DAY FOUR – OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP NOVENA

(Looking at her image)

O Mary, Mother of Jesus and our Mother of Perpetual Help, during these nine days, I am going to look to you to discover your Icon, the outstanding symbols, the important lessons, the mysterious nuances that Your inspired artist wanted to depict in Your picture. I am not only going to learn about them in these pages, but also try to learn, O admirable Teacher, what You want to teach me about Your Son and about our God, father of all love.

Help me to faithfully follow Your Son, Jesus Christ. Awaken in my understanding and in my heart, the faith, hope and love with which You want me to behold you and invoke you so that I will live with unlimited confidence in Your perpetual help. AMEN (pray a Hail Mary)

THE FOURTH DAY 

Contemplating the Left Hand of Mary

The instruments of the Passion (lance, sponge, nails and cross) are in the hands of the Angels. In your left hand, you hold the Child Jesus. In this Icon, Nazareth and Calvary, the infancy and the redemptive death of Jesus, are united. 

As you presented your Son in the Temple, Simeon told you that a sword would pierce your soul. And from that moment, Mary, nor a day passed without your thinking of the meaning of those words. You cherished the baby talk of Jesus, His first faltering steps and, later on, His independence. But you always saw in Him the shadow of a sword hanging over His head, sword that deeply saddened you. 

Mother of Perpetual Help, you are holding Jesus against your heart. Sustain us in our weakness as we look to the future and perhaps see it darkened by sickness and pain. We trust in your protection, because your very title of Perpetual Help is an invitation to confidence and hope.

Final Prayer (composed by St. John Paul II)

O Virgin of Perpetual Help, great sign of our hope, Holy Mother of the Redeemer, we invoke Your name. Help your people who desire to be renewed. Give us joy as we walk towards the future in conscious and active solidarity with the poorest of our brothers and sisters, announcing to them in a new and courageous way, the Gospel of Your Son, the beginning and the end of all human relationships that aspire to live a true, just and lasting peace. As does the Child Jesus, Whom we admire in this venerable icon, so we also want to hold your right hand. You have both the power and the goodness to help us in every need and circumstance of life. This moment is yours. Come then, and help us; be for us our refuge and our hope. (mention your petitions here) AMEN 

Source: Noel Londono, C.Ss.R., Liguori Publications (Used with Permission)Latest Edition: Liguori Publications’ Deluxe Pamphlet: Novena Meditations to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, click here: https://www.liguori.org/novena-meditations-to-our-mother-of-perpetual-help.html#show1