Novena to Saint Maron
First Day
With a heart full of hope I turn to you, Saint Maron, patron of the Maronites and of all Christians weighed down by anxiety: kindle the love of God in our hearts, enlighten our minds and guide us on the paths of righteousness, so that through your intercession we may be worthy to see him in heaven and praise him with you for ever and ever. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Second Day
Saint Maron, listen to our prayer and have pity on our lost and suffering souls, bowed down under the burdens of life. All your life you willingly endured suffering out of love for God. You understood the sufferings of soul and body, and you founded monasteries and hermitages for men and women, so that they could train themselves there in the true wisdom that leads to the Kingdom of God. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Third Day
You followed no paths but the Lord’s and listened to no call but his, and so you chose the ascetic life. Do not forget us, Saint Maron, you who stand in the presence of the heavenly King. We humbly implore you: come and dwell in our hearts and make the flower of “the love of God” blossom there. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Fourth Day
Image of perfection and model of the hermit fathers, our glorious father Maron, you equalled the holy apostles in exhortation and preaching, you defended the true faith and brought those who had strayed back to the knowledge of the truth. We, your children, humbly beg you to obtain for us from our merciful God that he make us a people of his own, zealous for good works, just as, through your powerful intercession, he has granted us the grace to remain steadfast in the true faith. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Fifth Day
Through the intercession of Saint Maron, Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in forgetting ourselves that we find ourselves, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Sixth Day
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my entire will. All that I have and possess is your gift to me; I give it all back to you and surrender it to your holy will, to dispose of as you please. Give me only your love and your grace, and that is enough for me, after the example of Saint Maron. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Seventh Day
Saint Maron, pray for our families. Accompany them with your kindness and protect them from all danger. Help them in their needs and give them the grace to persevere in imitating the Holy Family, so that, faithful in serving and loving God on earth, they may bless him for ever in heaven. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Eighth Day
O Lord our God, lover of mankind, give rest in the heavenly dwellings to those who spent their lives in the true faith, and forgive us and them our sins and failings, for no one is free from sin except our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ, through whom we hope to obtain mercy and the forgiveness of sins, for us and for them. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Ninth Day
O Maron, who became a banner of holiness and right guidance, intercede for us all the days of our life. We come to you humbly, asking for your help: be our refuge in troubles and bring our efforts to a good end. Great saint, rich in graces, stretch out to us your helping hand, so that through your intercession we may obtain the graces we so greatly need. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
