Novena in Honour of the Presentation
of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple
Feast Day of the Presentation is 21 November
The Second Day
Extract 2 – On How to Prepare to Celebrate
a Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary
By St Alphonsus Liguori (1697-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor
“But better than all others, are the practices in these Novenas, of internal mortifications – as abstaining from the indulgence of curiosity, either through the eye or the ear;
remaining retired and silent;
obeying, not answering with impatience;
bearing contradictions and other things of the sort, which may be used with less danger of vainglory and greater merit
and, for these, the permission of a director is not needed.
The most useful exercise is to propose, at the beginning, the amending of some fault into which we are most liable to fall.
And, to this end, it is well, at each of the visits above-named, to ask pardon for some past sin, renew the intention of avoiding it in future and implore the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in keeping this resolution.”
The Novena Prayers
“Whoever is a little one, let him come to me” (Prov. 9:4).
Kindly and lovable art thou in thy splendour, O holy Mother of God!
Show me thy face. Let thy words sound in my ears, for thy voice is sweet and thy face is beautiful. Turn to us in thy beauty and loveliness!
Come forth in majesty and reign!
Hail Mary…
O blessed Mother of God, Mary ever Virgin, Temple of the Lord, Sanctuary of the Holy Ghost, thou alone, without an equal hast pleased Our Lord Jesus Christ!
Hail Mary…
Happy indeed art thou, O holy Virgin Mary and most worthy of all praise, for from thee arose the Sun of Justice, Christ our Lord.
Draw us, O Immaculate Virgin; we shall come after thee breathing the sweet fragrance of thy virtues.
Hail Mary…
The Blessed Virgin speaks:
I have asked the Lord for one thing and this shall I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life that I may enjoy the delights of the Lord and visit His temple (Ps. 26:4).
In the holy dwelling place I have ministered before Him (Ecclus. 24:14).
V. Grant that I may praise thee, O holy Virgin.
R. Give me strength against thy enemies.
Let us pray. O God, Who has willed that the Blessed Virgin Mary, herself the dwelling place of the Holy Ghost, should this day be presented in the temple, grant, we pray Thee, that through her intercession, we may be found worthy to be presented in the temple of Thy glory and that our special petition may be heard and granted. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
AnaStpaul 