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Novena for the Sick, to St Josemaria Escrivá

Day 2

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 2: Jesus is our Friend

St. Josemaría says:

Jesus is your friend. The Friend. With a heart of flesh, like yours. With eyes which look so lovingly, which wept for Lazarus... And as much as he loves Lazarus, he loves you. (The Way, 422)

You seek the company of friends who, with their conversation and affection, with their friendship, make the exile of this world more bearable for you..., although friends sometimes let one down. I don't think it's wrong to do that. But... how is it that you don't frequent daily with greater intensity the company, the conversation of the Great Friend, who never lets one down? (The Way, 88)

With you, Jesus, how pleasurable is suffering and how luminous is darkness! (The Way, 229)

By now they have fastened Jesus to the wooden cross. The executioners have ruthlessly carried out the sentence. Our Lord, with infinite meekness, has let them have their way. It was not necessary for him to undergo so much torment. He could have avoided those trials, those humiliations, that ill-usage, that iniquitous judgement, and the shame of the gallows, and the nails and the lance... But he wanted to suffer all this for you and for me. And we, are we not going to respond? (The Way of the Cross, XI, 1)

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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