Novena to Blessed Abouna Yaacoub, Capuchin
Day One:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen. O Jesus, all good and generous, You said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Through the intercession of Blessed Abouna Yaacoub, who made his trust in Your divine Providence the light of his mission and of all his projects and works, we ask You to grant us the grace… And we give glory and thanks to You, to Your Father and to Your Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be…
Prayer:
(to be repeated after each day’s prayer)
Lord Jesus Christ, wonderful in Your saints, You who bring love to perfection in Your Church through Your faithful servants, like Blessed Abouna Yaacoub: he served You by living his consecration and his priesthood in complete faithfulness to You and to Your holy Church, and, in the spirit of Your Gospel and the parable of the Good Samaritan, he cared for the elderly, the sick, the needy and the young, building hospitals, homes and schools for them, and founded the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Cross, a living witness to Your presence in human suffering. We ask You, Lord, to hear the prayers of us who turn to his intercession and to grant us the grace… that we ask with faith and complete surrender to Your good will. Grant that we may see him raised to the altars as a saint, and send his congregation vocations that give themselves to the service of Your Kingdom and bear witness to the power of Your love in the world. Our Lord and God, to You be glory and thanks, and to Your blessed Father and Your Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Day Two:
O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, You said: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Through the intercession of Blessed Abouna Yaacoub, who lived and died in meekness, often repeating, “Whoever practises meekness receives many graces,” grant us the grace… And we give glory and thanks to You, to Your Father and to Your Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be…
Day Three:
O Jesus, healer and comforter of hearts, You said: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Through the intercession of Blessed Abouna Yaacoub, who embraced Your Cross as You embraced it, and joyfully bore out of love for You every suffering of body and pain of soul, so that he summed up his life and that of his Sisters in the motto “O Cross of the Lord, beloved of my heart,” grant us the grace… And we give glory and thanks to You, to Your Father and to Your Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be…
Day Four:
O Jesus, bread of life and good wine, You said: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Through the intercession of Blessed Abouna Yaacoub, who by his sermons, guidance, writings and advice quenched the thirst of many and lit up dark paths, grant us the grace… And we give glory and thanks to You, to Your Father and to Your Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be…
Day Five:
O Jesus, all-merciful, You said: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” Through the intercession of Blessed Abouna Yaacoub, who lived a mercy that went out on the road, in silence and in speech, in work and in prayer, bearing suffering with every beat of his heart, grant us the grace… And we give glory and thanks to You, to Your Father and to Your Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be…
Day Six:
O pure Heart of Jesus, You said: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Through the intercession of Blessed Abouna Yaacoub, who lived perfect chastity and purity of heart, and who said, “The more we turn our eyes away from worldly people, the more we see the face of God,” grant us the grace… And we give glory and thanks to You, to Your Father and to Your Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be…
Day Seven:
O Jesus, Lord of peace, You said: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Through the intercession of Blessed Abouna Yaacoub, who travelled far and wide proclaiming peace, bearing witness to Your love and bending over the sufferings of many, like the Good Samaritan, grant us the grace… And we give glory and thanks to You, to Your Father and to Your Holy Spirit, for ever. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be…
Day Eight:
O Jesus, full of compassion and tenderness, You said: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Through the intercession of Blessed Abouna Yaacoub, who never backed away from difficulties, persecution or hardship, but defended truth and life, grant us the grace… And we give glory and thanks to You, to Your Father and to Your Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be…
Day Nine, the Last Day of the Novena to Blessed Abouna Yaacoub
O living Jesus, our highest model, You said: “Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.” Through the intercession of Blessed Abouna Yaacoub, who placed his life in Your hands with trust and joy, believing that “whoever wants heaven must have the cross,” grant us the grace… And we give glory and thanks to You, to Your Father and to Your Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be…
Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, wonderful in Your saints, You who bring love to perfection in Your Church through Your faithful servants, like Blessed Abouna Yaacoub: he served You by living his consecration and his priesthood in complete faithfulness to You and to Your holy Church, and, in the spirit of Your Gospel and the parable of the Good Samaritan, he cared for the elderly, the sick, the needy and the young, building hospitals, homes and schools for them, and founded the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Cross, a living witness to Your presence in human suffering. We ask You, Lord, to hear the prayers of us who turn to his intercession and to grant us the grace… that we ask with faith and complete surrender to Your good will. Grant that we may see him raised to the altars as a saint, and send his congregation vocations that give themselves to the service of Your Kingdom and bear witness to the power of Your love in the world. Our Lord and God, to You be glory and thanks, and to Your blessed Father and Your Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
From the prayers of the Maronite Church
