Wednesday, November 23, 2016

ST. CATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA NOVENA - EIGHTH DAY

Catherine wheel or breaking wheel, an instrument of torturous execution originally associated with St. Catherine of Alexandria.

Novena in Preparation for the Feast
      of St. Catherine of Alexandria
                Virgin and Martyr  
         
                      Eighth day
Catherine was not spared, for Maximin made a further attempt to win her. He offered to make her mistress of the world if she would but listen to him, and when she still spurned his proposals, he ordered her to the torture. She was bound to four spiked wheels which revolved in different directions, that she might be torn into many pieces. But an angel consumed the wheels by fire, and the fragments flying around killed the executioners and many of the spectators. The tyrant then ordered her to be scourged and beheaded. The sentence was carried into effect on November 25, 307.

              Preparatory Prayer
Almighty and eternal God! With lively faith and reverently worshiping Thy Divine Majesty, I prostrate myself before Thee and invoke with filial trust Thy supreme bounty and mercy. Illumine the darkness of my intellect with a ray of Thy Heavenly light and inflame my heart with the fire of Thy Divine love, that I may contemplate the great virtues and merits of Catherine of Alexandria and following her example imitate, like her, the life of Thy Divine Son.
     Moreover, I beseech Thee to grant graciously, through the merits and intercession of Catherine, the petition which through her I humbly place before Thee, devoutly saying, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”

       (Mention intentions here)

Vouchsafe graciously to hear it, if it redounds to Thy greater glory and to the salvation of my soul. Amen.

 Prayer in Honor of St. Catherine
O God, Who didst distinguish Thy holy Virgin and Martyr Catherine by the gift of great wisdom and virtue, and a victorious combat with the enemies of the Faith; grant us, we beseech Thee, through her intercession, constancy in the Faith and the wisdom of the Saints, that we may devote all the powers of our mind and heart to Thy service. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

       Invocation of St. Catherine
St. Catherine, glorious Virgin and Martyr, resplendent in the luster of wisdom and purity; thy wisdom refuted the adversaries of Divine truth and covered them with confusion; thy immaculate purity made thee a spouse of Christ, so that after thy glorious Martyrdom Angels carried thy body to Mount Sinai. Implore for me progress in the science of the Saints and the virtue of holy purity, that vanquishing the enemies of my soul, I may be victorious in my last combat and after death be conducted by the angels into the eternal beatitude of Heaven. Amen.

                       Prayer
My Lord and God! I offer up to Thee my petition in union with the bitter passion and death of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, together with the merits of His immaculate and blessed Mother, Mary ever virgin, and of all the Saints, particularly with those of the holy helper Catherine of Alexandria in whose honor I make this novena. Look down upon me, merciful Lord! Grant me Thy grace and Thy love, and graciously hear my prayer. Amen.
        


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