NOVENA TO CHRIST KING
in preparation for the Liturgical Feast
of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Written by Prince Cardinal Adam Stefan Sapieha, Archbishop of Krakow
Day Six
Contemplating the Holy Family
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
Luke 2:51
He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
“Loving the family means being able to appreciate its values and capabilities, fostering them always. Loving the family means identifying the dangers and the evils that menace it, in order to overcome them. Loving the family means endeavouring to create for it an environment favourable for its development. The modern Christian family is often tempted to be discouraged and is distressed at the growth of its difficulties; it is an eminent form of love to give it back its reasons for confidence in itself, in the riches that it possesses by nature and grace, and in the mission that God has entrusted to it. “Yes indeed, the families of today must be called back to their original position. They must follow Christ.”... St Pope John Paul II, The Adhortation Familiaris Consortio, 86
Prayer: God, Father of mankind! You who came into this world through a family and showed it to us as a visible sign of love, mutual respect and kindness, let us learn to love anew, over and over again and find a way to happiness through contemplating the ideal of the Holy Family of Nazareth. Jesus, who hast sanctified family life through Your Incarnation, to You we entrust every family, both such that lives separated from genuine happiness and such that enjoys the Divine gift of grace.
True happiness consists in a faithful fulfilment of the Divine will and the Nazarethan atmosphere of warmth and modesty. Watch over all Catholic families on, give them Your blessing and let them find the true values that constitute and unite the family and are a way to find Your peace. Amen
Prayer to Jesus Christ King of the Universe
by Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha (1927)
O Jesus, Lord of our hearts and immortal King of centuries, we hereby solemnly swear to You to stand faithfully by Your throne and by You. We swear never to blemish Your standard with unbelief, sectarianism or any other apostasy. We vow to You to persevere in the holy Catholic faith until we die.
May our posterity engrave it on our tombstones that we were never embarrassed because of our faith in You, Jesus the King and Your Gospel. May You reign in our hearts through grace. May You reign in our families through family virtues. May You reign in our schools through genuine Catholic upbringing.
May You reign in our society through justice and concord. May You reign everywhere, always and forever. May Your standard be a guide for us all, may Your Kingdom extend to every corner of the earth! Amen
Let us pray: Almighty God, the powerful King of all creation, we humbly beseech You to send the hosts of angels for our protection so that we may serve You with devotion, with no hindrance and in peace. We beseech You through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen
AnaStpaul 