A Most Powerful Novena to Our Lady of Good Success
composed by Reverend Father José M. Urrate, S. J.
with Ecclesiastical Approval from Archbishop Carlos Maria, of Quito, Ecuador: July 31, 1941
(Permission is granted to re-print.)
DAY 2
Act of Contrition
I believe in Thee, my God; strengthen, O Lord, my faith!
I hope in Thee, my God; affirm, O Lord, my hope!
I love Thee, my God; ignite, O Lord, my love!
I repent of having offended Thee, O my God! increase, O Lord, my repentance!
and I promise, with the help of Thy Grace,
and the powerful Patronage of our Most Holy Mother, Mary of Good Success,
to never sin again.
Lord, have pity and mercy on me! Amen.
Supplication
O Most Excellent and Immaculate Queen of Heaven, Most Holy Mary of Good Success. Chosen daughter of the Eternal Father, most loving Mother of the Divine Son, beloved Spouse of the Holy Spirit, exalted throne of the Divine Majesty, Majestic Temple of the Most Holy Trinity, in whom the Three Divine Persons have poured out the Treasures of their power, wisdom, and love!
Remember, Virgin Mary of Good Success, that God has made Thee so great so that Thou canst help poor sinners. Remember that Thou hast promised us many times to show Thyself the Merciful Mother of those who have recourse to Thee. I seek my refuge in Thee, Mother Most Merciful, and I beg Thee, for the love that the Most High God had for Thee, to obtain for me from God the Father a faith so lively, so as to never lose sight of the eternal truths of the Son; a hope so firm, so as to always hope to enjoy that heavenly bliss that He purchased for me with His Blood; and from the Holy Ghost, a charity so inflamed, so as to make me live always loving the Highest Good and Thee, Virgin Most Holy, until, through Thy intercession, I will be able to go to love and possess Him eternally in Heaven. Amen.
The Angelic Salutations
R: WE SALUTE THEE, MARY
V: As the favoured Daughter of God the Father.
Hail Mary, etc.
R: WE SALUTE THEE, MARY
V: As the chosen Mother of God the Son.
Hail Mary, etc.
R: WE SALUTE THEE, MARY
V: As the singular Spouse of the Holy Ghost.
Hail Mary, etc.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, etc.
MEDITATION
Consider how the Divine Providence of the Most High wanted to favour these mortals with a prodigious result, revealing to them a hidden treasure in the precious statue of His Most Holy Mother, under the title of Good Success. Since the death of Brother Bernardino of Obregón, founder of the Minim Friars in the Service of the Sick, Gabriel de Fontaned had been elected to replace him, and he, along with Guillermo Rigosa, were going to ask the Holy Pontiff for an approbation for their Institute, its habit, and the purple cross which characterizes them. Later, when they arrived at the border of the principality of Cataluña, having passed through the village of Traigueras, within the jurisdiction of Tortosa, a terrible storm of rain and hail came upon them, accompanied with thunder and lightning, whose clatter filled their hearts with horror and fear. In their anguish, they resorted to God, begging that He supply them with some shelter, where they could take refuge in order to prepare for a good death, because the intensity and rigour of the storm, persuaded them to be their inevitable ruin. But, since the Divine Mercy rewards resignation and patience, that ordeal would presage a happy adventure: because, in the frightening flash of a lightning bolt, they perceived some boulders somewhat off the track of the path, and they spotted within the boulders a spacious cave so well carved and elegant that it seemed the work of a refined artisan. At the height and concavity of those boulders they saw an admirable splendour and at the same time they smelled the softest fragrance and heavenly aromas, far exceeding earthly smells. Their souls were awash in a joy so great mixed with feelings of admiration and reverence, that they immediately felt an interior impulse to discover the causes of those marvels.
PRAYER
O Lord, who art admirable in all Thy works! Who always converts the most unpleasant events of life into proofs of Thy Mercy, and who in the most desperate conflicts disposes the preludes of Thy prodigies to our favour, as Thou did with the Minim brothers, by means of that most horrible storm. Obtain for us, by the intercession of that Queen of Good Success, the virtue of patience, so as to suffer with a resigned spirit the labours that Thy Divine Will sends us: because Thou Thyself will convert them into consolations in this life and afterwards Thou will give us the eternal prize, where we will forever sing of Thy glories and of Mary Most Holy. Amen.
ACT OF THANKSGIVING
TO THE MOST BLESSED VIRGIN
O Virgin blessed among all women! We lack voices to thank Thee for the countless benefits that we receive from Thy hand. The day that Thou were born into the world can be called a day of grace, of health, and of consolation. Thou art the honour of humanity, the joy of Paradise, the beloved gift of God, and the health of our people. O Most Holy Virgin of Good Success, what merits can we claim that make Thee to be known as our Mother? May God be infinitely blessed who wanted it so! May Thou be equally blessed, Virgin Mary since, despite our ingratitude, Thou show Thyself so propitiously in our favour! Therefore, most clement Mother, have Thy image be our consolation on earth, being our refuge, our help and protection, both in our public and private needs. Keep from us wars, plagues, illness, hunger, lightning, earthquakes and all scourges that we merit due to our faults. Pray for Holy Church and for Her visible Head. Hear the supplications of those who invocate Thee, remember that Thou art our Advocate, our Mother; because as such we put in Thee our confidence. We resort to Thee, and hope that Thou will obtain from Thy Son the pardon of our faults and perseverance in a life of grace until death. Amen.
Now, raising your heart to the Heart of God, ask for what you want to obtain through the intercession of Most Holy Mary of Good Success.
JOYS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Virgin Mother Mary, Who by Thy superiority has always captivated the whole earth.
Response: Protect us, O Pious! because Thou art our Mother.
Singular, without equal, Thou gave pleasure to the Word of the Father, Who does great things to have Thee honoured.
Response: Protect us, O Pious! because Thou art our Mother.
Thou art the most worthy temple of the Most Holy Trinity in Whom Thou art enraptured.
Response: Protect us, O Pious! because Thou art our Mother.
In Thee is found the same purity the Angels enjoy; Thou art a mercy for the sorrowing.
Response: Protect us, O Pious! because Thou art our Mother.
The Christian world cries out to Thee as Queen; the King of kings keeps Thee at His Right Hand.
Response: Protect us, O Pious! because Thou art our Mother.
O Mother of Grace! O our Hope! Port for the shipwrecked and Star of the Sea.
Response: Protect us, O Pious! because Thou art our Mother.
Gate of Heaven, Health of the sick, Light in the darkness.
Response: Protect us, O Pious! because Thou art our Mother.
Through Thee we will attain to see God in that Heavenly Court of the Saints, where He lives and reigns.
Response: Protect us, O Pious! because Thou art our Mother.
Guide our steps and tenderly assist us, O sweet Mary! in the final hour.
Response: Protect us, O Pious! because Thou art our Mother.
Permit praise from an affectionate tongue which is unable to express Thy rare magnificence.
Response: Protect us, O Pious! because Thou art our Mother.
Antiphon
Holy Mary, save the wretched, help the weak, strengthen the afflicted, plead for the people, intercede for the clergy, petition for the faithful. Our Lady, oblige all those who celebrate Thy most holy memory with Thy favour and protection.
V: Plead for us, O Virgin of Good Success!
R: That we may be made worthy to obtain the promises of Christ.
FINAL PRAYER
We beg Thee, Our Lord and God, to grant us health of soul and body through the intercession of the glorious Virgin Mary; by whose merits and by those of Her sovereign Son Jesus, we hope to be freed from present evils, and obtain eternal blessings. Amen.
