Showing posts with label Fourteen Holy Helpers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fourteen Holy Helpers. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

In Honor of St. Blaise

 ***Just a reminder if you want to begin a novena to Our Lady of Lourdes for her upcoming feast day, you would begin today to finish on the eve of her feast.  I have one novena to her here.

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In a previous post I wrote about the group of Saints known as the Fourteen Holy Helpers.  St. Blaise, whose individual feast day is February 3, is one of those Saints.  St. Blaise lived in the 3rd century and faced great persecution after becoming Bishop of Sebaste, Armenia.  Because he is known for curing a small boy who was dying from a fish bone caught in his throat, St. Blaise is known as the patron saint against troubles of the throat.  For this patronage Catholics receive throat blessings at Mass on his feast day.  St. Blaise died a martyr's death.

the Martyrdom of St. Blaise

Litany of the Fourteen Holy Helpers

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Queen of Martyrs, pray for us.
St. Joseph, helper in all needs, pray for us.
Fourteen Holy Helpers, pray for us.

St. George, valiant Martyr of Christ, pray for us.
St. Blaise, zealous bishop and benefactor of the poor, pray for us.
St. Erasmus, mighty protector of the oppressed, pray for us.
St. Pantaleon, miraculous exemplar of charity, pray for us.
St. Vitus, special protector of chastity, pray for us.
St. Christophorus, mighty intercessor in dangers, pray for us.
St. Dionysius, shining mirror of faith and confidence, pray for us.
St. Cyriacus, terror of Hell, pray for us.
St. Achatius, helpful advocate in death, pray for us.
St. Eustachius, exemplar of patience in adversity, pray for us.
St. Giles, despiser of the world, pray for us.
St. Margaret, valiant champion of the Faith, pray for us.
St. Catherine, victorious defender of the Faith and of purity, pray for us.
St. Barbara, mighty patroness of the dying, pray for us.

All ye Holy Helpers, pray for us.
All ye Saints of God, pray for us.
In temptations against faith, pray for us.
In adversity and trials, pray for us.
In anxiety and want, pray for us.
In every combat, pray for us.
In every temptation, pray for us.
In sickness, pray for us.
In all needs, pray for us.
In fear and terror, pray for us.
In dangers of salvation, pray for us.
In dangers of honor, pray for us.
In dangers of reputation, pray for us.
In dangers of property, pray for us.
In dangers by fire and water, pray for us.
Be merciful, spare us, O Lord!
Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Lord!

From all sin, deliver us, O Lord.
From Thy wrath, deliver us, O Lord.
From the scourge of earthquake, deliver us, O Lord.
From plague, famine, and war, deliver us, O Lord.
From lightning and storms, deliver us, O Lord.
From a sudden and unprovided death, deliver us, O Lord.
From eternal damnation, deliver us, O Lord.

Through the mystery of Thy holy incarnation, deliver us, O Lord.
Through Thy birth and Thy life, deliver us, O Lord.
Through Thy Cross and Passion, deliver us, O Lord.
Through Thy death and burial, deliver us, O Lord.
Through the merits of Thy blessed Mother Mary, deliver us, O Lord.
Through the merits of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, deliver us, O Lord.
On the Day of Judgment, deliver us, O Lord!

We sinners, beseech Thee hear us.
That Thou spare us, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wilt pardon us, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wilt convert us to true penance, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wilt give and preserve the fruits of the earth, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wilt protect and propagate Thy holy Church, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wilt preserve peace and concord among the nations, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wilt give eternal rest to the souls of the departed, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wilt come to our aid through the intercession of the Holy Helpers, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That through the intercession of St. George, Thou wilt preserve us in the Faith, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That through the intercession of St. Blaise Thou wilt confirm us in hope, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That through the intercession of St. Erasmus Thou wilt enkindle in us Thy holy love, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That through the intercession of St. Pantaleon Thou wilt give us charity for our neighbor, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That through the intercession of St. Vitus Thou wilt teach us the value of our soul, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That through the intercession of St. Christophorus Thou wilt preserve us from sin, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That through the intercession of St. Dionysius Thou wilt give us tranquility of conscience, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That through the intercession of St. Cyriacus Thou wilt grant us resignation to Thy holy will, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That through the intercession of St. Eustachius Thou wilt give us patience in adversity, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That through the intercession of St. Achatius Thou wilt grant us a happy death, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That through the intercession of St. Giles Thou wilt grant us a merciful judgment, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That through the intercession of St. Margaret Thou wilt preserve us from Hell, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That through the intercession of St. Catherine Thou wilt shorten our Purgatory, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That through the intercession of St. Barbara Thou wilt receive us in Heaven, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That through the intercession of all the Holy Helpers Thou wilt grant our prayers, we beseech Thee, hear us.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, O Lord.

V. Pray for us, ye Fourteen Holy Helpers.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promise of Christ.

Let us Pray.
Almighty and eternal God, Who hast bestowed extraordinary graces and gifts on Thy Saints George,
Blase, Erasmus, Pantaleon, Vitus, Christophorus, Dionysius, Cyriacus, Eustachius, Achatius, Giles, Margaret, Catherine, and Barbara, and hast illustrated them by miracles; we beseech Thee to graciously hear the petitions of all who invoke their intercession.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

O God, who didst miraculously fortify the Fourteen Holy Helpers in the confession of the Faith; grant us, we beseech Thee, to imitate their fortitude in overcoming all temptations against it, and protect us through their intercession in all dangers of soul and body, so that we may serve Thee in purity of heart and chastity of body.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.



God bless!
+JMJ+

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

St. George and the Other Fourteen Holy Helpers

 

St. George and the Dragon by Raphael

On April 23 Holy Mother Church honors St. George. Although he is probably most widely known as the patron saint of England and the saint who fought the dragon, St. George's history encompasses more. A soldier in the army of Emperor Diocletian, St. George quickly grew to a high rank. However, when Diocletian began persecuting Christians, St. George reprimanded the emperor for his actions. Diocletian responded by condemning St. George, who remained cheerful to the end, to a martyr's death. St. George is also named by the Church as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.  (Novena to St. George included at the bottom of the post).

The Fourteen Holy Helpers, who each have their own individual feast days, are collectively celebrated historically on August 8. Devotion to the Fourteen Holy Helpers collectively began during the Black Plague that devastated Europe during the years 1346-1349. During this terrible affliction, the faithful implored Heaven for help, begging the Saints for their intercession for protection and a cure. Among the saints that were most often invoked were the following fourteen, becoming known as the Fourteen Holy Helpers:

St. George (*as described in their litany) -- valiant Martyr of Christ
St. Blaise --*zealous bishop and benefactor of the poor
St. Erasmus --*mighty protector of the oppressed
St. Pantaleon --*miraculous exemplar of charity
St. Vitus --*special protector of chastity
St. Christophorus --*mighty intercessor in dangers
St. Dionysius --*shining mirror of faith and confidence
St. Cyriacus --*terror of Hell
St. Achatius --*helpful adocate in death
St. Eustachius --*exemplar of patience in adversity
St. Giles --*despiser of the world
St. Margaret --*valiant champion of the Faith
St. Catherine of Alexandria --*victorious defender of the Faith and of purity
St. Barbara --*mighty patroness of the dying


May we remember the intercessory help of these holy men and women, asking for their prayers to live a holy life so that we may one day enjoy their company in Heaven.


Prayer to the Fourteen Holy Helpers
Great princes of heaven, Holy Helpers, who sacrificed to God all your earthly possessions, wealth, preferment, and even life, and who now are crowned in heaven in the secure enjoyment of eternal bliss and glory; have compassion on me, a poor sinner in this vale of tears, and obtain for me from God, for Whom you gave up all things and Who loves you as His servants, the strength to bear patiently all the trials of this life, to overcome all temptations, and to persevere in God's service to the end, that one day I too may be received into your company, to praise and glorify Him, the supreme Lord, Whose beatific vision you enjoy, and Whom you praise and glorify forever. Amen.
--by St. Alphonsus Ligouri
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Novena to St. George
*Say once a day for 9 days, especially beginning on 14 April and ending on 22 April, the eve of the Feast of St. George.

Almighty and eternal God! With lively faith and reverently worshiping Thy divine Majesty, I prostrate myself before Thee and invoke with filial trust Thy supreme bounty and mercy. Illumine the darkness of my intellect with a ray of Thy heavenly light and inflame my heart with the fire of Thy divine love, that I may contemplate the great virtues and merits of the saint in whose honor I make this novena, and following his example imitate, like him, the life of Thy divine Son.

Moreover, I beseech Thee to grant graciously, through the merits and intercession of this powerful Helper, the petition which through him I humbly place before Thee, devoutly saving, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Vouchsafe graciously to hear it, if it redounds to Thy greater glory and to the salvation of my soul. Amen.

O God, who didst grant to Saint George strength and constancy in the various torments which he sustained for our holy faith; we beseech Thee to preserve, through his intercession, our faith from wavering and doubt, so that we may serve Thee with a sincere heart faithfully unto death. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Faithful servant of God and invincible martyr, Saint George; favored by God with the gift of faith, and inflamed with an ardent love of Christ, thou didst fight valiantly against the dragon of pride, falsehood, and deceit. Neither pain nor torture, sword nor death could part thee from the love of Christ. I fervently implore thee for the sake of this love to help me by thy intercession to overcome the temptations that surround me, and to bear bravely the trials that oppress me, so that I may patiently carry the cross which is placed upon me; and let neither distress nor difficulties separate me from the love of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Valiant champion of the Faith, assist me in the combat against evil, that I may win the crown promised to them that persevere unto the end.

My Lord and my God! I offer up to Thee my petition in union with the bitter passion and death of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, together with the merits of His immaculate and blessed Mother, Mary ever virgin, and of all the saints, particularly with those of the holy Helper in whose honor I make this novena.

Look down upon me, merciful Lord! Grant me Thy grace and Thy love, and graciously hear my prayer. Amen.

God bless!
+JMJ+