PRAYERS TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

I.) First Prayer

O Immaculate Heart of Mary,
full of goodness,
show your love towards us.
Let the flame of your heart,
O Mary, descend on all people.

We love you immensely.
Impress true love in our hearts
so that we have a continuous desire for you.
O Mary, gentle and humble of heart, remember us when we are in sin.
You know that all men sin.

Give us, by means of your Immaculate Heart, spiritual health.
Let us always see the goodness of your motherly heart
and may we be converted by means of the flame of your heart.
Amen.

II.) Second Prayer

Immaculate Heart of Mary,
full of love for God and mankind,
and of compassion for sinners,
I consecrate myself to you.
I entrust to you the salvation of my soul.

May my heart be ever united with yours,
so that I may hate sin,
love God and my neighbor,
and reach eternal life with those whom I love.

May I experience the kindness of your motherly heart
and the power of your intercession with Jesus
during my life and at the hour of my death.
Amen.

III.) Third Prayer

Prostrate at thy sacred feet,
O august Queen of Heaven,
I venerate thee with the most profound respect,
and I believe that thou art the daughter of the Eternal Father,
the Mother of His Divine Son,
and the Spouse of the Holy Ghost.

Full of grace and virtues and heavenly gifts,
thou art the purest temple of the most Holy Trinity,
thou art the treasury and dispenser of divine mercy.
Thy Immaculate Heart, full of charity, sweetness and tenderness,
has given thee the name of Mother of Divine Clemency.

Therefore, in my affliction
and agony I present myself with confidence before thee,
our most loving Mother,
and I pray thee to make me experience the love which thou bearest us;

Grant me (specify the favor)
if it be the Will of God and for the good of my soul.
Amen.

IV.) Fourth Prayer

O Immaculate Heart of Mary,
refuge of sinners,
I beg of you by the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
and by the graces God has granted to you since your Immaculate Conception,
the grace of never going astray again.

Mother, keep me, a sinner,
constantly bathed in the light of your Immaculate Heart.
Amen.

V.) Fifth Prayer

In the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I Trust
Look to the Star
Call upon Mary!

In danger, in difficulty
or in doubt,
think of Mary,
call upon Mary,
Keep her name on your lips,
Never let it pass out of your heart.

Following in her footsteps,
you will not go astray:
praying to her,
you will not
fall into despair:
thinking of her you will not err.

While she keeps hold of your hand,
you will not fall …
you will not grow weary …
you will have no fear …
Enjoying her protection,
you will reach the goal.

CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

Prayer To The Immaculate Heart Of Mary

Remember, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, what ineffable power thy divine Son hath given thee over His own adorable Heart. Full of trust in thy merits, we come before thee and beg thy protection. O heavenly Treasurer of the Heart of Jesus, that Heart which is the inexhaustible source of all graces, which thou mayest open to us at thy good pleasure, in order that from it may flow forth upon mankind the riches of love and mercy, light and salvation, that are contained therein; grant unto us, we beseech thee, the favors which we seek. . . . We can never, never be refused by thee, and since thou art our Mother, O our Lady of the Sacred Heart, graciously hear our prayers and grant our request. Amen.

THE HEROIC ACT OF CHARITY FOR THE SOULS IN PURGATORY

THE HEROIC ACT IN FAVOR OF THE SOULS IN PURGATORY 

O MY GOD! for Thy greater glory, and to imitate as closely as possible the generous Heart of Jesus, my Redeemer, and also to testify my devotion to the Blessed Virgin, my Mother, who is also the Mother of the Souls in Purgatory, I place in her hands all my satisfactory works, as well as the fruit of all those which may be offered for my intention after my death, that she may apply them to the Souls in Purgatory according to her wisdom and good pleasure. Amen.

This Heroic Act of Charity is the completely unselfish offering to God of all the satisfactory value of one's prayers and good works --- plus the value of any that might be offered  for one after one's death --- for the benefit of the Souls in Purgatory, rather than for oneself. The "satisfactory value" of a good work is its value with regard to making up for our sins and reducing our stay in Purgatory. However, the "meritorious value" of our good works is inalienable, i.e., our merits, which give us a right to an increase of glory in Heaven, cannot be applied to anyone else. Moreover, a person who has made the Heroic Act may still pray for himself, friends and other intentions.

The Heroic Act is revocable at will and is not a vow. Its actual ratification depends on the will of God. By making this act with purity of intention, one is relying upon the mercy of God and the prayers of the Communion of Saints to assist his soul after death. The Heroic Act was approved and encouraged by Pope Benedict XIII [1724-1730].

According to the Raccolta of 1932: The faithful who make the Heroic Act in favor of the Souls detained in Purgatory, may gain an indulgence." At the time this was a plenary indulgence with special conditions attached, such as attending Mass, receiving Holy Communion in supplication for the Holy Souls, etc.

His Holiness, Leo XIII, Jan. 17, 1888, granted to the faithful who shall perform some pious practice for the relief of the Souls in Purgatory, every day during the whole month of November, whether in public or in private, an indulgence of seven years and as many quarantines on each day of the month; a plenary indulgence, once during the same month, on any day of the month, on the usual conditions: confession and communion, and a visit to a church or public oratory, and there praying for the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff. 
It is my understanding that it carries a partial indulgence now.

A DESPERATE PRAYER TO SAINTS FOR A SPECIAL REQUEST

O dear Lady of Aparecida, 
Mary, Mother of God, 
pray for me!

Miracle Worker, Saint Jude Thaddeus, 
Patron Saint of impossible causes, 
pray for me.

Mystical Rose, 
Saint Rita of Cassia, 
pray for me.

Saint Expedite, 
patron of urgent requests, 
beg Jesus to help me.

Saint Edwiges,  
patron saint of the needy, 
you know how desperate I am. 
Pray for me.

(Mention your requests here)

Blessed be saint Rita, Mystical Rose, 
throughout the world and for all Eternity.

Blessed be Saint Jude Thaddeus, 
in all the world and for all eternity.

Blessed be Saint Expedite, 
everywhere in the world and for all Eternity.

Blessed be Saint Edwiges, 
in all the world and for all Eternity.

Our  Lady of Aparecida, 
bless all your sons and daughters 
who cry out to you now and forever

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Be adored and glorified forever.

Amen.

Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory be...

A Novena to Saint Expeditus (for Urgent Cases)

Expeditus was a Roman centurion in Armenia who was martyred on April 19, 303, for converting to Christianity. When Expeditus decided to convert, the Devil took the form of a raven and tried to convince him to hold off until the next day. Expeditus declared, "I'll be a Christian today!" and stomped on the raven. For that reason, Saint Expeditus has long been considered the patron saint of, among others, procrastinators!

Icons of Saint Expeditus picture him with a cross with the word "Hodie" ("Today") in his right hand, while under his right foot, a raven says, "Cras" ("Tomorrow").

In this novena, we ask Saint Expeditus to intercede for us for all the graces that we need in our life, from the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity, to the gift of final perseverance (to continue to believe and to hope through the moment of our death).

It is common, though not strictly necessary, to begin each day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus with the Act of Contrition.

 First Day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus

Detail of Saint Expeditus. Oil painting by a painter of Palermo, 19th century.

Wellcome Library, London/Wellcome Images

On the first day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus, we pray for the gift of faith.

Prayers for the First Day

Glorious Martyr, Saint Expeditus, through the lively faith which was granted you by God, I ask you to awaken the same faith in my heart, that I may also believe wholeheartedly that there is God, but most particularly that I may be saved from sinning against Him.

• Three Our Fathers in honor of the Most Holy Trinity
• Memorare to the Blessed Virgin Mary
• One Hail Mary in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows

Second Day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus

Detail of Saint Expeditus. Oil painting by a painter of Palermo, 19th century.

Wellcome Library, London/Wellcome Images 

On the second day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus, we pray for the gift of hope for ourselves and for those who have trouble believing.

Prayers for the Second Day

O Glorious Martyr, Saint Expeditus, through the enviable hope given you by God, pray that those of little belief may be penetrated by some rays of hope so that they also receive eternal things; please pray that ardent hope in God be also given me and hold me steadfast in the midst of sufferings.

• Three Our Fathers in honor of the Most Holy Trinity
• Memorare to the Blessed Virgin Mary
• One Hail Mary in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows

Third Day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus

Detail of Saint Expeditus. Oil painting by a painter of Palermo, 19th century.

Wellcome Library, London/Wellcome Images

On the third day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus, we pray that we might be freed from worldly cares so that we can love God more fully.

Prayers for the Third Day

O Glorious Martyr, Saint Expeditus, through the endless love which Our Lord planted in your heart, please remove from mine all the shackles tied by worldliness, that without them I may love only God in all eternity.

• Three Our Fathers in honor of the Most Holy Trinity
• Memorare to the Blessed Virgin Mary
• One Hail Mary in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows

Fourth Day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus

Detail of Saint Expeditus. Oil painting by a painter of Palermo, 19th century.

Wellcome Library, London/Wellcome Images 

On the fourth day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus, we pray for the strength to carry the cross of our passions.

Prayers for the Fourth Day

O Glorious Martyr, Saint Expeditus, who knew full well the teaching of the Divine Teacher to carry the cross and follow Him, ask Him for the graces I need that I may fight my own passions.

• Three Our Fathers in honor of the Most Holy Trinity
• Memorare to the Blessed Virgin Mary
• One Hail Mary in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows

Fifth Day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus

Detail of Saint Expeditus. Oil painting by a painter of Palermo, 19th century.

Wellcome Library, London/Wellcome Images 

On the fifth day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus, we pray for the grace of detachment.

Prayers for the Fifth Day

O Glorious Martyr, Saint Expeditus, through the bountiful graces you received from Heaven that you may conserve all your virtues, grant also that I may get rid of all the feelings that block my way to Heaven.

• Three Our Fathers in honor of the Most Holy Trinity
• Memorare to the Blessed Virgin Mary
• One Hail Mary in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows

Sixth Day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus

Detail of Saint Expeditus. Oil painting by a painter of Palermo, 19th century.

Wellcome Library, London/Wellcome Images 

On the sixth day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus, we pray for freedom from anger.

Prayers for the Sixth Day

O Glorious Martyr, Saint Expeditus, through the sufferings and humiliations which you received for the love of God, grant me also this grace which is very pleasing to God and free me from anger and hardness of heart which is the stumbling block of my soul.

• Three Our Fathers in honor of the Most Holy Trinity
• Memorare to the Blessed Virgin Mary
• One Hail Mary in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows

Seventh Day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus

Detail of Saint Expeditus. Oil painting by a painter of Palermo, 19th century.

Wellcome Library, London/Wellcome Images

On the seventh day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus, we pray for the grace to pray well.

Prayers for the Seventh Day

O Glorious Martyr, Saint Expeditus, you know that prayer is the golden key that will open the Kingdom of Heaven, teach me to pray in a manner which is desirable to Our Lord and to His Heart, that I may live only for Him, that I may die only for Him, and that I may pray only to Him in all eternity.

• Three Our Fathers in honor of the Most Holy Trinity
• Memorare to the Blessed Virgin Mary
• One Hail Mary in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows

Eighth Day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus

 Detail of Saint Expeditus. Oil painting by a painter of Palermo, 19th century.

Wellcome Library, London/Wellcome Images 

On the eighth day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus, we pray for purity of heart.

Prayers for the Eighth Day

O Glorious Martyr, Saint Expeditus, through the clean desires that reigned in all your feelings, words, and actions, please let them guide me also in my endless search for the glory of God and the good of my fellow men.

• Three Our Fathers in honor of the Most Holy Trinity
• Memorare to the Blessed Virgin Mary
• One Hail Mary in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows

Ninth Day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus

 Detail of Saint Expeditus. Oil painting by a painter of Palermo, 19th century.

Wellcome Library, London/Wellcome Images

On the ninth day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus, we pray for the grace of final perseverance.

Prayers for the Ninth Day

O Glorious Martyr, Saint Expeditus, who was so much loved by the Queen of Heaven, that to you nothing was denied, ask her, please my advocate, that through the sufferings of her Divine Son and her own sorrows, I may receive this day the grace I ask of you; but above all the grace to die first before I commit any mortal sin.

• Three Our Fathers in honor of the Most Holy Trinity
• Memorare to the Blessed Virgin Mary
• One Hail Mary in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows