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Novena to St. Lucy

Day 5

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. Lucy

Opening prayer:

O glorious St. Lucy, virgin and martyr, whose very name proclaims the light of Christ, look kindly upon me as I begin this novena. By the steadfast faith that carried you through fire and sword, obtain for me the grace I seek and a heart enlightened by God. Amen.

Read the meditation and offer the intention of the day.

Day 5: Courage before the judge

Betrayed by the suitor she refused and dragged before the governor Paschasius, Lucy answered with calm and fearless words, professing Christ without wavering. She shows us that true courage is not the absence of fear but love that will not be silenced. Jesus promised that in the hour of trial the Spirit would give us words to speak; Lucy proved it, and her witness puts to shame our small fears of human opinion.

O valiant St. Lucy, who stood unshaken before your judge and confessed Christ with fearless words, obtain for me the courage to never deny my Lord. When I am tempted to hide my faith for fear of men, let your example and the Holy Spirit loosen my tongue to speak the truth in love. Amen.

Today's intention:

For courage to confess my faith without shame.

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. Lucy, bright lamp of the Lord, who preferred to lose your eyes rather than betray your Bridegroom, watch over my body and my soul. Keep the eyes of my faith clear and fixed on Christ, and lead me at last to the light that never fades. 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. Lucy of Syracuse, virgin and martyr, whose name means 'light.' Patroness of the blind and of all who suffer in their eyes, she shines amid the Advent darkness as a witness to the courage and purity born of faith.

History

St. Lucy was a young noblewoman of Syracuse in Sicily who consecrated her virginity to Christ around the year 304, during the persecution of Diocletian. Denounced as a Christian by a suitor she refused, she endured torture and was martyred by the sword. Her feast on December 13 has long brought light into the heart of Advent, and her name (Lucia, 'light') made her the natural patroness of eyesight and the inner light of faith.

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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