Novena to SS. Louis and Zélie Martin

Day 5

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 SS. Louis and Zélie Martin

Opening prayer:

Holy spouses Louis and Zélie Martin, you made your home a school of faith and your marriage a path to heaven. As I begin this novena, obtain for me the grace to seek holiness in the duties of each ordinary day. Help me to love God in my family and my work. Amen.

Read the meditation and offer the intention of the day.

Day 5: Bearing the loss of children

Four of their nine children died young, and each loss pierced their hearts; yet Louis and Zélie offered every one back to God in faith, trusting they had gained little intercessors in heaven. Zélie wept, but she did not despair, believing her children were saints before God. They teach grieving parents that sorrow and faith can dwell together, and that no child given back to God in love is ever truly lost.

O holy spouses Louis and Zélie, who gave four little children back to God and trusted them to heaven, obtain for all parents who grieve the loss of a child the consolation of faith and the sure hope of reunion, that their sorrow may be lightened by the promise of eternal life. Amen.

Today's intention:

For parents who grieve the loss of a child.

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:

Saints Louis and Zélie, who trusted God through joy and sorrow and gave Him your children, intercede for all families and for mine. Teach husbands and wives to sanctify one another, and parents to raise their children for heaven. Obtain for us the grace to say in all things, 'God's will be done.' 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.