great St. John of the Cross, favored byour Lord and the glorious Virgin,His mother, in reward for your angeliclife and with the precious gift ofchastity, you converted many souls heldcaptive by the most shamefulpassions. Obtain for me some share in sopriceless a gift that, pure and