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Novena to St. John Bosco

Day 2

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 Bosco

Opening prayer:

O glorious St. John Bosco, father and teacher of the young, you spent yourself wholly for souls and never turned away a child in need. Draw near to me now as you drew near to your boys, and present my prayer before the throne of God. Amen.

Read the meditation and offer the intention of the day.

Day 2: The dream at nine years old

At nine, John dreamed of a crowd of unruly children he was told to win not with blows but with gentleness and charity, and of a radiant Lady who promised to be his teacher. The savage beasts among them became gentle lambs. He pondered that dream all his life, and let it shape his mission, learning only slowly that the Lady was Mary and the children the youth he would one day serve.

O St. John Bosco, who treasured the dream God gave you and let it guide your every step, teach me to read God's will in the events of my life, and to follow His call with the same docile and trusting heart. Amen.

Today's intention:

For the grace to recognize and follow God's call in the events of my life.

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 Bosco, who taught that holiness is found in cheerfulness and daily duty, obtain for me the grace I ask in this novena, if it be for God's glory and my salvation. Make me, like your boys, a friend of God, devoted to Our Lady and faithful in small things. 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. John Bosco, priest and tireless father of poor and abandoned youth.

History

St. John Bosco (1815–1888) gathered the street boys of Turin and raised them in faith and trade through what he called the Preventive System — reason, religion, and loving-kindness. Guided since childhood by prophetic dreams and entrusting all to Mary Help of Christians, he founded the Salesians and oratories that still shelter the young. This novena begs his fatherly intercession for the souls and needs entrusted to us.

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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