Novena To Saint Charles Borromeo

[Repeat the following prayer for 9 days in a row.]

O glorious Saint Charles,
the father of the clergy,
and the perfect model of holy prelates!
You are that good pastor, who,
like your divine Master,
gave up your life for your flock,
if not by death,
at least by the numerous sacrifices
of your painful mission.
Your sanctified life on earth
was a spur to the most fervent,
your exemplary penance was a reproach to the slothful,
and your untiring zeal was the support of the Church.

O great Prelate,
since the glory of God
and the salvation of souls
are the only objects of solicitude
to the blessed in heaven,
vouchsafe to intercede for me now,
and to offer up for the intention of this novena,
those fervent prayers
which were so successful while you were on earth.
 

You are, O great Saint Charles,
among all the Saints of God,
one in whose intercession I should most confide,
because you were chosen by God
to promote the interests of religion,
by promoting the Christian education of youth.
You were, like Jesus Christ himself,
always accessible to little ones;
for whom you broke the bread of the word of God,
and procured for them also the blessings
of a Christian Education.
To you, then, I have recourse with confidence,
beseeching you to obtain for me
the grace to profit of the advantages I enjoy,
and for which I am so considerably indebted to your zeal.
Preserve me by your prayers from the dangers of the world;
obtain that my heart may be impressed
with a lively horror of sin;
a deep sense of my duty as a Christian;
a sincere contempt for the opinion
and false maxims of the world;
an ardent love for God,
and that holy fear which is the beginning of wisdom.

[Mention your request]

Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.
Christ have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Christ hear us.
Christ graciously hear us.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us.

Queen of Apostles,
pray for us.

Saint Charles,
pray for us.

Saint Charles, imitator of Christ,
pray for us.

Saint Charles, faithful follower of Christ crucified,
pray for us.

Saint Charles, replenished with the spirit of the Apostles,
pray for us.

Saint Charles, consumed with zeal for the glory of God,
pray for us.

Saint Charles, the light and support of the Church,
pray for us.

Saint Charles, Father and Guide of the Clergy,
pray for us.

Saint Charles, most desirous of the salvation of souls,
pray for us.

Saint Charles, a model of humility and penance,
pray for us.

Saint Charles, most zealous,
for the instruction of youth, pray for us.
pray for us.

Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us, O Lord.

V. Pray for us, O glorious Saint Charles.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray.

Preserve Your Church, O Lord,
under the continual protection
of Your glorious Confessor and Bishop, Saint Charles,
that as he was eminent for the discharge of his pastoral duties,
so his prayers may make us zealous
in the love of Your holy name:
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.