“The Infant Saint John with the Lamb” by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, 1660-1665
He will be called John.” Lk 1:60 On the second day of our Rosary Novena, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist. John was the precursor of Our Lord. He prepared the way. And proclaimed “make straight the path.” We are reminded today that we must “prepare,” and “make straight the path” for the Lord in our own life. It begins with a frequent reception of Confession. Through this beautiful Sacrament, the God our loving Father pours out His mercy upon our souls. All of our sins are not only forgiven by God, but they are forgotten as if they were never. The Sacrament also gives us a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit. He comes down upon us with many spiritual gifts and graces. We are given what we need to “be holy as my Father in heaven is holy.” Our constant life struggle is becoming the person God has called us to be. Indeed, it is a struggle as St. Paul himself said: “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” Rm 7:15 In the end, Paul became a great saint. He corresponded with the grace of God, and the Lord helped him become all that he could be.
“When we have had the great misfortune to sin, the adorable Blood of Jesus will ask for our forgiveness.” – St. John Vianney
“How many souls we may convert by our prayers! There are some among them for whom one Pater and Ave would be enough to turn the scale.” – St. John Vianney.
The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary
Prayer before the recitation: Sign of the cross. Hail Mary.
In petition (first 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, blood red roses to remind thee of the passion of thy divine Son, with Whom thou didst so fully partake of its bitterness, each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery, each 10 bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God’s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! Thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my petition; from thy bounty thou wilt give me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly seek. I despair of nothing that I ask of thee. Show thyself my Mother!
Say: The Apostles’ Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be.
The Agony in the Garden – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of resignation to the will of God and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
The Scourging at the Pillar – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of mortification and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
The Crowning with Thorns – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of humility and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
The Carrying of the Cross – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of patience in adversity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
The Crucifixion – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of love of our enemies and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
Say: The Hail Holy Queen.
In petition (first 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this spiritual communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow. O my Mother! Look with favor upon my gift, and in thy love obtain for me (specify request). Hail Mary …
Intentions: For the spiritual and temporal needs of Holy Ghost Parish, and the personal intentions of all praying this novena. (Add your own personal intentions.)
