Archbishop Eamon is inviting priests and bishops to join with him, after the Angelus on the Feast of the Annunciation on 25 March, in consecrating Ireland and her people to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for protection from the coronavirus. From Saint Patrick’s Day, in preparation for the Feast, you are invited to pray a daily Novena to help us reflect on God’s Word especially so in the absence of public Mass. The faithful are encouraged to prepare a suitable prayer space with a crucifix, holy picture, or simply a candle. The Rosary can be prayed after the Gospel and before the Novena prayer given for each of the nine days.
Act of Consecration for 25 March
Click here to download the Act of Consecration for use on 25 March.
Prayer of Consecration of Ireland to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Daily Novena Prayer and Gospel
Please see below the daily Novena Prayer and the Gospel for today.
Introduction
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“In truth I tell you once again, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it
will be granted to you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three meet in my
name, I am there among them.” Mt: 18:19-20
The Word was made Flesh in the Womb of the Virgin Mary and she presented to the World the One who is the source of life. We are invited to welcome the word of God in our hearts, as Mary did, so that we can bring to others the life and hope that we ourselves have received.
In these days, beginning on the Evening of St. Patrick’s Day and leading up to the Feast of the Annunciation, we hope that these Novena Prayers may help you to ponder God’s Word, even in the absence of public Mass. If possible, prepare a suitable prayer space with a crucifix, holy picture or even a simple candle. Feel free, if time allows, to add the Rosary after the Gospel and before the Novena prayer given for each day.
As you may be aware, of course, Mass is being broadcast on web-cam or parish radio from many Churches and we encourage you to participate if you can.
As you light the candle pray:
Lord Jesus you came as a light that shines in darkness and a light that darkness cannot overpower (Jn: 1:5) – enlighten our hearts and minds to your presence in our midst.
Act of Penance
For the times when we have failed to love God and to love each other we ask for
God’s forgiveness.
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy,
Lord have mercy.
We Pray
Jesus, for our salvation You willingly humbled Yourself, becoming Man in the womb
of the Virgin Mother, grant me through the mystery of Your holy Incarnation the
virtue of humility that I may ever please God as Your Mother did, by meekness and
lowliness in this world, and be exalted by You in eternity.
Novena Prayers
Mary, dear Mother of my Saviour, I greet you and I thank you for having received
the message of the Archangel Gabriel: “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee”
(Luke I:28) and for having answered with your consent, “Behold the handmaid of
the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word.” (Luke 1:38) Intercede for me
that God the Father, who accepted you as His Daughter and the Mother of His Son
because of your humility at the Annunciation, may accept me as His humble child.
Amen
Eighth day of the Novena: Mary, handmaid of the Lord Then Mary said “I am the Handmaid of the Lord” (Luke I:38)
Let us pray: O God, our loving Father, You infused into our hearts the gifts of service, charity and vocation. We come to You in humility. Grant us the spirit of divine love so that that we may imitate the Blessed Virgin Mary. Teach us how to genuinely serve, unconditionally respond to, and lovingly care for our family and brethren. Help us to respond to Your call so that we may become worthy instruments of Your divine work. Father God, we know that even before we heed Your call, You have already planned all things for us. Help us to understand that You must be first in our lives, Give us a heart that always desires to love, care, and serve. All these we pray through the mighty name of Jesus Christ our Lord and through the intercession of the Our lady of the Annunciation. Amen.
Gospel for Tuesday 24 March, A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (5:1-3.5-16) The man was cured at once.
There was a Jewish festival, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now at the Sheep Pool in Jerusalem there is a building, called Bethzatha in Hebrew, consisting of five porticos; and under these were crowds of sick people – blind, lame, paralysed. One man there had an illness which had lasted thirty-eight years, and when Jesus saw him lying there and knew he had been in this condition for a long time, he said, ‘Do you want to be well again?’ ‘Sir,’ replied the sick man ‘I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is disturbed; and while I am still on the way, someone else gets there before me.’ Jesus said, ‘Get up, pick up your sleeping-mat and walk.’ The man was cured at once, and he picked up his mat and walked away. Now that day happened to be the sabbath, so the Jews said to the man who had been cured, ‘It is the sabbath; you are not allowed to carry your sleeping-mat’. He replied, ‘But the man who cured me told me, “Pick up your mat and walk. “They asked, ‘Who is the man who said to you, “Pick up your mat and walk”?’ The man had no idea who it was, since Jesus had disappeared into the crowd that filled the place. After a while Jesus met him in the Temple and said, ‘Now you are well again, be sure not to sin any more, or something worse may happen to you.’ The man went back and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had cured him. It was because he did things like this on the sabbath that the Jews began to persecute Jesus.
The Gospel of the Lord.
ENDS
Click here to download the full Novena in Preparation for the Feast of the Annunciation.
