Novena to Saint Clare - August 2 - 10

Novena to St. Clare

August 2 – 10

 

Invocation

O most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we praise your Holy

Name and the wonders of grace you worked in your servant, St. Clare. Through her powerful intercession, grant us the favors we beg in this Novena, above all the grace to live and die as she did in your most holy love. Amen.

Day One

O Seraphic St. Clare, first disciple of the Poor Man of Assisi, who last abandoned all riches and honors for a life of sacrifice and highest poverty, obtain from God for us the grace we ask . . . [petitions]. . . that of always submitting to the Divine Will and of living confidently in the providence of our Heavenly Father.

Day Two

O Seraphic St. Clare, who has not forgotten the poor and afflicted, but has become a mother to them, sacrificing for them your riches and working for them innumerable miracles; obtain from God for us the grace we implore. . . [petitions]. . . Christian charity towards others in all their spiritual and temporal needs.

Day Three

O Seraphic St. Clare, light of your country, who has delivered Italy from barbarous invaders; obtain from God for us the grace we implore. . . [petitions]. . . that of overcoming all against faith and morals, thus preserving in our families true Christian peace with a holy fear of God and a devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.

Day Four

Blessed St. Clare, whose very name means light, illumine the darkness of our minds and hearts so that we may see what God wishes us to do, and perform it with a willing and joyful heart. Before your birth, a Heavenly voice foretold that you would be a light luminating the world. Be a light to us in the sorrows and anxieties of this earthly life, and lead us into the eternal light of our home in heaven. Amen.

Day Five

Seraphic St. Clare, whose virginal heart was great enough to love the whole world, take our petitions into your pure hands and present them to God. Pray for us that we may one day enter joyously before the throne of God. Let the light of your perfect purity consume the shadows of sin and corruption that darken the world. Intercede by your innocence for our youth. Safeguard the peace of our homes and the unity of our family. Plead with your chaste love for all in peril. Amen.

Day Six

Generous St. Clare, who left wealth and pleasure and all earthly goods to become the first spiritual daughter of St. Francis and to serve God in the cloister, help us to commit our lives to God without limit or measure, so that He may live in us and shine forth from us to all whose lives touch ours. You who loved souls so much as to make your life a continual sacrifice for them, obtain for use the graces we now implore and win for us the strength to praise God in suffering as well as in joy. Amen.

Day Seven

Faithful St. Clare, loyal daughter of the Church, friend and confidante of popes, intercede for the holy Church, look graciously from heaven on our holy Father Pope Benedict XVI. Enlighten us to remove from our souls all that hinders the progress of the Church on earth. Grant that we may share your great love for the Church of God and spread His kingdom on earth by a holy life. You who worked miracles in the presence of the pope on earth, obtain for us the graces we need, now that you stand in the presence of the most High God in heaven. Amen.

Day Eight

Valiant St. Clare, who fearlessly stood alone against the barbarous Saracens, trusting in the Blessed Sacrament as your only protection, enkindle in us a tender love for Jesus Christ; help us lead Eucharistic lives. You who saved your city of Assisi from plunder and ruin, protect our city and archdiocese, plead for our loved country and the suffering world. A voice from the Sacred Heart rewarded your trust with a promise: "I will always take care of you." Glorious St. Clare, from your high place in heaven, take care of us now in our earthly needs and guide us by your light to heaven. Amen.

Day Nine

Gracious St. Clare, who fulfilled your womanhood by a life of love in prayer and penance, help us to fulfill our destiny that we may one day greet you in heaven. You who were consoled at your death by a vision of Christ and His Mother, obtain for us the grace that we may die under the special protection of God and enter into the light and bliss you now enjoy. Have pity on us who struggle, on us who mourn, and win for us the favors of God, so that after this life, we may come home to Him who lives and reigns forever and ever.

Amen.

V. Pray for us, St. Clare. . .

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Prayer

We pray You, Lord, grant us your servants who celebrate the Feast of St. Clare, your Virgin, by her intercession, to be partakers of the joys of heaven and co-heirs with your only begotten Son, who being God, lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

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Art Saint Clare - SImone Martini
Saint Clare - Francesco del Cossa
Saint Clare - Giotto di Bondone
Saint Clare - Lorenzo Lotto