OUR LADY OF HOPE NOVENA PRAYERSDevotion to Our Lady of Hope is one of the oldest Marian devotions. The first shrine bearing that title was erected at Mezieres in the year 930. On January 17, 1871, Our Lady of Hope appeared in the French village of Pontmain. There she revealed herself as the "madonna of the Crucifix" and gave the world her message of "Hope through Prayer and the Cross." The basilica built at Pontmain by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate is one of the great French pilgrimage places, noted for its miracles of grace. The Oblate Fathers introduced the devotion to America in 1952. The following year they erected the first American shrine to the Madonna of the Crucifix at Essex, New York.

NOVENA PRAYERS (Ant.) I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope. In me is all grace of the way and of the truth, in me is all hope of life and of virtue. Come to me all ye that desire me and be filled with my fruits (Ecclus. 24. 24-16). V. O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Grace, Hope of the World. R. Hear us thy children who cry to thee. LET US PRAY O God, who by the marvelous protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary hast deigned to strengthen us firmly in hope, grant, we beseech Thee, that by persevering in prayer at her admonition, we may obtain the favors we devoutly implore. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen. 3 Hail Marys THE SALVE REGINA Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve, to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. 3 Hail Marys PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF HOPE O Mary, my Mother, I kneel before thee with heavy heart. The burden of my sins oppresses me. The knowledge of my weakness discourages me. I am beset by fears and temptations of every sort. Yet I am so attached to the things of this world that instead of longing for Heaven I am filled with dread at the thought of death. O Mother of Mercy, have pity on me in my distress! Thou art all-powerful with thy Divine Son. He can refuse no request of thy Immaculate Heart. Show thyself a true Mother to me by being my advocate before His throne. O Refuge of Sinners and Hope of the Hopeless, to whom shall I turn if not to thee? Obtain for me, then, O Mother of Hope, the grace of true sorrow for my sins, the gift of perfect resignation to God's Holy Will, and the courage to take up my cross and follow Jesus. Beg of His sacred Heart the special favor that I ask in this novena. (Make your request.) But above all I pray, O dearest Mother, that through thy most powerful intercession my heart may be filled with Holy Hope, so that in life's darkest hour I may never fail to trust in God my Savior; but by walking in the way of His commandments I may merit to be united with Him, and with thee, in the eternal joys of Heaven. Amen. V. Mary, our Hope, have pity on us! R. Hope of the Hopeless, pray for us! 3 Hail Marys THE O DOMINA MEA O Holy Mary, my sovereign Lady, into thy blessed trust and special custody, and into the bosom of thy mercy, I this day and every day, and in the hour of my death, commend my soul and my body. To thee I commit all my hope and happiness, all my anxieties and miseries, my life and the end of my life, that through thy most holy intercession and through thy merits, all my actions may be guided and governed according to thine and thy Son's will.

AmenImprimi Potest: Raymond J. Hunt, O.M.I. Provencial Nihil Obstat: Geo. T. Donnelly, S.T.D., Censor Librorum Imprimatur: +Bryan J. McEntegart, D.D., Bishop of Ogdensburg, Ogdensburg, N.Y., April 2, 1952