Efficacious
Novena of the
Three
"Ave Marias" 2
In Honor of the
Power, Wisdom, and Loving Mercy
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
This novena is a
traditional Roman Catholic devotional practice of reciting three Hail
Marys as a petition for purity and other virtues. It is not to be
confused with the Three
Hail Marys devotion,
invoking the Immaculate Conception, although they are similar and have
the same origin.
This novena was prayed by Franciscans and
eventually developed into the Angelus prayer.
One of the first to practice this and to
recommend
it was St. Anthony of Padua (1195–1231). His purpose was "to honor the
spotless Virginity of Mary and to preserve a perfect purity of mind,
heart and body in the midst of the dangers of the world."
According to St. Gertrude (1256–1301), the
Blessed
Virgin Mary promised the following: "To any soul who faithfully prays
the Three Hail Marys I will appear at the hour of death in a splendor
of beauty so extraordinary that it will fill the soul with Heavenly
consolation."
Later on, St. Leonard of Port Maurice, "had
the
three Ave Marias recited morning and evening in honor of Mary
Immaculate, to obtain the grace of avoiding all mortal sins during the
day or and night; moreover, he promised in a special manner eternal
salvation to all those who proved constantly faithful to this
practice."
St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696–1787) adopted
this
pious practice and highly recommended it. He told parents to train
their children to acquire the habit of saying three Hail Marys in the
morning and evening. After each Hail Mary, he advice that the following
prayer be said: "By thy Immaculate Conception, O Mary, make my body
pure and my soul holy."
St. Mechtilde received a private revelation
from
the Virgin Mary on how the Three Hail Marys honor the three persons of
the Blessed Trinity:
- "The first Hail Mary will
be
in honor of God the Father, Whose omnipotence raised my soul so high
above every other creature that, after God, I have the greatest power
in Heaven and on earth. In the hour of your death I will use that power
of God the Father to keep any hostile power from you.
- "The second Hail Mary will
be
in honor of God the Son, Who communicated His inscrutable wisdom to me
. . . In the hour of your death I will fill your soul with the light of
that wisdom so that all the darkness of ignorance and error will be
dispelled.
- "The third Hail Mary will
be
in honor of God the Holy Ghost, Who filled my soul with the sweetness
of His love and tenderness and mercy . . . In your last hour I will
then change the bitterness of death into Divine sweetness and delight."
According to the St. Martha Catholic Church
of the
Pallottine Fathers, after Night Prayers, "Many Saints have had the
practice of adding three "Hail Mary's" here in honor of Mary's purity
for the grace of a chaste and holy life." Thus, it has been
recommended as a daily practice for people who have received
confirmation that they pray the Three Hail Marys for "purity of mind,
heart and body" after examination of conscience.
I
Oh, Immaculate Mary, Virgin most Powerful, I beseech thee, through that
immense Power which thou hast received from the eternal Father, obtain
for me Purity of heart, --- Strength to overcome all
the enemies of my soul; --- and the special favor I implore in my
present necessity.
[Name
it.]
Mother
most
pure! Forsake me not, despise not my prayer, graciously hear me for
God's glory, thy honor, and the welfare of my soul.
To obtain this favor I honor thy Power by reciting:
Hail
Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with
thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of
death.
Amen.
II
Oh
Virgin Mary, My
Mother, through that ineffable Wisdom bestowed upon thee by the
Incarnate Word of God, I humbly beseech thee, obtain for me Meekness
and humility of heart;---a perfect knowledge of the Divine Will and
strength to accomplish it always.
Oh
Mary, Seat of Wisdom; as a tender Mother lead me in the path of
Christian Virtue and perfection; enlighten and enable me to do what is
most pleasing to thy beloved Son, and obtain my petition.
[Name
it.]
To
obtain this grace I honor thy Wisdom by reciting:
Hail
Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with
thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of
death.
Amen.
III
Oh,
Mother of
Mercy, Mother of penitent sinners, I stand before thee sinful and
sorrowful, beseeching thee through the immense Love given to thee by
the Holy Spirit for us poor sinners, obtain for me true and perfect
contrition for my sins, which I hate and detest with all my heart,
because I love God.
Mother
most Merciful, help me in my present necessity.
[Name
it.]
Turn,
then those
eyes of Mercy toward us, Oh Clement, Oh Loving oh Sweet Virgin Mary!
To
obtain this precious gift, I honor thy Loving Mercy by reciting:
Hail
Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is
with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of
thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of
death.
Amen.
WITH ECCELSIASTICAL APPROVAL.
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