A Novena is a set of prayers offered each day for nine days.
Opening Prayer
Lord God, if You do not build the house, in vain do its builders labor: We beseech You to inspire with Your Holy Spirit all those who labor to build up your sacred house, that Your people may worship truly and fully, may worthily receive Your Holy Sacraments, and thus be filled with the abundant grace obtained through these sacred gifts. This we ask through Christ, Our Lord. + Amen.
Psalms
Antiphon: I: The Lord has made holy the place where He dwells; this is the house of God in which His name will be invoked; as it is written: My name shall be there, saith the Lord. (from Common of the Dedication of a Church. Evening Prayer II)
Psalm 122
I was glad when they said unto me,
“Let us go into the house of the Lord!”
Our feet have been standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem!
Jerusalem, built as a city
which is bound firmly together,
to which the tribes go up,
the tribes of the Lord,
as was decreed for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
There thrones for judgment were set,
the thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
“May they prosper who love you!
Peace be within your walls,
and security within your towers!”
For my brethren and companions’ sake
I will say, “Peace be within you!”
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek your good.
Antiphon II: Rejoice with Jerusalem and exult in her for ever all you who love her. (from Common of the Dedication of a Church. Evening Prayer I)
Psalm 104:31-35
May the glory of the Lord endure for ever,
may the Lord rejoice in His works,
who looks on the earth and it trembles,
who touches the mountains and they smoke.
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
May my meditation be pleasing to him,
for I rejoice in the Lord.
Readings
(for each of the nine days)
Day I: Isaiah 56:6b, 7
Every one who keeps the sabbath, and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant — these I will bring to my holy mountain. I will make them joyful in my house of prayer. Their holocausts and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar, for my house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.
Day II: Jeremiah 7:2, 4-5a, 7
Stand in the gate of the Lord’s house and say, Hear the word of the Lord, all who come in by these gates to worship the Lord. Do not trust in these deceptive words: “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!” [I]f you truly amend your ways and your doings, then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers for ever.
Day III: Ephesians 2:19-22
You are no longer strangers and soujourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Day IV: Hebrews 10:19-25, 35-36
Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which He opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh, and since we have a great Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that you may do the will of God and receive what is promised.
Day V: Hebrews 13:7-9a
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their lives and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and for ever. Do not let yourselves be led away by diverse and strange teachings; for it is well that the heart be strengthened by grace, not by foods which have not benefited their adherents.
Day VI: II Corinthians 6:16
We are the temple of the living God; as God said:
“I will live in them and move among them,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people….
and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”
Day VII: I Corinthians 14:26b, 33, 40
When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. All things should be done decently and in order.
Day VIII: Colossians 2:8, 15
See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fullness of life in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
God disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in Christ.
Day IX: I Timothy 2:1-7
First of all, then, I urge that supplication, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way. This is good and it is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to which was borne at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and apostle…a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
(NOTE: Scripture readings are from the Revised Standard Version – Catholic Edition)
Concluding Prayers
Lord Jesus, You have established the Church, loved her, and given Yourself up for her: We beseech You to watch over her and direct her worship, that her Sacraments may nourish true faith, and may lead all believers to a deeper understanding of God’s will. 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.
Pater Noster
Pater noster, qui es in cælis, sanctificetur nomen tuum;
adveniat regnum tuum; fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra.
Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie,
et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris;
et ne nos inducas in tentationem sed libera nos a malo. Amen
Blessing
May the Lord bless us and keep us from all evil and bring us unto everlasting life. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. + Amen.
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