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Novena to St. John the Baptist

Day 4

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. John the Baptist

Opening prayer:

Glorious St. John the Baptist, voice crying in the wilderness, you prepared the way of the Lord with fearless preaching and a pure heart. As I begin this novena, obtain for me a spirit of repentance and a love of the truth. Help me to point others always to Christ. Amen.

Read the meditation and offer the intention of the day.

Day 4: Behold the Lamb of God

Seeing Jesus approach, John cried out, 'Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.' With these words he pointed his own disciples away from himself and toward Christ, and they followed the Lord. His joy was to disappear behind the One he announced. He teaches us to point others always to Jesus and to find our gladness in His increase, not our own.

O glorious Saint John the Baptist, who pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, obtain for me eyes of faith to recognize Christ present in the Eucharist and in the poor, and the grace to lead others to Him. Amen.

Today's intention:

That I may recognize Christ present in the Eucharist and in the poor.

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. John the Baptist, who decreased that Christ might increase, teach me to seek not my own glory but His. Strengthen me to bear witness to the truth even at great cost, and to await the Lamb of God with a watchful heart. Intercede for me, that I may share one day in your joy. 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

Nine days with the Forerunner of Christ, who pointed to the Lamb of God and gave his life for the truth.

History

St. John the Baptist was the cousin and forerunner of Jesus, leaping in his mother's womb at the Visitation and later preaching repentance along the Jordan. He baptized the Lord, declared 'Behold the Lamb of God,' and was beheaded by Herod for condemning an unlawful marriage. This novena draws on his courage, humility, and burning zeal for God.

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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