This novena to all of the Fourteen Holy Helpers was written by St.
Alphonsus Liguori. Each of the nine days begins with the same
preparatory prayer and ends with the same Litany of the Fourteen Holy
Helpers and the same Invocation. The litany will be found once at the
bottom of the page. You can download this novena as well: Novena to All the Fourteen Holy Helpers
(pdf, 13 pages)
Jump to:
First
Day: Devotion to the Holy Helpers
Preparatory Prayer
Great princes of heaven, Holy Helpers, who sacrificed to God all your
earthly possessions, wealth, preferment, and even life, and who now are
crowned in heaven in the secure enjoyment of eternal bliss and glory;
have compassion on me, a poor sinner in this vale of tears, and obtain
for me from God, for whom you gave up all things and who loves you as
His servants, the strength to bear patiently all the trials of this
life, to overcome all temptations, and to persevere in God's service to
the end, that one day I too may be received into your company, to
praise and glorify Him, the supreme Lord, whose beatific vision you
enjoy, and whom you praise and glorify for ever. Amen.
Meditation
The practice of honoring and invoking the saints to obtain, through
their intercession, help in the various needs of body and soul, is as
old as the Church. At what period, however, the custom of having
recourse to the fourteen saints called Holy Helpers originated, is
unknown. Nevertheless it is certain that each one of them was invoked
for his intercession with God since his entrance into heaven. Prayer is
the Christian's resource in every difficulty: and difficulties and
trials are never wanting on earth.
Because the needs of mankind on earth are various, the faithful
selected certain saints as intercessors in certain cases of distress,
and obtained relief; hence these saints came to be regarded as special
patrons in such trials, and were called Holy Helpers.
Practice
Make this novena with full confidence in the power of the intercession
of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. During their earthly life they devoted
their whole energy to the spreading of God's kingdom and the relief and
succor of their fellow-men. Much more efficiently can they do so now
when they are in the enjoyment of eternal happiness, and can supplicate
for us at the very throne of God.
The saints can help us through their intercession. God hears their
prayers and He wrought miracles to confirm us in this belief, even
whilst His servants sojourned here on earth. They desire and are
willing to help us. St. Bernard says: "In heaven hearts do not grow
cold; they are rather rendered more affectionate and tender. By
receiving the crown of justice the saints were not hardened against the
sufferings of their brethren on earth."
Therefore, in calling on them, have full confidence in their power and
ability to come to your aid.
Prayer
We beseech Thee, O Lord, to hear the prayer which we send up to Thee in
honor of Thy glorified servants, the Fourteen Holy Helpers: and as we
can not rely upon our own justice, grant our petition through the
intercession of those whose merits have made them especially dear to
Thee. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Pray
the Litany of the Fourteen Holy Helpers <jump>
Invocation of the
Holy Helpers
Fourteen Holy Helpers, who served God in humility and confidence on
earth and are now in the enjoyment of His beatific vision in heaven;
because you persevered till death you gained the crown of eternal life.
Remember the dangers that surround us in this vale of tears, and
intercede for us in all our needs and adversities. Amen.
Fourteen Holy Helpers, select friends of God, I honor you as mighty
intercessors, and come with filial confidence to you in my needs, for
the relief of which I have undertaken to make this novena. Help me by
your intercession to placate God's wrath, which I have provoked by my
sins, and aid me in amending my life and doing penance. Obtain for me
the grace to serve God with a willing heart, to be resigned to His holy
will, to be patient in adversity and to persevere unto the end, so
that, having finished my earthly course, I may join you in heaven,
there to praise for ever God, who is wonderful in His saints. Amen.
Second
Day: The Destiny of Man
Preparatory Prayer
Great princes of heaven, Holy Helpers, who sacrificed to God all your
earthly possessions, wealth, preferment, and even life, and who now are
crowned in heaven in the secure enjoyment of eternal bliss and glory;
have compassion on me, a poor sinner in this vale of tears, and obtain
for me from God, for whom you gave up all things and who loves you as
His servants, the strength to bear patiently all the trials of this
life, to overcome all temptations, and to persevere in God's service to
the end, that one day I too may be received into your company, to
praise and glorify Him, the supreme Lord, whose beatific vision you
enjoy, and whom you praise and glorify for ever. Amen.
Meditation
The Holy Helpers faithfully co-operated with God's designs concerning
their eternal destiny. No obstacle could prevail on them to stray from
the path of duty. Always and everywhere they fulfilled the will of God.
You, too, have an eternal destiny. You are not your own master, but
belong to God, whose servant and property you are. Therefore you must
obey Him, and not your own inclinations; you must do His will, and not
your own. God had the right of requiring our submission to Him without
giving us a reward, because He is Our Lord; nevertheless He promised to
give us Himself in reward for our faithful service. Ought this not be
sufficient inducement for us to serve Him zealously and gratefully?
Remember, moreover, that you shall be unhappy both in this and in the
next world if you do not give yourself entirely to God, for whom you
were created. St. Augustine says: "Thou hast created us for Thee, O
Lord, and our heart remains restless till it rests in Thee."
Practice
Thank God for the undeserved grace of creation and redemption. Make an
act of contrition for having served Him so negligently. Promise
amendment, and invoke the aid of God's grace through the intercession
of the Holy Helpers.
Prayer
O God, who according to the decrees of Thy providence hast created man
for eternal bliss; grant, through the intercession of the Holy Helpers,
that I may attain to my destiny by being united with Thee in this life
and loving and praising Thee for ever in heaven. Amen.
Pray
the Litany of the Fourteen Holy Helpers <jump>
Invocation of the
Holy Helpers
Fourteen Holy Helpers, who served God in humility and confidence on
earth and are now in the enjoyment of His beatific vision in heaven;
because you persevered till death you gained the crown of eternal life.
Remember the dangers that surround us in this vale of tears, and
intercede for us in all our needs and adversities. Amen.
Fourteen Holy Helpers, select friends of God, I honor you as mighty
intercessors, and come with filial confidence to you in my needs, for
the relief of which I have undertaken to make this novena. Help me by
your intercession to placate God's wrath, which I have provoked by my
sins, and aid me in amending my life and doing penance. Obtain for me
the grace to serve God with a willing heart, to be resigned to His holy
will, to be patient in adversity and to persevere unto the end, so
that, having finished my earthly course, I may join you in heaven,
there to praise for ever God, who is wonderful in His saints. Amen.
Third
Day: The Virtue of Faith
Preparatory Prayer
Great princes of heaven, Holy Helpers, who sacrificed to God all your
earthly possessions, wealth, preferment, and even life, and who now are
crowned in heaven in the secure enjoyment of eternal bliss and glory;
have compassion on me, a poor sinner in this vale of tears, and obtain
for me from God, for whom you gave up all things and who loves you as
His servants, the strength to bear patiently all the trials of this
life, to overcome all temptations, and to persevere in God's service to
the end, that one day I too may be received into your company, to
praise and glorify Him, the supreme Lord, whose beatific vision you
enjoy, and whom you praise and glorify for ever. Amen.
Meditation
The Holy Helpers were so thoroughly imbued with the virtue of divine
faith, that they believed its sacred truths with perfect abandonment of
their intellect, will, liberty, and whole being. They wavered not amid
the severest torments, but remained firm until death in the confession
of Christ.
Our time is noted for assaults on the Faith and on the Church that
teaches it. The Church, the depository of divine revelation, is
blasphemed in her doctrine, in her precepts, in her sacraments, in her
ministers, in her cult, in her entire essence. Were you never ashamed
of your Catholic name? What cowardliness, what timidity, what downright
malice!
Practice
Revive your faith by the consideration of the example of the Holy
Helpers. Do not, from human respect, neglect the sanctification of the
Lord's Day, the observance of days of fast and abstinence, the
reception of the holy sacraments, the profession of your belief in the
real presence of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, etc. Meditate
frequently on the words of Christ: "He that shall deny Me before men, I
will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven" (Matt. x. 33).
Prayer
O God, I beseech Thee, through the faith of the Holy Helpers, grant me
the grace to treasure in my heart the doctrines of our holy faith, to
believe them firmly, to confess them bravely, and to live according to
their precepts, that through that same faith I may become worthy to be
admitted to Thy beatific vision in heaven. Amen.
Pray
the Litany of the Fourteen Holy Helpers <jump>
Invocation of the
Holy Helpers
Fourteen Holy Helpers, who served God in humility and confidence on
earth and are now in the enjoyment of His beatific vision in heaven;
because you persevered till death you gained the crown of eternal life.
Remember the dangers that surround us in this vale of tears, and
intercede for us in all our needs and adversities. Amen.
Fourteen Holy Helpers, select friends of God, I honor you as mighty
intercessors, and come with filial confidence to you in my needs, for
the relief of which I have undertaken to make this novena. Help me by
your intercession to placate God's wrath, which I have provoked by my
sins, and aid me in amending my life and doing penance. Obtain for me
the grace to serve God with a willing heart, to be resigned to His holy
will, to be patient in adversity and to persevere unto the end, so
that, having finished my earthly course, I may join you in heaven,
there to praise for ever God, who is wonderful in His saints. Amen.
Fourth
Day: The Virtue of Hope
Preparatory Prayer
Great princes of heaven, Holy Helpers, who sacrificed to God all your
earthly possessions, wealth, preferment, and even life, and who now are
crowned in heaven in the secure enjoyment of eternal bliss and glory;
have compassion on me, a poor sinner in this vale of tears, and obtain
for me from God, for whom you gave up all things and who loves you as
His servants, the strength to bear patiently all the trials of this
life, to overcome all temptations, and to persevere in God's service to
the end, that one day I too may be received into your company, to
praise and glorify Him, the supreme Lord, whose beatific vision you
enjoy, and whom you praise and glorify for ever. Amen.
Meditation
"Hope confoundeth not" (Rom. v. 6). According to the commentators these
words of Holy Scripture are to be understood in the sense that our
works must be in conformity with that which is the object of our hope;
that is, we must live in such a manner that we really merit the reward
of heaven.
We sin against hope also by presumption in God's mercy, by despair, and
by over-confidence in our own righteousness. According to Holy
Scripture we can not, of our own efficacy, perform a good act, but can
do all in Him that strengthens us.
All these truths are exemplified in the lives of the Holy Helpers.
Their hope was based on the firm foundation of faith, and consequently,
like it, firm, constant, and unwavering.
Practice
Like the Holy Helpers, hope to obtain from God all things necessary to
salvation, for "the Lord is good to them that hope in Him, to the soul
that seeketh Him" (Lam. iii. 25). Live so that He can fulfil His
promises. Place no obstacle to His bounty and might by a sinful life.
Prayer
Eternal God of love and mercy, I thank Thee for all the benefits Thou
hast conferred upon me, and hope to obtain, through the intercession of
the Holy Helpers, all the graces necessary for my salvation. Through
Christ our Lord. Amen.
Pray
the Litany of the Fourteen Holy Helpers <jump>
Invocation of the
Holy Helpers
Fourteen Holy Helpers, who served God in humility and confidence on
earth and are now in the enjoyment of His beatific vision in heaven;
because you persevered till death you gained the crown of eternal life.
Remember the dangers that surround us in this vale of tears, and
intercede for us in all our needs and adversities. Amen.
Fourteen Holy Helpers, select friends of God, I honor you as mighty
intercessors, and come with filial confidence to you in my needs, for
the relief of which I have undertaken to make this novena. Help me by
your intercession to placate God's wrath, which I have provoked by my
sins, and aid me in amending my life and doing penance. Obtain for me
the grace to serve God with a willing heart, to be resigned to His holy
will, to be patient in adversity and to persevere unto the end, so
that, having finished my earthly course, I may join you in heaven,
there to praise for ever God, who is wonderful in His saints. Amen.
Fifth
Day: The Love of God
Preparatory Prayer
Great princes of heaven, Holy Helpers, who sacrificed to God all your
earthly possessions, wealth, preferment, and even life, and who now are
crowned in heaven in the secure enjoyment of eternal bliss and glory;
have compassion on me, a poor sinner in this vale of tears, and obtain
for me from God, for whom you gave up all things and who loves you as
His servants, the strength to bear patiently all the trials of this
life, to overcome all temptations, and to persevere in God's service to
the end, that one day I too may be received into your company, to
praise and glorify Him, the supreme Lord, whose beatific vision you
enjoy, and whom you praise and glorify for ever. Amen.
Meditation
The love of God which inflamed the Holy Helpers showed forth in their
whole life, and particularly at their death. We, too, ought to be
inflamed with such love, for without it faith, wisdom, the gift of
tongues, and good works in general, avail nothing; for the love of God
must inspire them all. "And we know that to them that love God, all
things work together unto good" (Rom. viii. 28). Such, and such alone,
will receive the crown of life. Did not God love us first? To redeem us
from sin and eternal death He spared not His only begotten, divine Son.
All goods of life and fortune are gifts of His love, evidences of His
infinite love. And we find it difficult to return this love? How
ungrateful not to love God with your whole heart!
Practice
Imitate the Holy Helpers in their ardent love of God. Implore their
intercession to obtain it. Meditate often on God's love for you, and
your heart will be enflamed with love for Him.
Prayer
O God of mercy and love, I thank Thee from all my heart for the
countless graces which Thy infinite love has bestowed on me. By the
ardent love which the Holy Helpers had for Thee, I implore Thee to
enkindle in my heart the flame of Thy love, so that I may remain in
Thee and Thou in me. Amen.
Pray
the Litany of the Fourteen Holy Helpers <jump>
Invocation of the
Holy Helpers
Fourteen Holy Helpers, who served God in humility and confidence on
earth and are now in the enjoyment of His beatific vision in heaven;
because you persevered till death you gained the crown of eternal life.
Remember the dangers that surround us in this vale of tears, and
intercede for us in all our needs and adversities. Amen.
Fourteen Holy Helpers, select friends of God, I honor you as mighty
intercessors, and come with filial confidence to you in my needs, for
the relief of which I have undertaken to make this novena. Help me by
your intercession to placate God's wrath, which I have provoked by my
sins, and aid me in amending my life and doing penance. Obtain for me
the grace to serve God with a willing heart, to be resigned to His holy
will, to be patient in adversity and to persevere unto the end, so
that, having finished my earthly course, I may join you in heaven,
there to praise for ever God, who is wonderful in His saints. Amen.
Sixth
Day: The Virtue of Charity
Preparatory Prayer
Great princes of heaven, Holy Helpers, who sacrificed to God all your
earthly possessions, wealth, preferment, and even life, and who now are
crowned in heaven in the secure enjoyment of eternal bliss and glory;
have compassion on me, a poor sinner in this vale of tears, and obtain
for me from God, for whom you gave up all things and who loves you as
His servants, the strength to bear patiently all the trials of this
life, to overcome all temptations, and to persevere in God's service to
the end, that one day I too may be received into your company, to
praise and glorify Him, the supreme Lord, whose beatific vision you
enjoy, and whom you praise and glorify for ever. Amen.
Meditation
Charity is one of the fundamental virtues of the Christian religion.
The moral doctrine preached by Christ is comprised in the words: "Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole
soul, and with thy whole mind. This is the greatest and the first
commandment. And the second is like to this. Thou shalt love thy
neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments dependeth the whole law
and the prophets" (Matt. xxii. 37-40).
As in everything else, the Holy Helpers are our exemplars also in
charity. Charity consists in wishing well to our fellow-men, rejoicing
with the glad and sympathizing with the sad, doing good to all,
excusing their faults whenever possible, disclosing them only when
necessary, being friendly, indulgent, meek, and helpful toward them. We
love our neighbor if we succor the poor and distressed, if we harbor no
envy for the rich, if we esteem the just for their virtue, and hate—not
the sinner—but sin. We love our neighbor if we are not content with
harboring these sentiments in our heart, but show them by our actions.
Practice
Endeavor to exercise this charity according to the spirit of Christ.
The love of your neighbor must not be a sentimental affection; it must
not originate in casual qualities of character or rank, in inclination,
etc., but must have the love of God for its motive. We must exercise
charity toward all because God wills it, and in the manner in which He
wills it. "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."
Prayer
O God of charity, who dost will that I love my neighbor for Thy sake,
grant me the grace, through the intercession of the Holy Helpers, to be
animated with that spirit of charity which embraces all and excludes
none, which "is patient, kind, envieth not, dealeth not perversely, is
not puffed up, is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked
to anger, thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth
with the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, endureth all
things, and never falleth away" (1 Cor. xiii. 4-8). Amen.
Pray
the Litany of the Fourteen Holy Helpers <jump>
Invocation of the
Holy Helpers
Fourteen Holy Helpers, who served God in humility and confidence on
earth and are now in the enjoyment of His beatific vision in heaven;
because you persevered till death you gained the crown of eternal life.
Remember the dangers that surround us in this vale of tears, and
intercede for us in all our needs and adversities. Amen.
Fourteen Holy Helpers, select friends of God, I honor you as mighty
intercessors, and come with filial confidence to you in my needs, for
the relief of which I have undertaken to make this novena. Help me by
your intercession to placate God's wrath, which I have provoked by my
sins, and aid me in amending my life and doing penance. Obtain for me
the grace to serve God with a willing heart, to be resigned to His holy
will, to be patient in adversity and to persevere unto the end, so
that, having finished my earthly course, I may join you in heaven,
there to praise for ever God, who is wonderful in His saints. Amen.
Seventh
Day: Human Respect
Preparatory Prayer
Great princes of heaven, Holy Helpers, who sacrificed to God all your
earthly possessions, wealth, preferment, and even life, and who now are
crowned in heaven in the secure enjoyment of eternal bliss and glory;
have compassion on me, a poor sinner in this vale of tears, and obtain
for me from God, for whom you gave up all things and who loves you as
His servants, the strength to bear patiently all the trials of this
life, to overcome all temptations, and to persevere in God's service to
the end, that one day I too may be received into your company, to
praise and glorify Him, the supreme Lord, whose beatific vision you
enjoy, and whom you praise and glorify for ever. Amen.
Meditation
By the conscientious fulfilment of the duties of their state of life
the Holy Helpers show us that the will of God alone was the motive of
all their actions. Human respect, regard for the opinion of others, did
not influence them.
The cowardly fear, "What will people say?" was the ruin of many a soul.
The enemy of mankind is ever intent upon preventing us from doing good
through human respect. He insinuates that virtue and piety are out of
date and ridiculed. From human respect many a person boasts of that
which ought to make him blush; he thinks it discreditable to be less
remiss in his religious obligations than others. Ought the opinion and
ridicule of the world influence us to prevent our pleasing God? St.
Paul says: "If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of
Christ" (Gal. i. 10). Our Lord Himself tells us, "He that shall deny Me
before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven"
(Matt. x. 33).
Practice
Our Lord says: "So let your light shine before men, that they may see
your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. v.
16). Do not stray from the path of duty on account of human respect; do
not let yourself be influenced by the judgments of the world.
Prayer
Merciful God, who gavest the Holy Helpers the grace to fulfil Thy will
regardless of human respect; grant that we may obtain through their
intercession and merits the courage to despise the opinion of men, and
ever serve Thee with a fearless heart. Amen.
Pray
the Litany of the Fourteen Holy Helpers <jump>
Invocation of the
Holy Helpers
Fourteen Holy Helpers, who served God in humility and confidence on
earth and are now in the enjoyment of His beatific vision in heaven;
because you persevered till death you gained the crown of eternal life.
Remember the dangers that surround us in this vale of tears, and
intercede for us in all our needs and adversities. Amen.
Fourteen Holy Helpers, select friends of God, I honor you as mighty
intercessors, and come with filial confidence to you in my needs, for
the relief of which I have undertaken to make this novena. Help me by
your intercession to placate God's wrath, which I have provoked by my
sins, and aid me in amending my life and doing penance. Obtain for me
the grace to serve God with a willing heart, to be resigned to His holy
will, to be patient in adversity and to persevere unto the end, so
that, having finished my earthly course, I may join you in heaven,
there to praise for ever God, who is wonderful in His saints. Amen.
Eighth
Day: Prayer
Preparatory Prayer
Great princes of heaven, Holy Helpers, who sacrificed to God all your
earthly possessions, wealth, preferment, and even life, and who now are
crowned in heaven in the secure enjoyment of eternal bliss and glory;
have compassion on me, a poor sinner in this vale of tears, and obtain
for me from God, for whom you gave up all things and who loves you as
His servants, the strength to bear patiently all the trials of this
life, to overcome all temptations, and to persevere in God's service to
the end, that one day I too may be received into your company, to
praise and glorify Him, the supreme Lord, whose beatific vision you
enjoy, and whom you praise and glorify for ever. Amen.
Meditation
The Holy Helpers, well knowing the efficacy of prayer, assiduously
devoted themselves to it. From it they drew that wonderful strength
which sustained them in their combat for the Faith.
Prayer is the elevation of the mind to God, intercourse with Him by
acts of adoration, praise, thanksgiving, and petition. St. Chrysostom
says of prayer: "Without prayer it is impossible to lead a good life;
for no one can practise virtue except he humbly implores God for it,
who alone can give him the necessary strength. Who ceases to love and
practise prayer, no longer possesses the gifts of the Spirit. But he
that perseveres in the service of God, and deems it an irreparable loss
to miss constant prayer, possesses every virtue and is a friend of God."
Practice
Offer yourself at the beginning of each day to God, and thereby you
will belong to Him throughout its whole course. Renew your consecration
to Him frequently during the day by short acts of virtue and especially
by a good intention, thus rendering all your work a prayer, and you
will attain perfection.
Prayer
O God, I implore Thee through the merits and intercession of the Holy
Helpers, to grant me the spirit of prayer, that following their example
I may walk in Thy presence and ever enjoy the consolation of
intercourse with Thee. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Pray
the Litany of the Fourteen Holy Helpers <jump>
Invocation of the
Holy Helpers
Fourteen Holy Helpers, who served God in humility and confidence on
earth and are now in the enjoyment of His beatific vision in heaven;
because you persevered till death you gained the crown of eternal life.
Remember the dangers that surround us in this vale of tears, and
intercede for us in all our needs and adversities. Amen.
Fourteen Holy Helpers, select friends of God, I honor you as mighty
intercessors, and come with filial confidence to you in my needs, for
the relief of which I have undertaken to make this novena. Help me by
your intercession to placate God's wrath, which I have provoked by my
sins, and aid me in amending my life and doing penance. Obtain for me
the grace to serve God with a willing heart, to be resigned to His holy
will, to be patient in adversity and to persevere unto the end, so
that, having finished my earthly course, I may join you in heaven,
there to praise for ever God, who is wonderful in His saints. Amen.
Ninth
Day: Perseverance
Preparatory Prayer
Great princes of heaven, Holy Helpers, who sacrificed to God all your
earthly possessions, wealth, preferment, and even life, and who now are
crowned in heaven in the secure enjoyment of eternal bliss and glory;
have compassion on me, a poor sinner in this vale of tears, and obtain
for me from God, for whom you gave up all things and who loves you as
His servants, the strength to bear patiently all the trials of this
life, to overcome all temptations, and to persevere in God's service to
the end, that one day I too may be received into your company, to
praise and glorify Him, the supreme Lord, whose beatific vision you
enjoy, and whom you praise and glorify for ever. Amen.
Meditation
A victorious death was the reward of the Holy Helpers' perseverance in
the service of God. During this novena you have, no doubt, formed many
good resolutions, exclaiming with the Royal Prophet, "And I said, now I
have begun" (Ps. lxxvi. 11). But it happens that many, despite their
good will, become remiss in the pursuit of virtue. Satan is assiduously
trying to accomplish their ruin, representing to them and exaggerating
the difficulties to be encountered on the path of virtue. They
hesitate, falter, and finally turn back. This is the most unfortunate
happening that can occur. Of the condition of such a one Our Lord
Himself says: "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh
through places without water, seeking rest; and not finding, he saith:
'I will return into my house whence I came out.' And when he is come,
he findeth it swept and garnished. Then he goeth and taketh with him
seven spirits more wicked than himself, and entering in they dwell
there. And the last state of that man becometh worse than the first"
(Luke xi. 24-26). Are these words not a sufficient warning to encourage
us to persevere in our good resolves?
Practice
In concluding this novena, survey again the depth of that
incomprehensible eternity which is awaiting you. Contemplate in spirit
the endless chain of centuries following each other there in reward or
in punishment. Does this thought not banish all the difficulties of
perseverance?
Prayer
O God, whose mercies are infinite and whose goodness is without limit,
I beseech Thee through the merits and intercession of the Holy Helpers,
grant me the grace of perseverance in Thy love and service to the end.
Thou, who dost dispense so many favors through the Holy Helpers,
despise not my prayer, but graciously hear and grant it. Amen.
Pray
the Litany of the Fourteen Holy Helpers <jump>
Invocation of the
Holy Helpers
Fourteen Holy Helpers, who served God in humility and confidence on
earth and are now in the enjoyment of His beatific vision in heaven;
because you persevered till death you gained the crown of eternal life.
Remember the dangers that surround us in this vale of tears, and
intercede for us in all our needs and adversities. Amen.
Fourteen Holy Helpers, select friends of God, I honor you as mighty
intercessors, and come with filial confidence to you in my needs, for
the relief of which I have undertaken to make this novena. Help me by
your intercession to placate God's wrath, which I have provoked by my
sins, and aid me in amending my life and doing penance. Obtain for me
the grace to serve God with a willing heart, to be resigned to His holy
will, to be patient in adversity and to persevere unto the end, so
that, having finished my earthly course, I may join you in heaven,
there to praise for ever God, who is wonderful in His saints. Amen.
Concluding Prayer
O faithful servants of God and powerful protectors of man, Holy
Helpers! Since Our Lord appointed you the heavenly advocates for our
needs on earth, I confidently turn to you for help in my distress.
Countless numbers praise you for aiding them with counsel in doubt,
with consolation in anxiety, with health in illness, with safety in
danger, with delivery from prison, and with help and assistance in all
tribulations. Therefore I, too, have recourse to you, and implore you
not to refuse me your aid.
Give thanks to God for me for all the graces He granted me during this
novena. I ascribe them to your great merits and powerful intercession.
I thank you all together, and each one in particular, for your interest
in my favor before the throne of God. I commend myself to your
continued protection, that I may one day be united with you in heaven,
there to thank the Giver of all good things and to praise Him for all
eternity. Amen.
Litany of the
Fourteen Holy Helpers
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven, have mercy
on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have
mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on
us.
Holy Mary, queen of martyrs, pray
for us.
St. Joseph, helper in all needs, pray
for us.
Fourteen Holy Helpers, pray for us.
St. George, valiant martyr of Christ, pray
for us.
St. Blase, zealous bishop and benefactor of the poor, pray for us.
St. Erasmus, mighty protector of the oppressed, pray for us.
St. Pantaleon, miraculous exemplar of charity, pray for us.
St. Vitus, special protector of chastity, pray for us.
St. Christophorus, mighty intercessor in dangers, pray for us.
St. Dionysius, shining mirror of faith and confidence, pray for us.
St. Cyriacus, terror of hell, pray
for us.
St. Achatius, helpful advocate in death, pray for us.
St. Eustachius, exemplar of patience in adversity, pray for us.
St. Giles, despiser of the world, pray
for us.
St. Margaret, valiant champion of the Faith, pray for us.
St. Catherine, victorious defender of the Faith and of purity, pray for us.
St. Barbara, mighty patroness of the dying, pray for us.
All ye Holy Helpers, pray for us.
All ye saints of God, pray for us.
In temptations against faith, pray
for us.
In adversity and trials, pray for us.
In anxiety and want, pray for us.
In every combat, pray for us.
In every temptation, pray for us.
In sickness, pray for us.
In all needs, pray for us.
In fear and terror, pray for us.
In dangers of salvation, pray for us.
In dangers of honor, pray for us.
In dangers of reputation, pray for
us.
In dangers of property, pray for us.
In dangers by fire and water, pray
for us.
Be merciful, spare us, O Lord!
Be merciful, graciously hear us, O
Lord!
From all sin, deliver us, O Lord.
From Thy wrath, deliver us, O Lord.
From the scourge of earthquake, deliver
us, O Lord.
From plague, famine, and war, deliver
us, O Lord.
From lightning and storms, deliver
us, O Lord.
From a sudden and unprovided death, deliver
us, O Lord.
From eternal damnation, deliver us,
O Lord.
Through the mystery of Thy holy incarnation, deliver us, O Lord.
Through Thy birth and Thy life, deliver
us, O Lord.
Through Thy cross and passion, deliver
us, O Lord.
Through Thy death and burial, deliver
us, O Lord.
Through the merits of Thy blessed Mother Mary, deliver us, O Lord.
Through the merits of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, deliver us, O Lord.
On the Day of Judgment, deliver us,
O Lord!
We sinners, beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou spare us, we beseech Thee,
hear us.
That Thou pardon us, we beseech
Thee, hear us.
That Thou convert us to true penance, we
beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou give and preserve the fruits of the earth, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou protect and propagate Thy holy Church, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou preserve peace and concord among the nations, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou give eternal rest to the souls of the departed, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou come to our aid through the intercession of the Holy Helpers,
we beseech Thee,
hear us.
That through the intercession of St. George Thou preserve us in the
Faith, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That through the intercession of St. Blase Thou confirm us in hope, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That through the intercession of St. Erasmus Thou enkindle in us Thy
holy love, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That through the intercession of St. Pantaleon Thou give us charity for
our neighbor, we beseech Thee, hear
us.
That through the intercession of St. Vitus Thou teach us the value of
our soul, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That through the intercession of St. Christophorus Thou preserve us
from sin, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That through the intercession of St. Dionysius Thou give us
tranquillity of conscience, we
beseech Thee, hear us.
That through the intercession of St. Cyriacus Thou grant us resignation
to Thy holy will, we beseech Thee,
hear us.
That through the intercession of St. Eustachius Thou give us patience
in adversity, we beseech Thee, hear
us.
That through the intercession of St. Achatius Thou grant us a happy
death, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That through the intercession of St. Giles Thou grant us a merciful
judgment, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That through the intercession of St. Margaret Thou preserve us from
hell, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That through the intercession of St. Catherine Thou shorten our
purgatory, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That through the intercession of St. Barbara Thou receive us in heaven,
we beseech Thee,
hear us.
That through the intercession of all the Holy Helpers Thou wilt grant
our prayers, we beseech Thee, hear
us.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, O Lord.
V. Pray for us, ye Fourteen Holy Helpers.
R. That we may be made worthy of the
promise of Christ.
Let us Pray. Almighty and eternal God, Who hast bestowed extraordinary
graces and gifts on Thy saints George, Blase, Erasmus, Pantaleon,
Vitus, Christophorus, Dionysius, Cyriacus, Eustachius, Achatius, Giles,
Margaret, Catherine, and Barbara, and hast illustrated them by
miracles; we beseech Thee to graciously hear the petitions of all who
invoke their intercession. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
O God, Who didst miraculously fortify the Fourteen Holy Helpers in the
confession of the Faith; grant us, we beseech Thee, to imitate their
fortitude in overcoming all temptations against it, and protect us
through their intercession in all dangers of soul and body, so that we
may serve Thee in purity of heart and chastity of body. Through Christ
our Lord. Amen.
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