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 4
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 the ineffable joy which overcame the good Brothers on gazing at the beauties that surrounded the magnificent room, in which the statue of their dear Mother stood out as a splendid star. They knelt with reverence to bless and thank Her for such a singular gift of such extraordinary bliss, lifting their thoughts and feelings to heavenly considerations, believing themselves to have been favoured by a supernatural aspiration; because everything that they were seeing and feeling, in that inaccessible rocky place so far from any houses, was not the provision of human hands. With fervour, they repeated again their prayers of thanksgiving and asked for insight and grace from Heaven so as to know what they should do. They determined that they should find out the origin of the sanctuary and of the Statue, and of the pious persons or community who so prodigiously cared for this cult. And although it seemed to them impossible that such magnificence were the work of men, in a place so out of the way and inaccessible, yet prudence and piety advised them to first make careful inquiries about the situation. Going into the hamlets closer to the cave, which lay at a distance of more than three leagues (17 km, or 10 mi), they were unable to find anyone who had the slightest information about the Statue. Even persons who were 80 and 100 years of age had never heard speak of the existence and cult of any statue in those boulders in question nor in any other place near the region.
Ponder now, my soul, the stupor and holy joy of the Brothers, now owners of an extraordinary find; how they prostrated themselves again before the Holy Statue, how they gave effusive thanks, with enthusiastic kisses and hugs, choosing Her for their special patroness and intermediary, under the very significant title of Mother of the Good Event (Good Success). Bring from out of your heart healing feelings of pious gratitude, spill out your sentiments of admiration for such a remarkable prodigy in favour of the two holy Brothers. Join with them in giving caresses to Mary: love Her and give Her generous resolutions, because you also have mercifully found Her in the dangerous path of life, within the horror of the storm of the passions.
PRAYER
Oh God of infinite Charity! Who hast given us in Thy Mother a precious garment of consolation, finding Her on the road of hazardous life, to have Her as our defense shield in persecutions and dangers, as our Mother of Good Success; so that in being thankful for Thy Goodness, we correspond to Thee with virtues and with a tender and constant devotion to Mary Most Holy; so that by Her intercession, we may merit to gain Heaven. 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.
