A Novena in Honor of the

Assumption of the

Blessed Virgin Mary

Church of the Ascension, Chicago

August, 2017

Notes from the Ascension Clergy

A novena (from Latin: Novem, mean-

ing Nine) is an act of Christian devo-

tion, consisting of private or pub-

lic prayers repeated for nine succes-

sive days. Novenas are widely prac-

ticed by members of the Roman Cath-

olic Church, but are shared as well, in

a variety of forms, by Orthodox, Lu-

theran and Anglican Christians.

Some Christians trace the origins of the Novena to the nine days

of waiting between the Ascension of Jesus and the descent of the

Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

Novenas may draw on various sources and take different forms.

They may be dedicated to a specific angel or saint, a specific Mar-

ian title of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or may invoke one of the per-

sons of the Holy Trinity. The Novena provided here was suggest-

ed by parishioners, believing it may be meaningful for Ascension

parishioners at this time, in anticipation of the Feast of the

Blessed Virgin Mary/Assumption, August 15.

Most of the following prayer material comes from a Roman Cath-

olic website, www.discerninghearts.com. The devotions for each

day also include petitions (in crimson) specific to our Ascension

parish family and circumstances. Whether by way of this Novena

or in a form more familiar, comfortable or edifying to you, please

continue to pray for all at Ascension and for our shared faith, wit-

ness and mission.

- Father Patrick Raymond, Priest-In-Charge

Jesus said to the apostles, “I am going to send you what my Father

has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with

power from on high.” When he had led them out to the vicinity of

Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was bless-

ing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they wor-

shiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they

stayed continually at the temple, praising God. - Acts 24:49-52

Day 1—Monday, August 7, 2017

Lord Jesus Christ, You have destroyed the power of death

and given us the hope of eternal life in body and soul. You

granted your Mother a special place in your glory, and did

not allow decay to touch her body. As we rejoice in the As-

sumption of Mary, give to us a renewed confidence in the

victory of life over death. You live and reign forever and

ever. Amen.

Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, we

believe in your triumphant assumption into heaven where

the angels and saints acclaim you as Queen of Heaven and

earth. We join them in praising you and bless the Lord

who raised you above all creatures. With them we honor

you. We are confident that you watch over our daily lives

and we ask that you intercede for us now.

Pray with us and for us, O holy Mother of God, for all the

people of Church of the Ascension. We remember with

gratitude those who now praise God with you in heaven

and who in this life blessed this congregation with their

gifts of faith and leadership and with their generosity in

giving of their time, talent and treasure. Pray with us and

for us that we may grow and persevere in following their

examples and yours.

[Names of particular individuals may be

remembered silently or named aloud.]

We are comforted by our faith in the coming Resurrection

and we look to you for prayers and comfort. After this

earthly life, show us Jesus, the blest fruit of your womb, O

kind, O loving, O sweet virgin Mary.

O Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us. Amen.

Day 2—Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Lord Jesus Christ, You have destroyed the power of death

and given us the hope of eternal life in body and soul. You

granted your Mother a special place in your glory, and did

not allow decay to touch her body. As we rejoice in the As-

sumption of Mary, give to us a renewed confidence in the

victory of life over death. You live and reign forever and

ever. Amen.

Mary, Assumed into Heaven, we venerate you as the

Queen of Heaven and earth. As you tasted the bitterness of

pain and sorrow with your Son on earth, you now enjoy

eternal bliss with Him in Heaven. Loving Queen, intercede

for us in our needs.

Pray with us and for us, O holy Mother of God, for all the

people of Church of the Ascension. Following a time of

trial, conflict and discouragement, we remain in need of

divine healing, help and guidance. Pray with us and for

us, for healing, forgiveness and hope, and for renewal, as

needed, in body, mind and spirit.

[Names of particular individuals may be

remembered silently or named aloud.]

We praise Jesus for giving us such a loving mother.

O Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us. Amen.

Day 3 — Weds., August 9, 2017

Lord Jesus Christ, You have de-

stroyed the power of death and

given us the hope of eternal life in

body and soul. You granted your

Mother a special place in your

glory, and did not allow decay to

touch her body. As we rejoice in

the Assumption of Mary, give to

us a renewed confidence in the

victory of life over death. You live

and reign forever and ever. Amen.

O Mother, Assumed into Heaven,

because you shared in all the mys-

teries of our Redemption here be-

low, Jesus has crowned you with glory.

Pray with us and for us, O holy Mother of God, for all the

people of Church of the Ascension. For the sacred gifts

and ministries of worship and music with which we have

been richly blessed, and for all who lead or have led them

or taken part, we give thanks. Pray with us and for us that

by our worship and music we may continue to be inspired

and renewed in faith and mission.

[Names of particular individuals may be

remembered silently or named aloud.]

With your most glorious and powerful intercession, help

us O loving Mother and present to Jesus our request.

O Queen assumed into Heaven, pray for us. Amen.

Day 4—Thursday, August 10, 2017

Lord Jesus Christ, You have destroyed

the power of death and given us the

hope of eternal life in body and soul.

You granted your Mother a special

place in your glory, and did not allow

decay to touch her body. As we rejoice

in the Assumption of Mary, give to us a

renewed confidence in the victory of life

over death. You live and reign forever

and ever. Amen.

O Dearest Mother Mary, Assumed into

Heaven, God placed you at His right

hand that you may intercede for his

little ones as the Mother of God. In the

midst of all the Saints you stand as their Queen and ours –

dearer to the Heart of God than any creation. You pray for

your children and give to us every grace won by our loving

Savior on the Cross.

Pray with us and for us, O holy Mother of God, for all the

people of Church of the Ascension. Our households with chil-

dren and youth are faithful but few. Pray with us and for us,

for wisdom, creativity and inspiration to know if, how and

when to better welcome and devote ourselves and our re-

sources to our existing and new families.

[Names of particular individuals may be

remembered silently or named aloud.]

Please intercede for us in our needs and ask Jesus to grant our

request if it be for the good of our souls.

O Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us. Amen.

Day 5—Friday, August 11, 2017

Lord Jesus Christ, You have destroyed the power of death

and given us the hope of eternal life in body and soul. You

granted your Mother a special place in your glory, and did

not allow decay to touch her body. As we rejoice in the As-

sumption of Mary, give to us a renewed confidence in the

victory of life over death. You live and reign forever and

ever. Amen.

O merciful and loving Mother, may your glorious beauty

fill our hearts with a distaste for earthly things and an ar-

dent longing for the joys of Heaven. May your merciful

eyes glance down upon our struggles and our weakness in

this vale of tears. Hear then loving Mother, our request

and plead to Jesus for us.

Pray with us and for us, O holy Mother of God, for all the

people of Church of the Ascension. We lift up before God

and to you all who are sick in body, mind or spirit, those

among us in need who have been neglected or forgotten,

the unemployed, depressed, fearful or doubting. Pray with

us and for us, that we may both receive and be vessels of

God’s mercy.

[Names of particular individuals may be

remembered silently or named aloud.]

Crown us with the pure robe of

innocence and grace here, and with

immortality and glory in Heaven.

O Queen Assumed into Heaven,

pray for us. Amen.

Day 6—Saturday, August 12, 2017

Lord Jesus Christ, You have destroyed the power of death

and given us the hope of eternal life in body and soul. You

granted your Mother a special place in your glory, and did

not allow decay to touch her body. As we rejoice in the As-

sumption of Mary, give to us a renewed confidence in the

victory of life over death. You live and reign forever and

ever. Amen.

Mary, our dear Mother and mighty Queen, take and re-

ceive our poor hearts with all their freedom and desires, all

the love and all the virtues and graces with which they may

be adorned. All we are and all we might be, all we have

and hold in the order of nature as well as of grace, we have

received from God through your loving intercession. Help

us dear Mother to surrender to God all that we have in-

cluding our petitions.

Pray with us and for us, O holy Mother of God, for all the

people of Church of the Ascension. Bless all who devote

themselves to serving and leading among us: our War-

dens, Vestry members and Treasurer, those who lead and

take part in our ministries of worship, music, our parish

clergy and staff, the Sisters of the Order of St. Anne, and

those who quietly give of themselves without title or

recognition, here in our parish and beyond. Pray with us

and for us, that all who serve and lead may be renewed

and persevere in faith and joy.

[Names of particular individuals may be

remembered silently or named aloud.]

Our Lady and Queen, into your gentle hands, we entrust

all, that it may be returned to its noble origin.

O Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us. Amen.

Day 7—Sunday, August 13, 2017

Lord Jesus Christ, You have destroyed the power of death

and given us the hope of eternal life in body and soul. You

granted your Mother a special place in your glory, and did

not allow decay to touch her body. As we rejoice in the As-

sumption of Mary, give to us a renewed confidence in the

victory of life over death. You live and reign forever and

ever. Amen.

Mary, Queen of every heart, accept all that we are and

bind us to Jesus with the bonds of love, that we may be

yours forever and may be able to say in all truth: “I belong

to Jesus through Mary”. Our Mother, Assumed into Heav-

en and Queen of the Universe, ever-Virgin Mother of God,

obtain for us what we ask for if it be for the glory of God

and the good of our souls.

Pray with us and for us, O holy Mother of God, for all the

people of Church of the Ascension. Remembering how

Christ saw the needs of the poor and fed the multitudes,

we lift up before him and you all who take part in our St.

Anthony of Padua Food Pantry: leaders, parish and com-

munity volunteers, and guests. Pray with us and for us for

a renewal of our vision and our commitments to reach out

and give of ourselves to a hungry and broken world in

Christ’s name and with Christ’s love.

[Names of particular individuals may be

remembered silently or named aloud.]

Our Mother, assumed into Heaven, we love you.

Give us a greater love for Jesus and for you.

O Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us.

Amen.

Day 8—Monday, August 14, 2017

Lord Jesus Christ, You have de-

stroyed the power of death and

given us the hope of eternal life

in body and soul. You granted

your Mother a special place in

your glory, and did not allow

decay to touch her body. As we

rejoice in the Assumption of

Mary, give to us a renewed con-

fidence in the victory of life over

death. You live and reign forev-

er and ever. Amen.

Mary, Queen Assumed into Heaven, we rejoice that you are the

Queen of Heaven and Earth. You have given your holy fiat to

God and became the Mother of our Savior. Obtain peace and

salvation for us through your prayers, for you have given birth

to Christ our Lord, the Savior of all mankind. Intercede for us

and bring our petitions before the Throne of God.

Pray with us and for us, O holy Mother of God, for all the peo-

ple of Church of the Ascension. Lead through our doors and in-

to our fellowship many visitors and new members. Pray with us

and for us that we may have the eyes to recognize them and the

open hearts, open minds and open arms to welcome them.

[Names of particular individuals may be

remembered silently or named aloud.]

Through your prayers, may our souls be filled with an in-

tense desire to be like you, a humble vessel of the Holy

Spirit and a servant of the Almighty God.

Pray for us O Queen Assumed into Heaven, that we may

be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.

Day 9—Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Lord Jesus Christ, You have destroyed the power of death

and given us the hope of eternal life in body and soul. You

granted your Mother a special place in your glory, and did

not allow decay to touch her body. As we rejoice in the As-

sumption of Mary, give to us a renewed confidence in the

victory of life over death. You live and reign forever and

ever. Amen.

O Blessed Mother Assumed into Heaven, we rejoice that you

have been taken to the throne prepared for you in Heaven by

the Holy Trinity. Lift our hearts with you in the glory of your

Assumption above our human sin and impurity. From this earth,

over which we tread as pilgrims, we look to you for help. When

our hour of death has come, lead us safely to the presence of Je-

sus to enjoy the vision of God for all eternity together with you.

Pray with us and for us, O holy Mother of God, for all the

people of Church of the Ascension. May what is worthy in

us be sustained, what is broken in us be healed and what

is lacking in us be provided by God’s mercy and by our

perseverance. Pray with us and for us that what we share,

confess and celebrate in our worship, music, hospitality

and mission may be proclaimed as good news to others

through our words and deeds as we go forth into the world.

[Names of particular individuals may be

remembered silently or named aloud.]

In honor of your Assumption into Heaven

we ask this favor.

Pray for us O Queen Assumed into

Heaven, that we may be made worthy

of the promises of Christ. Amen.

Other Prayers

THE ANGELUS

V. The Angel of the Lord announced unto Mary,

R. And she conceived by the Holy Ghost.

V. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, Blessed art thou

among women, And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

R. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at

the hour of our death. Amen.

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord;

R. Be it unto me according to thy word.

Hail Mary . . .

V. And the Word was made flesh,

R. And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary . . .

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

R. That we may be made worthy of the

promises of Christ.

We beseech thee, O Lord, pour thy grace into our hearts; that as

we have known the incarnation of thy Son Jesus Christ by the

message of an angel, so by his + cross and passion we may be

brought unto the glory of his resurrection. Through the same

Christ our Lord. Amen.

SUGGESTIONS FROM THE BOOK

OF COMMON PRAYER

Prayer of St. Francis, page 833

Prayer for the Parish, page 817

Prayer for the Church, page 816

Prayer for the Unity of the

Church, page 818

Prayer for Guidance, page 100

PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE

FOR MEDITATION

Psalm 133

Matthew 5:1-26

John 15

Romans 12

Colossians 2:1-15

Philippians 2:1-18