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Novena for the Sick, to St Josemaria Escrivá

Day 1

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.

Day 1: God loves us

St. Josemaría says:

It's necessary to become convinced that God is close beside us all the time. We live as though the Lord were far away, in the starlit heavens, and we don't consider that he is also always by our side. And he is here like a loving Father — he loves each one of us more than all the mothers in the world can love their children — helping us, inspiring us, blessing... and forgiving... We need to be imbued, to be saturated with the knowledge that the Lord, who is close beside us and in heaven, is our Father and very much our Father. (The Way, 267)

When it feels as if the Lord has given up on you, don't give way to sadness. Seek him with greater determination! He who is Love does not leave you on your own. (The Forge, 250)

If troubles come, you can be sure they are a proof of the Fatherly love God has for you. (The Forge, 815)

A Child. A Sick Person. As you write these words, don't you feel tempted to put them with a capital letter? It's because, for a soul in love, children and sick people are He. (The Way, 419)

Pray the prayer to Saint Josemaría:

O God, through the mediation of Mary our Mother, you granted your priest Saint Josemaría countless graces, choosing him as a most faithful instrument to found Opus Dei, a way of sanctification in daily work and in the fulfillment of the Christian's ordinary duties. Grant that I too may learn to turn all the circumstances and events of my life into occasions of loving you and serving the Church, the Pope and all souls with joy and simplicity, lighting up the pathways of this earth with faith and love. Deign to grant me, through the intercession of Saint Josemaría, the favour of… (make your request). Amen.

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.

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 to St. Josemaría Escrivá for the sick and those who care for them, drawn from his own writings on illness, suffering, and trust in God's Will.

History

Composed by Fr. Francisco Faus and first published in Brazil in 2006 with the imprimatur of the Bishop of Santo Amaro (São Paulo). Each day weaves together passages from St. Josemaría's writings — The Way, The Forge, Furrow, Friends of God, The Way of the Cross, Holy Rosary — with two intentions: one to be prayed by the sick person, the other on their behalf. The novena is freely distributed by Opus Dei.

How to pray it

Pray once daily for nine consecutive days. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, read the day's reflection from St. Josemaría's writings, and choose one of the two intentions — Prayer of the sick person, or Prayer for the sick person. Conclude with the Prayer to Saint Josemaría and one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be, finishing with the Sign of the Cross.

Portuguese text: Pe. Francisco Faus, *Novena dos Enfermos a São Josemaria Escrivá* (imprimatur, Santo Amaro, 2006), as printed by Opus Dei Brazil — [PDF](https://odnmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/files/novena%20enfermos20161004-154859.pdf); prayer to St Josemaría: Opus Dei, *Oração a São Josemaria Escrivá* — [opusdei.org](https://opusdei.org/pt-br/article/oracao-a-sao-josemaria-escriva/)

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