Novena to St. Louis de Montfort

Day 3

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. Louis de Montfort

Opening prayer:

St. Louis Marie de Montfort, faithful slave of Jesus in Mary, you spent your life leading souls to Christ through His holy Mother. Take me by the hand as I begin this novena and teach me to belong entirely to Jesus through Mary. Obtain for me the grace I now ask, that I may love God with an undivided heart. Amen.

Read the meditation and offer the intention of the day.

Day 3: Holy slavery of love

St. Louis dared to call the consecrated soul a slave of love, bound to Jesus in Mary not by force but by adoring choice. He took the image from Christ Himself, who "emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant" for our sake. This loving bondage does not diminish us; it makes us truly free children of God, for the heart that belongs wholly to Love can be claimed by nothing else. To be Mary's slave for Jesus' sake is the most royal of freedoms.

Lord Jesus, Wisdom made flesh, You became a servant for love of me; let me become a servant for love of You. By the hands of Mary I bind myself to You in glad surrender, that serving You I may find the perfect freedom of Your children. Amen.

Today's intention:

For the grace to serve Christ freely, out of love rather than fear.

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. Louis Marie, who proclaimed that Mary is the surest, shortest, and most perfect way to Jesus, lead me along that royal road. Help me to consecrate myself wholly to Christ through her Immaculate Heart and to take up my Rosary each day. By your prayers, may I be among the apostles of the latter times whom you foretold. 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.