NOVENA
Novena to St. John Paul II
DAY 1: THE FATHER'S LOVE
Meditation
Saint John Paul II, you taught the world through word and example that Jesus is the face of the Father's merciful love. You called upon the world to "be not afraid" and "open wide the doors for Christ." Now, through your powerful intercession, show us that the love of God is living and active, stronger than all the forces of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Through your prayers, help us in every need and deliver us from every evil. May we always know by experience the love of God the Father, mediated through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer (Say daily after each Meditation of the day.)
"God, merciful Father, in your Son, Jesus Christ, you have revealed your love and poured it out upon us in the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. We entrust to you today the destiny of the world and of very man and woman. Bend down to us sinners, heal our weakness, conquer all evil, and grant that all the peoples of the earth may experience your mercy. In You, the Triune God, may they ever find the source of hope. Eternal Father, by the Passion and Resurrection of your Son, have mercy on us and upon the whole world!" Amen.
DAY 2: JESUS, SON OF GOD AND SAVIOR
Meditation
Saint John Paul II, you demonstrated through your personal faith and trust in Jesus that he is truly the Son of God and the Savior of the entire world. Bearing the sign of our salvation, you crossed the globe in your apostolic journeys and fearlessly proclaimed Jesus to every nation, every people. Pray for us, that we may have that same faith and trust in Jesus in our every need. Intercede for us, calling upon the Lord Jesus to assist us now and forever.
Saint John Paul II, you demonstrated through your personal faith and trust in Jesus that he is truly the Son of God and the Savior of the entire world. Bearing the sign of our salvation, you crossed the globe in your apostolic journeys and fearlessly proclaimed Jesus to every nation, every people. Pray for us, that we may have that same faith and trust in Jesus in our every need. Intercede for us, calling upon the Lord Jesus to assist us now and forever.
Prayer
"God, merciful Father, in your Son, Jesus Christ...
DAY 3: THE HOLY SPIRIT
Meditation
Saint John Paul II, your personal witness of sanctity demonstrated what happens in a Christian's life when he or she opens their heart to the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. You also proclaimed to the world the loving care of the Spouse of the Spirit, the Blessed Virgin Mary, consecrating us all to her maternal care. Now through your powerful intercession from heaven, help us to become holy as God the Father is holy, loving God and neighbor truly and with self-giving love. Pray for us that we may become so on fire with the Holy Spirit that our lives be sources of light and healing grace for all the nations.
Prayer
"God, merciful Father, in your Son, Jesus Christ...
DAY 4: MARY
Meditation
Saint John Paul II, you were a great model of Marian devotion, living the motto totus tuus (totally yours) under the mantle of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Inspired by your confidence in the Blessed Mother's loving and maternal intercession, we ask you to pray that we may also have the same love and fidelity to Our Blessed Mother, entrusting to her all our works, cares, joys and sufferings.
Prayer
"God, merciful Father, in your Son, Jesus Christ...
DAY 5: THE EUCHARIST
Meditation
Saint John Paul II, you reminded us throughout your pontificate of the teaching of Vatican II that the Eucharist is the Source and Summit of the Christian life, because the Eucharist is the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Inspired by your own confidence in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, we ask your intercession for all those who do not believe, who do not know or trust in the Lord's promise to be with us always until the end of time (see Mt 28:20). May we, through your prayers and the prayers of all the saints, always draw strength from receiving the Eucharist and be swiftly transformed by the Sacrament we receive to become the saints God means us to become.
Prayer
"God, merciful Father, in your Son, Jesus Christ...
DAY 6: RECONCILIATION
Meditation
Saint John Paul II, you reminded the Church and the world that reconciliation and penance are indispensable, for we are all sinners, and only by confessing our sins will we be saved. Only by doing penance and trusting in the graces mediated by Jesus can we be spared punishment. you also reminded us that, through the mercy of God, reconciliation and forgiveness are available to all, especially the greatest of sinners, for "the greater the sinner, the greater the right he has to My mercy" (Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 723). Intercede for us and for all sinners, that we may trust in the mercy of God and seek reconciliation with God the Father through Jesus, the Divine Mercy Incarnate, by the power of the Holy Spirit, through the sacrament of Confession and the indulgences offered by the Church.
Prayer
"God, merciful Father, in your Son, Jesus Christ...
DAY 7: THE PROCLAMATION OF DIVINE MERCY
Meditation
Saint John Paul II, you made St. Faustina Kowalska, the secretary of God's mercy, the first saint of the new millennium, saying, "Sr. Faustina's canonization has a particular eloquence: by this act I intend today to pass this message on to the new millennium. I pass it on to all people, so that they will learn to know ever better the true face of God and the true face of their brethren." Intercede for us that we may become grateful recipients and faithful apostles of Divine Mercy.
Prayer
"God, merciful Father, in your Son, Jesus Christ...
DAY 8: BECOMING AN INTERCESSOR / PERSON OF PRAYER
Meditation
Saint John Paul II, you lived your life immersed in prayer, interceding for the Church and the world with the "inexpressible groanings" inspired by the Holy Spirit (see Rom. 8:26). Now, your intercession is more powerful than ever as you share n the Beatific Vision in heaven. Continue your prayers for us, interceding for us in all our needs, especially for the intention of this novena. May we become people of prayer, meeting the great sins and needs of the present time with ever greater and more Spirit-filled intercession.
Prayer
"God, merciful Father, in your Son, Jesus Christ...
DAY 9: PREPARING THE WORLD FOR THE SECOND COMING
Meditation
Saint John Paul II, when you dedicated the international Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Lagiewniki, Poland, in 2002, you said, "I wish solemnly to entrust the world to Divine Mercy. I do so with the burning desire that the message of God's merciful love, proclaimed here through Saint Faustina, may be made known to all the peoples of the earth and fill their hearts with hope. May this message radiate... throughout the world. May the binding promise of the Lord Jesus be fulfilled: from here there must go forth "the spark which will prepare the world for his final coming" (see Diary, 1732). Through your powerful intercession, help us to do our part to speak this message of Divine Mercy and prepare the world for the Second Coming of Jesus.
Prayer
"God, merciful Father, in your Son, Jesus Christ...
Text of the daily prayer taken from St. John Paul II's August 17, 2002, homily during the Mass for the dedication of the international Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Krakow-Lagiewniki, Poland.
Novena provided by the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B. V. M.