Novena to St. Alphonsus Liguori

Day 8

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 8: Constancy in suffering

In old age Alphonsus bore crippling pain that bent his head to his chest, betrayal by men he had served, and even years of inner darkness and scruples, yet he never lost his trust in God. He clung to prayer and to Mary when all consolation was withdrawn. He teaches us that fidelity in the long night of suffering is itself a hidden victory, and that the soul which holds fast to God in darkness pleases Him more than in the light.

O Saint Alphonsus, who held fast to God through pain and inner darkness, obtain for me perseverance in my own seasons of suffering. When consolation is withdrawn and the night seems long, let me cling to prayer and to Mary, trusting that God is near even when I cannot feel Him. Amen.

Today's intention:

For perseverance and trust in seasons of pain and spiritual darkness.

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.