Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Day 1)

Day 1 — Behold, O Mother of Perpetual Help O Mother of Perpetual Help, behold me, a miserable sinner, at thy feet. I have recourse to thee and put my trust in thee. O Mother of Mercy, have pity on me. I hear thee called by all the refuge and the hope of sinners; be then my refuge and my hope. Assist me, for the love of Jesus Christ; stretch forth thy hand to me, a poor sinner who commends and dedicates myself to thee as thy devoted servant forever. I bless and thank Almighty God, who in His mercy has given me this confidence in thee, which I hold to be a pledge of my eternal salvation. It is true, dearest Mother, that in the past I have miserably fallen into sin because I had not then recourse to thee. I know that with thy help I shall conquer. I know, too, that thou wilt assist me if I recommend myself to thee; but I fear, dear Mother, that in time of danger I may neglect to call on thee and thus lose my soul. This grace, then, I ask of thee, and this I beg with all the fervor of my soul: that in all the attacks of hell, I may ever have recourse to thee. O Mary, help me. O Mother of Perpetual Help, never suffer me to lose my God. Prayer: O Mother of Perpetual Help, grant that I may ever invoke thy most powerful name, which is the safeguard of the living and the salvation of the dying. O purest Mary, O sweetest Mary, let thy name henceforth be ever on my lips. Delay not, O Blessed Lady, to help me whenever I call on thee, for in all my needs, in all my temptations, I shall never cease to call on thee, ever repeating thy sacred name, Mary, Mary. O what consolation, what sweetness, what confidence, what emotion fills my soul when I pronounce thy sacred name or even only think of thee! I thank God for having given thee, for my good, so sweet, so lovable, so dear a name. But I will not be content with merely pronouncing thy name; let my love for thee prompt me ever to hail thee, Mother of Perpetual Help. Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be. V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.