Novena to St Philip Neri

Novena in Preparation for the Feast of St Philip.
Begins Saturday 17th May.

Daily Prayer

COME, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of thy love.
℣. Send forth thy Spirit and they shall be created:
℟. And thou shalt renew the face of the Earth.

Let us pray.
O GOD, who has taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may always be truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation. Through Christ our Lord. ℟.Amen.

There follows a reading from the life of St Philip

LOOK DOWN from heaven, Holy Father, from the loftiness of that moun- tain to the lowliness of this valley, from that harbour of quietness and tran- quillity to this calamitous sea. And now that the darkness of this world hinders no more those benignant eyes of thine from looking clearly into all things, look down and visit, O most diligent keeper, this vineyard which thy right hand planted with so much labour, anxiety, and peril. To thee then we fly, from thee we seek for aid: to thee we give our whole selves unreservedly. Thee we adopt for our patron and defender: undertake the cause of our salvation, protect thy clients. To thee we appeal as our leader, rule thine army fighting against the assaults of the devil. To thee, kindest of pilots, we give up the rudder of our lives; steer this little ship of thine, and placed as thou art on high, keep us off all the rocks of evil desires, that with thee for our pilot and our guide we may safely come to the port of eternal bliss. ℟. Amen.

Then is said three times:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
℣. Holy Father, Saint Philip:
℟. Pray for us.

O FAMOUS leader and loving Father, Saint Philip, be a true Father to us. Protect and govern always those who have been given to thee. Make us good and, being made good, reconcile us to God; and after this time of exile joyfully present us to the beloved Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour; may whose honour, praise and glory, unspeakable joy and perpetual bliss with the glorious Virgin Mary and the whole court of heavenly citizens remain without end for ever and ever.
℟.Amen.

℣. Fulfil thy words, O Father:
℟. Help us by thy prayers.
℣. Behold and come to thy vineyard:
℟. Which thy strong hand has planted.
℣. May the Holy Spirit inflame us with that fire:
℟. Which wonderfully penetrated the heart of Blessed Philip.
℣. Remember thy Congregation:
℟. Which thou hast possessed from the beginning.
℣. Grant, O Lord, that what we cannot achieve by our merits:
℟. We may gain by the patronage of Saint Philip.

Let us pray.
O GOD, who did marvellously penetrate the heart of Blessed Philip with the fire of thy love, grant that the same fire of the Holy Spirit may inflame us. Through our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, who lives and reigns with thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. ℟.Amen.

NOVENA TO ST PHILIP

DAILY READINGS