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Novena to St. John Paul II

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 Paul II

Opening prayer:

Loving Father, who gave St. John Paul II to Your Church as a fearless witness to Christ, grant us through his intercession the courage to open wide the doors of our hearts to the Redeemer. Help us, like him, to belong entirely to Jesus through Mary. Amen.

Read the meditation and offer the intention of the day.

Day 4: The beauty of married love

Through the Theology of the Body, John Paul II revealed that the human body itself speaks of God's love and the gift of self. In a long series of teachings he restored to marriage and chastity their true splendor as paths to holiness, not burdens but vocations to love as God loves. He invites husbands and wives, and all the faithful, to see in self-giving love a reflection of the very life of God.

O Saint John Paul II, who taught the beauty of self-giving love, bless and strengthen all marriages and families. Help husbands and wives to love as God loves, faithfully and fruitfully, and make every home a school of holiness and peace. Amen.

Today's intention:

For the strengthening of marriages and families in self-giving love.

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 Paul II, friend of the young and defender of life, you taught us that man cannot live without love. Obtain for us a heart wholly given to Christ, unwavering hope in His mercy, and the strength to proclaim the Gospel without fear. 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 Paul II, the pope who told the world 'Be not afraid!' and gave himself wholly to Christ through Mary.

History

Karol Wojtyła (1920–2005) was born in Poland, survived Nazi occupation and Communist rule, and became Archbishop of Kraków before his election as Pope John Paul II in 1978. Over twenty-six years he traveled the world, defended the dignity of every human life, taught the Theology of the Body, entrusted himself to Mary with the motto 'Totus Tuus,' and bore his final illness in the sight of all. Canonized in 2014, he is remembered as a tireless herald of Christ and a father to the young.

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.

Portuguese text of the day 1 quotation: John Paul II, homily for the inauguration of his pontificate, 22 October 1978 — [vatican.va](https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/pt/homilies/1978/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_19781022_inizio-pontificato.html)

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