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Novena to St. Aloysius Gonzaga

Day 3

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 St. Aloysius Gonzaga

Opening prayer:

O angelic St. Aloysius, who in your youth loved God with an undivided heart, look upon me as I begin this novena. Win for me purity of mind and body, and a love of God that nothing in this world can dim. Amen.

Read the meditation and offer the intention of the day.

Day 3: Renouncing nobility

Eldest son and heir to the Marquisate of Castiglione, Aloysius signed away his title, lands, and inheritance to his younger brother that he might follow Christ in the poverty of the Society of Jesus. He counted rank and riches as loss for the surpassing worth of Christ. He teaches us that no estate or honor on earth is worth purchasing at the price of the kingdom of heaven.

O St. Aloysius, who renounced rank and riches for the love of Christ, free my heart from greed and worldly ambition, that I may treasure the kingdom of heaven above every earthly gain, and follow the Lord in holy poverty of spirit. Amen.

Today's intention:

For detachment from riches and worldly ambition.

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:

O St. Aloysius Gonzaga, patron of the young, present my petitions to the Lord you served so faithfully. Help me to flee what offends God and to spend my strength in His service, that with you I may one day behold His face. 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. Aloysius Gonzaga, the angelic Jesuit youth and patron of the young.

History

St. Aloysius Gonzaga (1568–1591) was born to a noble Italian family destined for the court, yet from boyhood he gave himself wholly to God in prayer and purity. Renouncing his inheritance, he entered the Society of Jesus over his father's resistance. While caring for the sick in a plague hospital in Rome, he contracted the disease and died at twenty-three; he is the patron of youth and students.

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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