Tag: dayfournovenachristtheking

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 Four
Behold, your mother

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.

John 19:26-27
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother,
“Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

For the Mother of Christ is glorified as “Queen of the Universe.”   She who at the Annunciation called herself the “handmaid of the Lord” remained throughout her earthly life faithful to what this name expresses.   In this she confirmed that she was a true “disciple” of Christ, who strongly emphasised that his mission was one of service:  the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mt. 20:28).   In this way Mary became the first of those who, “serving Christ also in others, with humility and patience lead their brothers and sisters to that King whom to serve is to reign” and she fully obtained that “state of royal freedom” proper to Christ’s disciples:  to serve means to reign!…(St Pope John Paul II, The Encyclical Redemptoris Mater, 41)

Prayer:  O God, whose sainthood is beyond understanding! Through Your Son Jesus Christ You have given us the paragon of sainthood and the path thereto.   You have involved the Blessed Virgin Mary in the mission of Salvation by making her Christ’s Mother and ours.   May You help us to see and believe that Virgin Mary is, for us, the model of ideal love. May our existence be permeated with the longing to bear love to Jesus and Mary. Mother of Divine Love, be mindful of the faithful gathered in this
temple and all other places where You are glorified and addressed in the world full of misery.    Be mindful of our souls longing to bear indivisible love to your Son and thee. Be mindful of all souls, especially the souls loving your Son, teach them to fulfil His will as faithfully as possible, protect them from all sin and help them to attain perfect love in humility, simplicity and complete devotion to God.   Through Christ, Our Lord, with the Holy Spirit. 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