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Novena to St. John Bosco

Day 7

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 7: Tireless work for souls

He labored late into the night writing books, teaching catechism, and hearing confessions, with the motto ever on his lips: 'Give me souls, take away the rest.' He spent his health without counting the cost, asking only that his boys reach heaven. Worn out by ceaseless toil, he said he would rest only in eternity, for the harvest was great and the love of Christ left him no leisure while a single soul could yet be won.

O St. John Bosco, tireless laborer for souls, who poured out your strength that the young might be saved, give me a like zeal in my own daily duties, that I may offer my work and my weariness for the salvation of those around me. Amen.

Today's intention:

For zeal in my own duties, offered for the good of souls.

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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