Day: November 14, 2023

Novena in Honour of the Presentation
of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple

Feast Day of the Presentation is 21 November

The Third Day

Extract 3 – On How to Prepare to Celebrate
a Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary
By St Alphonsus Liguori (1697-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

“The honohr most dear to the Virgin, is the imitation of her virtues; wherefore, it is well, in every Novena, to propose to one’s self, some special virtue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, particularly adapted to the mystery,
As for example, on the Feast of the Conception, purity of intention;
of her Nativity, the renewing of the spirit and the awakening from tepidity;
of her Presentation, detachment from something to which we are most attached;
of the Annunciation, humility in bearing contempt, &c;
of the Visitation, charity towards the neighbour, alms-giving, &c, or at least, the praying for sinners;
of the Purification, obedience to superiors
and finally, of the Assumption, the practice of detachment, and doing all things as a preparation for death, living as if everyday were to be the last.
In this way, the Novena will prove of great service.”

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.