Novena to St Mariam
This novena is to be prayed with the heart open to transformation in love and truth. With Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane we pray “Not my will be done, but Yours alone”.
Opening prayer and closing prayer are always the same.
They are said at the beginning and at the end of the novena.
Opening prayer:
Holy Spirit, inspire me;
Love of God, consume me;
On the true path, lead me;
Mary my mother, look upon me;
With Jesus, bless me;
From all evil, from all illusion,
from all danger, preserve me.
Closing Prayer:
God, our Father, through the intercession of Saint Mariam, and through my trust in Your Divine Son, I present to you all my intentions. I do not know whether what I have asked is according to Your Will, my Heavenly Father. With Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane I say: “Not my will be done, but Yours alone”.
Be close to me through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Day one: God the Father
Thoughts of Saint Mariam:
Seek God alone without dwelling upon anything created. If you speak, do so as one who is silent; if you see something, do so as one who cannot see; if you hear something, do so as one who cannot hear.
God alone is all. Creatures are but nothingness and sin. All things on earth are vanity, because all things pass, nothing remains.
At the moment of death, how sorry we shall be for not having taken advantage of the time allotted to us! (“Thoughts”, p. 107).
We pray with Mariam:
Lord, I know well, that You find no pleasure in correcting us. I also know that Your justice is more powerful so please Lord, be compassionate towards us.
Lord Your heart is infinitely merciful so don’t treat us according to Your justice, but according to Your mercy. (“Thoughts”, p. 108).
Intercession:
Saint Mariam, many worries and concerns afflict my heart. I bring them to you, so that you may intercede for me before Jesus.
(Mention your requests in silence)
Our Father – Hail Mary – Glory
Day two: Jesus Christ
Thoughts of Saint Mariam:
I saw Our Lord poor, sad, and suffering. He was searching for a resting place. He said to me: “I’m searching for a resting place, a home, but nobody wants to welcome me. As soon as I knock on their door, they send me away. Even you sometimes drive Me out from your heart… Oh if only I could find someone who would but work solely for my glory, I would do everything for that person!”
We pray with Mariam:
Forgive me my God! You alone, You alone!
Jesus is not known. Jesus is not loved! We prefer black bread instead of white bread*. It is saddening to be eating black bread.
How can we cling to His works and not to Himself? You alone, You alone, My God! (“Thoughts”, p. 120).
*We prefer creatures instead of the Creator
Intercession:
Saint Mariam, please pray for me and for all my intentions.
(Mention your requests in silence)
Our Father – Hail Mary – Glory
Linen cloth place over Mariam’s heart during the stigmata. The cross and the letters ‘OJS’ in French O Jesus Sauver (O Jesus Saviour)
Day three: the Holy Spirit
Thoughts of Saint Mariam:
Before me I saw a dove and above it an overflowing chalice, as if there were a spring within it. The overflowing water poured over the dove and washed it.
At the same time I heard a voice coming out from this most admirable light. It said: “If you want to look for Me, to know Me, and to follow Me, invoke the light, that is the Holy Spirit”.
The Holy Spirit will come to heal the sick and awaken those who sleep”. (“Thoughts”, p. 126).
We pray with Mariam:
Source of peace and light, come and enlighten me.
I’m hungry, come and feed me;
I’m thirsty, come and quench my thirst;
I’m poor, come and enrich me;
I’m ignorant, come and instruct me.
Holy Spirit I abandon myself to You completely! (“Thoughts”, p. 125).
Intercession:
Saint Mariam, please pray for me and for all my intentions.
(Mention your requests in silence)
Our Father – Hail Mary – Glory
Day four: Mary, Mother of God
Thoughts of Saint Mariam:
Because of her faith and humility Mary felt unworthy to become the Mother of God. It was through her faith that could Jesus could grow in her each day.
If we have such faith, Jesus will also grow in our hearts.
(“Thoughts”, p. 129).
We pray with Mariam:
At the feet of Mary, my dearest Mother, I found life again.
All of you who suffer come to Mary, at the feet of Mary I found life again. Your salvation and your life are at the feet of Mary. At the feet of Mary, I find life again. (“Thoughts”, p. 130).
Intercession:
Saint Mariam, please pray for me and for all my intentions.
(Mention your requests in silence)
Our Father – Hail Mary – Glory
Mariam Baouardy reliquary with her relics found in the Carmelite Church at Bethlehem
Day five: faith
Thoughts of Saint Mariam:
Look at Jesus Who descends upon the altar during the celebration of the Eucharist; He comes down in response to the words of the priest. Believe that Jesus comes to nourish you and that with Him, you will never lack anything.
He is there like a little child; He’s there for you, go to Him…
Faith, how beautiful, how powerful! A soul who has faith can do all, God will give it everything. (“Thoughts”, p. 115).
We pray with Mariam:
Lord, so many people desire You but they’re blinded. Darkness surrounds them; they can neither see You nor find you. I too Lord, am one of them. (“Thoughts”, p. 109).
Intercession:
Saint Mariam, please pray for me and for all my intentions.
(Mention your requests in silence)
Our Father – Hail Mary – Glory
Day six: hope
Thoughts of Saint Mariam:
Here is what Jesus wants you to say: Do you believe that if a hen saw an eagle coming, she would not hide her chicks under her wings to defend them?
Don’t you think Jesus would do the same as the hen? Don’t you think He can hide the little ones under His cloak and protect them from the enemy? (“Thoughts”, p. 213).
We pray with Mariam:
My God, no one has ever sinned as I have. Yet, I rejoice and have much hope because on account of me your great mercy will shine.
I seldom feel any sense of trust, I have no feeling of hope, but I hope against hope… I always want to hope and abandon myself in You, my Lord.
Intercession:
Saint Mariam please pray for me and for all my intentions.
(Mention your requests in silence)
Our Father – Hail Mary – Glory
Day seven: charity
Thoughts of Saint Mariam:
“If you love your neighbour then I will know that you love me. If you do not love your neighbour, by that I will know that you do not love me”.
Every time you have more consideration towards the creature without Jesus, you fall very low. (“Thoughts”, p. 144).
We pray with Mariam:
O my God, I live with my brothers and sisters in charity, as if I had only today to live with them.
Where charity prevails, there God is found… Lord, bring about unity and charity. Unite all hearts to You. (“Thoughts”, p. 147, 145)
Intercession:
Saint Mariam please pray for me and for all my intentions.
(Mention your requests in silence)
Our Father – Hail Mary – Glory
Day eight: sincerity
Thoughts of Saint Mariam:
The Lord says “Uprightness is your salvation. If a person has all kinds of good qualities but doesn’t possess a sincere heart and a humbled spirit, I will not be there in that house”. Avoid falsehood. Falsehood has a short life and is over very quickly. (“Thoughts”, p. 160, 161).
We pray with Mariam:
O Divine Saviour do not allow me to seek compliments, because if I seek praise, I shall find humiliation, whereas if I look for humiliation, I shall find the praise of Jesus.
Do not allow me to seek anything other than Your holy will. (“Thoughts”, p. 161).
Intercession:
Saint Mariam please pray for me and for all my intentions.
(Mention your requests in silence)
Our Father – Hail Mary – Glory
Day nine: praise to God
Thoughts of Saint Mariam:
My God, I adore you. You alone are great. I adore You with awe. You alone are worthy of wonder. Who is like you? There is no one like You neither in heaven nor on earth.
How happy I am that God created me to call Him my God… May praises to my God echo everywhere. (“Thoughts”, p. 113).
We pray with Mariam:
Whether I’m in affliction or joy, Lord, may Your holy name be praised o Lord! Whether I’m in anguish or in peace, Lord, may Your holy name be praised! Whether I’m suffering or in gladness, may Your holy name be praised, o Lord! (“Thoughts”, p. 129)
Intercession:
Saint Mariam please pray for me and for all my intentions.
(Mention your requests in silence)
Our Father – Hail Mary – Glory