Novena - Taking of the Cassock & Clerical Tonsure
In preparation for the reception of the cassock and the clerical tonsure on February 2nd, we ask you to join us in the following novena in honor of Our Lady.
Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Feast, February 2nd
(Novena, January 24th - February 1st)
It was in the arms of His Blessed Mother that Jesus offered Himself to His Heavenly Father as Mediator and Victim for the redemption of the world. Through Mary, your Mother, you, too, should dedicate yourself to God's service by doing His holy wil in times of joy as well as in times of sorrow. Offer the works and sufferings of your life to God through Mary's hands for the salvation of souls.
"Thy own soul a sword shall pierce."
This day the Blessed Virgin Mary presented the Child Jesus in the temple, and Simeon, full of the Holy Ghost, took Him into his arms and praised God unceasingly. Glory be to the Father...
Mary speaks: I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: We will go into the house of the Lord.
The root of Jesse budded; a star rose out of Jacob; a Virgin brought forth the Savior. O our God, we praise Thee! Hail Mary...
O admirable exchange! The Creator of the human race, taking upon Himself a body and a soul, deigned to be born of a Virgin, and appearing here below as man, made us partakers of His Divinity. Hail Mary...
In the bush which Moses saw, burning yet not consumed, we have a figure of the preservation of thy glorious virginity. O Mother of God, intercede for us! Hail Mary...
Hymn
O Queen of all the virgin choir
Enthroned above the starry sky,
Who with thy bosom's milk didst feed,
Thy own Creator, Lord most high.
What man had lost in hapless Eve,
Thy sacred womb to man restores;
Thou to the wretched here beneath,
Hast opened heaven's eternal doors.
O hail, resplendent Hall of Light!
Hall, Gate sublime of heaven's high King!
Through thee redemed to endless life,
Thy praise let all the nations sing!
O Jesus, born of Virgin bright,
Immortal glory be to Thee!
Praise to the Father infinite,
And Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.
Prayer
Almighty, everlasting God, we humbly beg Thy Majesty, that, as Thine only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple in the form of our flesh, so Thou wouldst grant that we too may be presented to Thee with hearts made pure. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.