Marian Novena

ELCC May Marian Devotion (May 1 – 20)

Our May Marian Devotion will focus on 20 titles of the Blessed Mother (per the Litany of the BVM) and all 20 Mysteries of the Holy Rosary.  There will also be a 3pm Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesday, May 13 - the Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima, as a mid-point celebration.

Pope Francis has requested us to pray the Rosary each day in May along with special prayers for the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Rather than pray an entire Rosary each day, the format for our livestream will be a meditation, petitions, a decade of the Rosary and then Pope Francis’ two COVID prayers.  All 20 Mysteries of the Rosary will be prayed in order from May 1 – 20, but you are welcome to pray the Rosary in entirety and use the traditional mysteries of the day if you so choose [Joyful – Mon/Sat; Sorrowful – Tues/Fri; Glorious – Wed/Sun; Luminous – Thr].

Here are the daily meditations and format:

20 Titles of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Daily Meditations
Each of these titles is tied to a Mystery of the Holy Rosary [20 days / 20 mysteries].

1. 3pm Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration (May 1, First Friday & St. Joseph the Worker)
   1. Conclude St. Joseph Novena with a Consecration Prayer
   2. Today at 3pm, bishops will consecrate the US & Canada to Mary, Mother of the Church; let us support their work by initiating our 20-day May Marian Devotion
   3. Mother of the Church / Joyful 1 – The Annunciation
      1. As Mother of Christ, Mary is the Mother of Christians & the whole Church
2. Cause of our Joy / Joyful 2 – The Visitation (May 2, First Saturday)  VIDEO
   1. John the Baptists leaps for Joy at the Visitation
3. Holy Mother of God / Joyful 3 – The Nativity (May 3, World Day of Prayer for Vocations)  VIDEO
   1. Our Lady bears the Savior of the World / the Word made Flesh
4. Queen of Martyrs / Joyful 4 – The Presentation (May 4)  VIDEO
   1. Connects to the Seven Sorrows of Mary & Simeon’s Prophecy
5. Virgin Most Prudent / Joyful 5 – The Finding in the Temple (May 5)  VIDEO
   1. The BVM ponders all these things in her heart
6. Comfort of the Afflicted / Sorrowful 1 – The Agony in the Garden (May 6)  VIDEO
   1. The BVM consoles us in our times of agony, sorrow & loss
7. Mother Most Chaste / Sorrowful 2 – The Scourging at the Pillar (May 7)  VIDEO
   1. Jesus atones for sins of the flesh; may our Mother protect us from impurity
8. Tower of David / Sorrowful 3 – The Crowning with Thorns (May 8)  VIDEO
   1. Jesus’s kingship is mocked and scorned, and yet he is the heir of King David.
9. Help of Christians / Sorrowful 4 – The Carrying of the Cross (May 9)  VIDEO
   1. Our Lady helps us to carry our burdens and responsibilities.
10. Virgin Most Faithful / Sorrowful 5 – The Crucifixion (May 10, Mother’s Day)  VIDEO
    1. The BVM helps us to be faithful when it costs us the most
11. Mother of our Savior / Glorious 1 – The Resurrection (May 11)  VIDEO
    1. As his earthly mother, Mary has a hand in all of Jesus’ saving actions
12. Gate of Heaven / Glorious 2 – The Ascension (May 12) VIDEO
    1. Jesus speaks of himself as the Gate; Mary cooperates in Jesus’ saving action
13. (Mid-point) 3pm Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration (May 13, Our Lady of Fatima)  THERE IS STATIC AT THE BEGINING OF THE VIDEO - It Improves!
    1. Honor Our Lady with a Holy Hour and speak of the Fatima apparition
    2. Seat of Wisdom / Glorious 3 – The Coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
       1. Our Lady participated in Pentecost and leads us to Jesus in the Spirit
14. Queen Assumed into Heaven / Glorious 4 – The Assumption of Mary (May 14) VIDEO
    1. Rev. 11:19 shows her to be the Ark of the Covenant in glory
15. Queen of all Saints / Glorious 5 – The Coronation of Mary (May 15)  VIDEO
    1. As Queen of Heaven, Mary is Queen of Angels & Saints
16. Queen Conceived without Original Sin / Luminous 1 – The Baptism of the Lord (May 16)  VIDEO
    1. Though Jesus & Mary are sinless, they lead us to the waters of Baptism
17. Virgin most Merciful / Luminous 2 – The Wedding Feast of Cana (May 17) VIDEO
    1. The BVM asks Jesus for a miracle on behalf of a couple in need
18. Health of the Sick / Luminous 3 – The Proclamation of the Kingdom (May 18) VIDEO
    1. Mary leads us to her son, the Divine Physician, for healing and forgiveness
19. Mother of Divine Grace / Luminous 4 – The Transfiguration (May 19)VIDEO
    1. She who is “full of grace” & New Eve shows us new / transfigured life in Christ
20. Mother of Christ / Luminous 5 – The Gift of the Eucharist (May 20)
    1. As Mother of Christ, Mary is the Mother of the Eucharist
        

Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary (a.k.a., The Litany of Loreto).  The many titles of Our Lady remind us why she is Queen of Heaven and of Earth!

Daily Novena Format

1. Introduce the Daily Theme / Title of the Blessed Virgin Mary
2. Brief Meditation
3. Make our intentions – public / private
4. Pray a decade of the Rosary:
   Announce the Mystery - Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s, Glory Be, Fatima Prayer
   
   The Fatima Prayer: Oh My Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who have most need of Thy mercy.
    
5. Conclude with these COVID-19 Prayers from Pope Francis  (PDF Version)
    

First Prayer
O Mary, You shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope. We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who, at the foot of the cross, were united with Jesus’ suffering, and persevered in your faith.

“Protectress of the Roman people”, you know our needs, and we know that you will provide, so that, as at Cana in Galilee, joy and celebration may return after this time of trial.

Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform ourselves to the will of the Father and to do what Jesus tells us. For he took upon himself our suffering, and burdened himself with our sorrows to bring us, through the cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.

We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from every danger, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.

Second Prayer
“We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God”.
In the present tragic situation, when the whole world is prey to suffering and anxiety, we fly to you, Mother of God and our Mother, and seek refuge under your protection.

Virgin Mary, turn your merciful eyes towards us amid this coronavirus pandemic. Comfort those who are distraught and mourn their loved ones who have died, and at times are buried in a way that grieves them deeply. Be close to those who are concerned for their loved ones who are sick and who, in order to prevent the spread of the disease, cannot be close to them. Fill with hope those who are troubled by the uncertainty of the future and the consequences for the economy and employment.

Mother of God and our Mother, pray for us to God, the Father of mercies, that this great suffering may end and that hope and peace may dawn anew. Plead with your divine Son, as you did at Cana, so that the families of the sick and the victims be comforted, and their hearts be opened to confidence and trust.

Protect those doctors, nurses, health workers and volunteers who are on the frontline of this emergency, and are risking their lives to save others. Support their heroic effort and grant them strength, generosity and continued health.

Be close to those who assist the sick night and day, and to priests who, in their pastoral concern and fidelity to the Gospel, are trying to help and support everyone.
Blessed Virgin, illumine the minds of men and women engaged in scientific research, that they may find effective solutions to overcome this virus.

Support national leaders, that with wisdom, solicitude and generosity they may come to the aid of those lacking the basic necessities of life and may devise social and economic solutions inspired by farsightedness and solidarity.

Mary Most Holy, stir our consciences, so that the enormous funds invested in developing and stockpiling arms will instead be spent on promoting effective research on how to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

Beloved Mother, help us realize that we are all members of one great family and to recognize the bond that unites us, so that, in a spirit of fraternity and solidarity, we can help to alleviate countless situations of poverty and need. Make us strong in faith, persevering in service, constant in prayer.

Mary, Consolation of the afflicted, embrace all your children in distress and pray that God will stretch out his all-powerful hand and free us from this terrible pandemic, so that life can serenely resume its normal course.

To you, who shine on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope, do we entrust ourselves, O Clement, O Loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.
 
For More Information

• Information on Our Lady of Fatima apparitions (Portugal, 1917)
• How to pray the Holy Rosary
• The Fifteen Promises of the Holy Rosary
• The bishops consecrate the US & Canada to the Blessed Mother – News Article
• Pope Francis asks us to pray the Rosary this May – News Article