Novena in honor of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist - Second Day

St John the Baptist, ANDREA DEL SARTO  - c. 1523

Preparation Novena in honor of the

  Nativity of  St. John the Baptist

         (June 15 – June 23)

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

O glorious St. John the Baptist,

Greatest prophet among those born of woman, although thou wast sanctified in thy mother’s womb and didst live a most innocent life, nevertheless it was thy will to retire into the wilderness, there to devote thyself to the practice of austerity and penance; obtain for us of thy Lord the grace to be wholly detached, at least in our hearts, from earthly goods, and to practice Christian mortification with interior recollection and with the spirit of holy prayer.

St. John the Baptist, precursor of Christ, R. Pray for us.

St. John the Baptist, shining lamp of the world, R. Pray for us.

St. John the Baptist, angel of purity before thy birth, R. Pray for us.

 O most zealous Apostle,

Who, without working any miracle on others,  but solely by the example of thy life of penance  and the power of thy word,  didst draw after thee the multitudes, in order to dispose them to receive the Messias worthily and to listen to His heavenly doctrine;  grant that it may be given unto us,  by means of the example of a holy life  and the exercise of every good work,  to bring many souls to God,  but above all  those souls that are enveloped in the darkness of error and ignorance  and that are led astray by vice.

St. John the Baptist, intrepid preacher of truth, R. Pray for us.

St. John the Baptist, voice crying in the wilderness, R. Pray for us.

St. John the Baptist, miracle of mortification and penance, R. Pray for us.

O Martyr invincible,

Who, for the honor of God and the salvation of souls, didst with firmness and constancy  withstand the impiety of Herod even at the cost of thine own life, and didst rebuke him openly for his wicked and dissolute life;  by thy prayers obtain for us a heart, brave and generous,  in order that we may overcome all human respect and openly profess our faith  in loyal obedience to the teachings of Jesus (☨) Christ,  our divine Master.

St. John the Baptist, example of profound humility, R. Pray for us.

St. John the Baptist, great defender of holy matrimony, R. Pray for us.

St. John the Baptist, glorious martyr of zeal for God’s holy law, R. Pray for us.

O God, we rejoice at the apostolate of Saint John the Baptist, though whom we came to know our Redeemer and King. Through his intercession we implore…

                  (Mention your request)

We offer this prayer to Thee (☨) God the Father, through Christ Our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God forever and ever. R. Amen.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary

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 our death. Amen.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Madonna with Child, St Elisabeth and the Infant St John the Baptist, BACCHIACCA

Litany of St. John the Baptist

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.

God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary *

Queen of Prophets*

Queen of Martyrs*

Saint John the Baptist*

St. John the Baptist, precursor of Christ*

St. John the Baptist, glorious forerunner of the Sun of Justice*

St. John the Baptist, minister of baptism to Jesus*

St. John the Baptist, burning and shining lamp of the world*

St. John the Baptist, angel of purity before thy birth*

St. John the Baptist, special friend and favorite of Christ*

St. John the Baptist, heavenly contemplative, whose element was prayer*

St. John the Baptist, intrepid preacher of truth*

St. John the Baptist, voice crying in the wilderness*

St. John the Baptist, miracle of mortification and penance*

St. John the Baptist, example of profound humility*

St. John the Baptist, glorious martyr of zeal for God's holy law*

St. John the Baptist, gloriously fulfilling thy mission*

*pray for us

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world

spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world

graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world

have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us.

V. Pray for us, O glorious John the Baptist

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us Pray:

O God, Who has honored this world by the birth of Saint John the Baptist, grant that your faithful people may rejoice in the way of eternal salvation, through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Note: The faithful who devoutly offer some prayers in honor of St. John the Baptist, with the intention of so doing for nine continuous days, may gain: (1) an indulgence of five years once each of the days; and (2) a plenary indulgence on the usual conditions, at the end of the novena.