NiNth day – devotioN to the MoSt holy VirGiN
Greeting
That the Spirit of Jesus keep us united and of one accord in love that we
may come to have among us the same sentiments that Christ had.
Song
Prayer for each day
Prayer to obtain grace and favors
through the intercession of the Seven Blessed Martyrs
Jesus, meek and humble of Heart, You crowned with the palm of martyrdom
seven sisters of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary. We ask you to grant
us the grace to imitate their life of generous surrender and loving fidelity and
the favor we now ask through their intercession . . .
(ask for the favor you hope to obtain)
Three” Glory to the father…”
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.
Biblical reading
From the the Gospel of Saint John 17, 15-21
I am not praying that you would take them out of the world, but that you
would preserve them from evil. They are not of the world, just as I also am not
of the world. Sanctify them in truth. Your word is truth. Just as you have sent me
into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And it is for them that I sanctify
myself, so that they, too, may be sanctified in truth. But I am not praying for
them only, but also for those who through their word shall believe in me. So may
they all be one. Just as you, Father, are in me, and I am in you, so also may they
be one in us: so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
From the writings of the Seven Blessed Martyrs Letter 1-66-111
United, the seven of us have promised before Jesus not to separate. If by our
blood Spain may be saved, we ask the Lord that it be soon.
We are very tranquil in the hands of God, sure of Him.
Do not believe that we are discouraged, on the contrary we are very content
and we understand better each day that this is what God desires of us , because
I believe that he asks all these sacrifices as a remedy for all the evil.
We are going to take the hand of our Jesus and. step by step, follow all
his steps, not becoming frightened at the company He keeps and which will also
be ours if we wish always to be at His side; but to go with Him like that we are
not frightened, isn’t it true? Poverty, contempt, pain, suffering unto death, abandonment
. . . and on top of all this, love, love! What good company!
Silence and reflection
20
Psalm 133
R/ Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity!
It is like the precious oil upon the head,
running down upon the beard,
upon the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes!
It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the LORD has commanded the blessing,
life for evermore.
intercessions
We pray to God our Father, who wishes that we be the salt and light of the
world, and through the intercession of our Blessed Sister-Martyrs we ask Him:
─For the Church that it be the light that illumines all people and that it transmit
to them hope, joy and peace. We pray.
─For the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary that it always remain united
to Christ and in Him united to all men and women, their brothers and sisters.
We pray.
─For all who suffer that they discover Jesus crucified and experience His help
and consolation. We pray.
─For all who recommend themselves to the intercession of our Sister-Martyrs,
that the Lord will grant what they ask if it be for His glory and the salvation
of their souls. We pray.
our father…
final Prayer
O God, who granted to Blessed Maria Gabriela and her Companion Martyrs
the grace to suffer for the name of your Son, favorably grant, that through their
example we may faithfully unite ourselves to Christ in order to show through our
works the faith that we profess. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives
and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
eiGhth day – devotioN to the MoSt holy virGiN
Greeting
The peace and love of God our Father, which has been manifested in
Christ, born of the Blessed Virgin Mary, be with you.
Song
Prayer for each day
Prayer to obtain grace and favors
through the intercession of the Seven Blessed Martyrs
Jesus, meek and humble of Heart, You crowned with the palm of martyrdom
seven sisters of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary. We ask you to grant
us the grace to imitate their life of generous surrender and loving fidelity and
the favor we now ask through their intercession . . .
(ask for the favor you hope to obtain)
Three” Glory to the father…”
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.
Biblical reading
From the the Gospel of Saint John 19, 25-27
And calling together the crowd with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone
chooses to follow me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever will have chosen to save his life, will lose it. But whoever will have
lost his life, for my sake and for the Gospel, shall save it. For how does it benefit
a man, if he gains the whole world, and yet causes harm to his soul? Or, what
will a man give in exchange for his soul?”
From the writings of the Seven Blessed Martyrs Letter 139
Love much the Most Blessed Virgin, our very dear Mother, and ask her that
she herself always prepare you when you go to Holy Communion since she will
prepare you better than anyone. Put yourself under her protection and call upon
her with much confidence in all the dangers of your life.
Pray with devotion the holy Rosary every day in company with all of your
family and also pray three Hail Mary’s morning and evening and throughout the
day all you want.
Ask this good Mother to guard and keep you as her own and make you each
moment more pleasing to the eyes of her divine Son. If you do this, I assure you
that this tender and affectionate Mother will free you from all the dangers of this
life, and then she will carry you to heaven to enjoy her company for all eternity.
Silence and reflection
18
Psalm 102
R/ Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good as long as you live
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The Lord works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor requite us according to our iniquities.
intercessions
We pray to God our Father, who in Christ, born of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
has made us sons and daughters in the Son, and, through the intercession of our
Blessed Sister-Martyrs we ask him:
─For the Pope, the bishops, priests and religious that the Virgin protect them
and cover them with her mantle. We pray.
─For the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary that followingf the example
of Mary it may proclaim with its life the greatness of the Lord. We pray.
─For all who suffer in body or spirit that the Most Holy Virgin be their refuge
and consolation. We pray.
─For all who recommend themselves to the intercession of our Sister-Martyrs,
that the Lord will grant what they ask if it be for His glory and the salvation
of their souls. We pray.
our father…
final Prayer
O God, who granted to Blessed Maria Gabriela and her Companion Martyrs
the grace to suffer for the name of your Son, favorably grant, that through their
example we may faithfully unite ourselves to Christ in order to show through our
works the faith that we profess. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives
and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
SeveNth day – life of imMolatioN
Greeting
The love and mercy of God our Father and of Jesus Christ our Lord, meek
and humble of heart, be with you.
Song
Prayer for each day
Prayer to obtain grace and favors
through the intercession of the Seven Blessed Martyrs
Jesus, meek and humble of Heart, You crowned with the palm of martyrdom
seven sisters of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary. We ask you to grant
us the grace to imitate their life of generous surrender and loving fidelity and
the favor we now ask through their intercession . . .
(ask for the favor you hope to obtain)
Three” Glory to the father…”
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.
Biblical reading
From the the Gospel of Saint Mark 8, 34-37
And calling together the crowd with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone
chooses to follow me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever will have chosen to save his life, will lose it. But whoever will have
lost his life, for my sake and for the Gospel, shall save it. For how does it benefit
a man, if he gains the whole world, and yet causes harm to his soul? Or, what
will a man give in exchange for his soul?”
From the writings of the Seven Blessed Martyrs Letter of june 20, 1936
I believe that the religious soul, true spouse of a crucified God, should
find its supreme happiness, its pure joy in suffering for God and in loving Him
alone as much as a creature is capable of love here on earth. At times nature
wants to escape by some side, the heart of flesh feels some little pain . . . well,
that proves that it has not yet arrived at the supreme purification and that it must
purify itself even more – so be it, Lord, even though it cost!
Silence and reflection
16
Psalm 41
R/ As a hart longs for flowing streams, so longs my soul for thee, O God
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and behold the face of God?
My tears have been my food day and night,
while men say to me continually, “Where is your God?”
By day the Lord commands his steadfast love;
and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.
I say to God, my rock: “Why hast thou forgotten me?
Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
As with a deadly wound in my body, my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me continually, “Where is your God?”
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.
intercessions
We pray to God our Father, who in Christ the supreme Shepherd of the
Church, has given us the model and example of every good shepherd and
remembering today our Blessed Sister-Martyrs who knew how to trust in His
word, we ask through their intercession:
─For the Pope and ministers of the Gospel that they be generous distributors
of the blessings of God to all men and women. We pray.
─For all called to the priestly or religious vocation that they be generous and
faithful in following the Lord. We pray.
─For all called to the married life that they live the holiness of matrimony and
that the Lord especially help them in the education of their children. We pray.
─For all who recommend themselves to the intercession of our Sister-Martyrs,
that the Lord will grant what they ask if it be for His glory and the salvation
of their souls. We pray.
our father…
final Prayer
O God, who granted to Blessed Maria Gabriela and her Companion Martyrs
the grace to suffer for the name of your Son, favorably grant, that through their
example we may faithfully unite ourselves to Christ in order to show through our
works the faith that we profess. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives
and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
Sixth day – the followiNG of ChriSt
Greeting
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of the Father, the communion of
the spirit who accompanies and guides us in our life, be with you.
Song
Prayer for each day
Prayer to obtain grace and favors
through the intercession of the Seven Blessed Martyrs
Jesus, meek and humble of Heart, You crowned with the palm of martyrdom
seven sisters of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary. We ask you to grant
us the grace to imitate their life of generous surrender and loving fidelity and
the favor we now ask through their intercession . . .
(ask for the favor you hope to obtain)
Three” Glory to the father…”
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.
Biblical reading
From the the Gospel of Saint Mark 1, 14-20
And passing by the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother
Andrew, casting nets into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to
them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” And at once abandoning
their nets, they followed him. And continuing on a little ways from there,
he saw James of Zebedee and his brother John, and they were mending their
nets in a boat. And immediately he called them. And leaving behind their father
Zebedee in the boat with his hired hands, they followed him.
From the writings of the Seven Blessed Martyrs Letter 48
Surrender yourself into the hands of the One who loves us with an infinite
love! Without doubts, without fears! With Him, of what can we be afraid?
Difficulties, despoilments, sacrifices? He sweetens everything and through these
means, which are sweetened by love, we arrive at union with Him, that is to say,
at holiness. So then, there is nothing to fear. Much confidence, much courage –
never any discouragement – and above all, much love; in love is our strength.
Silence and reflection
14
Psalm 17
R/ I love thee, O LORD, my strength
I love thee, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.
The cords of death encompassed me,
the torrents of perdition assailed me;
the cords of Sheol entangled me,
the snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called upon the LORD;
to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.
intercessions
We pray to God our Father who desires that all men be saved and come to
the knowledge of truth, and through the intercession of our blessed Sister-
Martyrs we ask him:
─For the Church that she contribute to the transformation of our society, preaching
with her life the hope in a new heaven and a new earth. We pray.
─For Christians of the different confessions that to the eyes of those who see
us, we may be the reflection of the love of God who loves us and saves us.
We pray.
─For all the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary that the spirit of gentleness
and humility bequeathed it by its Holy Founders may never decay since
it was born from the Heart of Christ. We pray.
─For all who recommend themselves to the intercession of our Sister-Martyrs,
that the Lord will grant what they ask if it be for His glory and the salvation
of their souls. We pray.
our father…
final Prayer
O God, who granted to Blessed Maria Gabriela and her Companion Martyrs
the grace to suffer for the name of your Son, favorably grant, that through their
example we may faithfully unite ourselves to Christ in order to show through our
works the faith that we profess. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives
and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
fifth day -Confidence iN the Mercy of God
Greeting
The love and mercy of God our Father and of Jesus Christ our Lord, meek
and humble of heart, be with you.
Song
Prayer for each day
Prayer to obtain grace and favors
through the intercession of the Seven Blessed Martyrs
Jesus, meek and humble of Heart, You crowned with the palm of martyrdom
seven sisters of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary. We ask you to grant
us the grace to imitate their life of generous surrender and loving fidelity and
the favor we now ask through their intercession . . .
(ask for the favor you hope to obtain)
Three” Glory to the father…”
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.
Biblical reading
From the the Gospel of Saint Luke 23, 39-43
And one of those robbers who were hanging blasphemed him, saying, “If you
are the Christ, save yourself and us.” But the other responded by rebuking him,
saying: “Do you have no fear of God, since you are under the same condemnation?
And indeed, it is just for us. For we are receiving what our deeds deserve.
But truly, this one has done nothing wrong.” And he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember
me when you come into your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Amen I say
to you, this day you shall be with me in Paradise.”
From the writings of the Seven Blessed Martyrs Letter 140
It is so great the confidence I have in the mercy of my beloved Jesus in spite
of my miseries, weaknesses and infidelities; because where will we go with all
of our calamities except to that One who is our only consolation and our most
beloved Spouse, Jesus? Yes, let us go to Him with much confidence to place in His
most loving Heart, all the disturbances, difficulties and contradictions that we
shall have during life, and He like a good Father will take us by the best path
to heaven and there we will love Him eternally with that great love with which
the saints love Him.
Silence and reflection
12
Psalm 61
R/ For God alone my soul waits in silence
For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly moved.
How long will you set upon a man to shatter him, all of you,
like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
They only plan to thrust him down from his eminence.
They take pleasure in falsehood.
They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse.
For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my deliverance and my honor;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.
intercessions
We pray to God our Father, that he have mercy on his people and we supplicate
him through the intercession of our blessed Sister-Martyrs:
─For the Pope and the ministers of the gospel: that they be generous distributors
of the blessings of God. We pray.
─For all consecrated men and women that their witness shine in the midst of
the world and remind all people that we are called to life eternal. We pray.
─For all the men and women of our time that purified by the blood of Christ,
they arrive at the knowledge of truth and the experience of pure and
disinterested love. We pray.
─For all who recommend themselves to the intercession of our Sister-Martyrs,
that the Lord will grant what they ask if it be for His glory and the salvation
of their souls. We pray.
our father…
final Prayer
O God, who granted to Blessed Maria Gabriela and her Companion Martyrs
the grace to suffer for the name of your Son, favorably grant, that through their
example we may faithfully unite ourselves to Christ in order to show through our
works the faith that we profess. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives
and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
fourth day – holy abandonment
Prayer for each day
Prayer to obtain grace and favors
through the intercession of the Seven Blessed Martyrs
Jesus, meek and humble of Heart, You crowned with the palm of martyrdom
seven sisters of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary. We ask you to grant
us the grace to imitate their life of generous surrender and loving fidelity and
the favor we now ask through their intercession . . .
(ask for the favor you hope to obtain)
Three” Glory to the father…”
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.
Biblical reading
From the Gospel of Saint John 10, 27-30
At that time Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice. And I know them, and they
follow me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall not perish, for eternity.
And no one shall seize them from my hand. What my Father gave to me is greater
than all, and no one is able to seize from the hand of my Father. I and the
Father are one.”
From the writings of the Seven Blessed Martyrs Letter 97
When one walks in darkness, there is no surer path than that of confidence
and holy abandonment. By it the voice of the Good Shepherd, a silent voice
which one scarcely perceives but one knows with surety that it is his, feeds his poor
sheep with that “Do not fear little flock” . . . “It is I” . . . “I am with you always” .
. . “I know my sheep”, and He sees the immense desire that they have to be His
without anything in this life being capable of separating them from Him.
Perhaps our day is already drawing to its close and the night will quickly pass
and there will dawn that ineffable eternal day! Until then let us seek only God,
His love, His glory, His souls! And let us lose ourselves like little drops of water in
the most sweet ocean of His infinite love.
Let us not insist on feeling consolation when the Lord does not wish us to feel it,
but let us recognize with all the love and gratitude of which our poor heart is
capable, the immense benefits that we receive from His love, the demonstrations
of tenderness of which we are the object in the midst of this loveable and happy
night which will unite “Beloved with the lover, lover transformed into the Beloved.”
Silence and reflection
10
Psalm 22
R/ The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;
he makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil;
for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
intercessions
We pray to God our Father, who in Christ the supreme Shepherd of the
Church has given us the model and example of every good shepherd and
remembering our Blessed Sister-Martyrs who knew how to trust in His word, we
ask through their intercession:
─For all the shepherds of the Church that they guide the Christian community
with a paternal spirit and evangelical dedication. We pray.
─For all who suffer bodily or spiritual infirmities that the voice of Christ the
Good Shepherd comfort and sustain them in their trial. We pray.
─For all the men and women of our day that purified by the blood of Christ
they may arrive at the knowledge of truth and the experience of pure and
disinterested love. We pray.
─For all who recommend themselves to the intercession of our Sister-Martyrs,
that the Lord will grant what they ask if it be for His glory and the salvation
of their souls. We pray.
our father…
final Prayer
O God, who granted to Blessed Maria Gabriela and her Companion Martyrs
the grace to suffer for the name of your Son, favorably grant, that through their
example we may faithfully unite ourselves to Christ in order to show through our
works the faith that we profess. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives
and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
third day – life of faith
Greeting
The love of God our Father, manifested in Jesus who gave his life for love
and for love remains in the Eucharist, be with you.
Song
Prayer for each day
Prayer to obtain grace and favors
through the intercession of the Seven Blessed Martyrs
Jesus, meek and humble of Heart, You crowned with the palm of martyrdom
seven sisters of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary. We ask you to grant
us the grace to imitate their life of generous surrender and loving fidelity and
the favor we now ask through their intercession . . .
(ask for the favor you hope to obtain)
Three” Glory to the father…”
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.
Biblical reading
From the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans 8, 35-39
Then who will separate us from the love of Christ? Tribulation? Or anguish?
Or famine? Or nakedness? Or peril? Or persecution? Or the sword? For it is as
it has been written: “For your sake, we are being put to death all day long. We
are being treated like sheep for the slaughter.” But in all these things we overcome,
because of him who has loved us. For I am certain that neither death, nor
life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor Powers, nor the present things, nor the future
things, nor strength, nor the heights, nor the depths, nor any other created
thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus
our Lord.
From the writings of the Seven Blessed Martyrs Letter 97
What does it matter if we lack something if we have God, if we have his divine
light that shines even though it continues being night? Life is transformed.
And it isn’t that one does not suffer, one suffers much, but one also rejoices
much although the joy is less sensible than the suffering; because that divine light
which the presence of the “sweet Guest of the soul” irradiates cannot stop consoling
one who lives by faith nor giving that peace which is as deep as the
depths of the ocean.
And the soul sees each time with more clarity its littleness, its nothingness, its
misery and nevertheless it does not lose that most precious gift because it is delivered,
abandoned into the hands of God like the child in the arms of its mother
and it is sure of Him.
Silence and reflection
8
Psalm 26
R/ The Lord is my light and my salvation
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me, uttering slanders against me,
my adversaries and foes, they shall stumble and fall.
Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.
One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after;
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent,
he will set me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies round about me;
and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
intercessions
Let us celebrate, beloved brothers and sisters, our Savior, the faithful witness,
and our Blessed Sister-Martyrs who we remember today and who freely gave
their life as a witness of faith. We ask through their intercession:
─For the Pope, the bishops and priests, that through their preaching and
example they keep firm the faith of the faithful. We pray.
─For our Governments that they commit themselves to the promotion of justice
and peace.
─For all the faithful of the Church that grounded in Christ we do not weaken
in the daily living of our faith. We pray.
─For all who recommend themselves to the intercession of our Sister-Martyrs,
that the Lord will grant what they ask if it be for His glory and the salvation
of their souls. We pray.
our father…
final Prayer
O God, who granted to Blessed Maria Gabriela and her Companion Martyrs
the grace to suffer for the name of your Son, favorably grant, that through their
example we may faithfully unite ourselves to Christ in order to show through our
works the faith that we profess. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives
and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
SecoNd day – love of the euchariSt
Greeting
The love of God our Father, manifested in Jesus who gave his life for love
and for love remains in the Eucharist, be with you.
Song
Prayer for each day
Prayer to obtain grace and favors
through the intercession of the Seven Blessed Martyrs
Jesus, meek and humble of Heart, You crowned with the palm of martyrdom
seven sisters of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary. We ask you to grant
us the grace to imitate their life of generous surrender and loving fidelity and
the favor we now ask through their intercession . . .
(ask for the favor you hope to obtain)
Three” Glory to the father…”
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.
Biblical reading
From the Gospel of Saint John 6: 51-52
At that time Jesus said to the Jews: “I am the living bread, who descended
from heaven. If anyone eats from this bread, he shall live in eternity. And the
bread that I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.”
From the writings of the Seven Blessed Martyrs Letter 55
May your soul, like that little, white dove, live always accompanying Jesus,
who is alone! and may it be an imitation of this divine Eucharistic victim, this victim
of love; but before obtaining such a glorious title it is necessary to practice
a great fidelity and to accustom oneself to make with joy the thousands of little
sacrifices that daily present themselves. It is necessary to learn to die each day
humbly and silently in the interior of the heart. It is necessary to resign oneself
to feel how the blood escapes from the heart drop by drop under the press of
the contradictions, pains and sacrifices of each moment. This is the martyrdom of
love to which we must aspire in order to become victims of love who console the
most loveable Victim of the Tabernacle.
Silence and reflection
6
Psalm 62
R/ My soul thirsts for thee
O God, thou art my God, I seek thee,
my soul thirsts for thee;
my flesh faints for thee,
as in a dry and weary land where no water is.
So I have looked upon thee in the sanctuary,
beholding thy power and glory.
Because thy steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise thee.
So I will bless thee as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands and call on thy name.
I think of thee upon my bed,
and meditate on thee in the watches of the night;
for thou hast been my help,
and in the shadow of thy wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to thee;
thy right hand upholds me.
intercessions
Let us celebrate, beloved brothers and sisters, our Savior, the faithful witness,
and, remembering today our Blessed Sister-Martyrs who loved Christ as their
only spouse, we ask through their intercession:
─For the Pope, the bishops and pastors of the Church that with their word
and witness they may always guide believers by the paths of love. We pray.
─For the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary that contemplating the Heart
of Christ, truly present in the Eucharist, it may immolate itself each day for
the salvation of all. We pray.
─For all who suffer in body or in spirit that Jesus, the Bread of Life, will be
their consolation and strength. We pray.
─For all who recommend themselves to the intercession of our Sister-Martyrs,
that the Lord will grant what they ask if it be for His glory and the salvation
of their souls. We pray.
our father…
final Prayer
O God, who granted to Blessed Maria Gabriela and her Companion Martyrs
the grace to suffer for the name of your Son, favorably grant, that through their
example we may faithfully unite ourselves to Christ in order to show through our
works the faith that we profess. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives
and reigns forever
First day – love of God
Greeting
The blessing and grace of God our Father, who has chosen us to be holy,
and in Jesus has made us sons and daughters, be with you.
(If the one who leads the Novena is not an ordained minister, they can begin with the Sign of
the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.)
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Prayer for each day
Prayer to obtain grace and favors
through the intercession of the Seven Blessed Martyrs
Jesus, meek and humble of Heart, You crowned with the palm of martyrdom
seven sisters of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary. We ask you to grant
us the grace to imitate their life of generous surrender and loving fidelity and
the favor we now ask through their intercession . . .
(ask for the favor you hope to obtain)
Three” Glory to the father…”
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.
Biblical reading
From the Book of Deuteronomy 6: 4-9
“ Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. You shall love the
LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your
might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite
them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when
you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on
your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the
doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
From the writings of the Seven Blessed Martyrs Letter 140
The only desire and the only thing that I wish is to love my good Jesus with
all my heart; to love him very much, or at least to love him as much as He
desires or wishes to be loved by me; doing all things solely to please him and
for his love.
But, oh! I still have many little hindrances in this small heart, and that is why
I do not have that love that I wish to have. Yes, I want to be in love with Him
and I cannot; and it seems to me that the more I desire to love Him, the less I
do love Him. . .
Silence and reflection
Psalm 114
R/ I walk before the Lord in the land of the living
I love the Lord, because he has heard
my voice and my supplications.
Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“O Lord, I beseech thee, save my life!”
Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
our God is merciful.
The Lord preserves the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
Return, O my soul, to your rest;
for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
For thou hast delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling;
I walk before the Lord in the land of the living.
intercessions
Let us ask God our Father, the fountain of all holiness, that through the intercession
and example of our blessed Sister-Martyrs He lead us by the path of a
holy life.
─For the Church, the spouse of Christ, that she grow each day ever more in
holiness, We pray.
─For the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary, that hidden with Christ in God,
it continue to silently immolate itself for the salvation of the world. We pray.
─For those whom our Lord calls to follow Him: that they put nothing before
the love of Christ. We pray.
─For all who recommend themselves to the intercession of our Sister-Martyrs,
that the Lord will grant what they ask if it be for His glory and the salvation
of their souls. We pray.
our father…
final Prayer
O God, who granted to Blessed Maria Gabriela and her Companion Martyrs
the grace to suffer for the name of your Son, favorably grant, that through their
example we may faithfully unite ourselves to Christ in order to show through our
works the faith that we profess. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives
and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
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