Novena To Saint Dominic Guzman (Founder of the Dominicans)

Repeat the following Novena prayers every day for 9 consecutive days.

O renowned champion of the faith of Christ,
most holy Saint Dominic!
You renounced the honor and dignity of an earthly principality
to embrace a poor, laborious, and mortified life
that distinguishes a disciple of Him Who said:
“If any man will come after Me,
let him take up his cross and follow Me.”

O burning torch, consumed by the fire of Divine Love,
you incessantly labored to enkindle that sacred flame
in the hearts of others.
Look down upon me from that throne of glory
where you enjoy the reward of all your labors.
Obtain for me some sparks of that blessed fire to animate my soul
and encourage me under my crosses and trials
to be pleasing to God so that He may visit me.
 

O great Saint,
you regarded as nothing all the afflictions you endured
and all the toils you underwent
for the promotion of God’s holy cause.
Obtain, I beseech you
that the same ardent love which strengthened you,
may make sweet to me labors, humiliations, disgraces,
or whatever other mortifications
I may have to suffer for the Name of Jesus.
May I ever bear in mind that nothing can happen to me
but by the particular dispensation of a God Who is infinitely wise.
He knows what is best for my welfare.
He is infinitely powerful and consequently able to effect it.
Above all He is infinitely merciful and loving,
Who laid down His life for my redemption,
and continues daily to give new proofs of His love and bounty.

O tender father of the poor
who offered yourself for their relief
when all other resources were exhausted,
obtain for me that true spirit of compassion
for the suffering members of Jesus Christ,
which shone forth so conspicuously in your holy life.
May I, by the charity for those whom Jesus so dearly loves, 5 lay up for myself treasures in heaven,
where you now enjoy that which the eye has not seen,
nor the ear heard.
The heart of man has not conceived
what God has prepared for those who love Him,
and who prove themselves His Disciples
by the observance of His Divine precept
“love one another.”

I praise and thank God for the high degree of sanctity
to which you, O Dominic, were raised,
and for the special privileges
by which He has distinguished you.
I call upon you by that gratitude
with which you will be penetrated for all eternity
by your Divine Benefactor,
implore for me the grace to root out of my heart
whatever is not agreeable in His sight,
especially that evil habit
by which I most frequently offend Him.
Obtain likewise the favors I request in this Novena
through your powerful intercession.

(Mention your intentions here...)

O glorious Mother of God,
Queen of the most sacred Rosary,
you who loved Dominic with the affection of a mother,
and were most tenderly loved and honored by him,
look upon me for his sake with an eye of pity,
deign to join with him in presenting these petitions
to your most Blessed Jesus.
I sincerely desire from this moment
to love Him with all my heart,
and serve Him with all my strength,
and now place myself under your powerful protection
as a sure means of obtaining
all the graces necessary to serve Him faithfully here,
that I may eternally rejoice with Him hereafter.

Amen.