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Novena to Christ the King

Day 8

10 min
Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.

Novena to Christ the King

Opening prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords, I acknowledge You as the sovereign of all creation and the rightful ruler of my soul. Reign in my heart, my home, and my whole life, and let nothing in me resist Your gentle and saving rule. Amen.

Read the meditation and offer the intention of the day.

Day 8: A reign of love

The scepter of this King is His pierced Heart, and the law of His kingdom is love. He conquers not by crushing His enemies but by laying down His life for them. From the throne of the Cross He draws all to Himself, repaying hatred with mercy and betrayal with forgiveness. To live in His kingdom is to take up this same law, loving even those who wrong us, for the King reigns most fully where His own self-giving love is mirrored in His subjects' hearts.

O King whose scepter is Your pierced Heart, You conquered by laying down Your life. Write the law of love upon my heart, that I may forgive as You forgive and give myself for others, and so let Your reign of love be seen in me. Amen.

Today's intention:

That the love of Christ may rule all my dealings with others.

Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

Pater noster, qui es in cælis,

sanctificétur nomen tuum.

Advéniat regnum tuum.

Fiat volúntas tua, sicut in cælo et in terra.

Panem nostrum quotidiánum da nobis hódie,

et dimítte nobis débita nostra,

sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris.

Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem,

sed líbera nos a malo.

Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum.

Benedícta tu in muliéribus,

et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.

Sancta María, Mater Dei,

ora pro nobis peccatóribus,

nunc et in hora mortis nostræ.

Amen.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.

Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper,

et in sǽcula sæculórum.

Amen.

Closing prayer:

Christ Jesus, King of all nations, may Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Subject all hearts to Your reign of truth and peace, that one day every knee may bend before You and every tongue confess that You are Lord. Amen.

Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.

About this prayer

A nine-day novena acknowledging the universal kingship of Jesus Christ over every heart, family, and nation, and begging the coming of His reign of truth, life, holiness, justice, love, and peace.

History

In 1925, amid the rise of secular powers that sought to banish God from public life, Pope Pius XI instituted the Feast of Christ the King in his encyclical Quas Primas. He proclaimed that Christ reigns not only over the faithful but over all creation, and that His kingdom is one 'of truth and life, of holiness and grace, of justice, love, and peace.'

How to pray it

Pray once each day for nine consecutive days. Begin with the Sign of the Cross and the opening prayer, prayerfully read the meditation and offer the day's intention, then conclude with an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be, and the closing prayer.

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