The
Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine of Alexandria and Saint Catherine of Siena
by Ambrogio Bergognone
Novena in Preparation for the
Feast
of St. Catherine of Alexandria
Virgin and
Martyr
Fifth day
Catherine awoke at these words and
wept bitterly until morning. She then sent for the hermit and inquired what
would make her worthy of the heavenly Bridegroom.The saintly recluse instructed
her in the true Faith and, with her mother, she was baptized. That night, in a
dream, the Blessed Virgin and her divine Son again appeared to her. Mary
presented her to Jesus, saying: "Behold, she has been regenerated in the
water of Baptism." Then Christ smiled on her and plighted His troth to her
by putting a ring on her finger. When she awoke the ring was still there, and
thenceforth Catherine despised all earthly things and longed only for the hour
when she should go to her heavenly Bridegroom.
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.
Mystic
Marriage of St Catherine of Alexandria by Hans Memling
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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