Novena to St. Alphonsus Liguori

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. Alphonsus Liguori

Opening prayer:

Glorious St. Alphonsus, who left the honors of the world to serve the souls most forgotten, obtain for me a heart on fire with love of God. Teach me, by your tenderness toward sinners, never to despair of God's mercy. Amen.

Read the meditation and offer the intention of the day.

Day 3: Tenderness toward sinners

In the confessional Alphonsus was gentle and patient, drawing souls back to God by kindness rather than fear. Against the rigorism of his age, which often turned penitents away in despair, he taught a path of mercy that opened wide the gates of God's forgiveness. He teaches us that mercy, not harshness, is the surest road to conversion, and that the wounded sinner is healed more by tenderness than by the lash of severity.

O merciful Saint Alphonsus, who led sinners home by gentleness and patience, obtain for all confessors hearts that mirror the kindness of Christ. Move every wandering sinner to trust in God's mercy, and grant me a true contrition that brings me back into His friendship. Amen.

Today's intention:

For confessors and for sinners, that mercy may lead them home to God.

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:

St. Alphonsus, doctor of prayer and herald of Mary, lead me ever closer to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and to His Mother, our hope. Obtain for me the grace I now ask, and above all the grace of final perseverance. 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.