Our own parish prayer
வரம் தரும் ஜெபம்
Varam Tharum Jebam — “the prayer that obtains favours.” This is the parish’s own prayer to Our Lady of Health, prayed here in Muthamizh Nagar and printed in the feast invitation each year.
முத்தமிழ் நகரில் வீற்றிருந்து கருணைக் கரம் நீட்டும் ஆரோக்கிய அன்னையே! உம்மை போற்றுகின்றோம்!
உமது திருமகன் இயேசுவோடு இணைந்து, தூய ஆவியின் துணையோடு, வானகத் தந்தையிடம் பரிந்து பேசுகின்ற தாயே!
இல்லாமை, இயலாமை, நோய் ஆகிய துயரங்களைச் சுமந்து நிற்கும் எங்களை கண்ணோக்குவீராக!
உம்மை நாடி வருவோர் வறுமை நீங்கி வளமான வாழ்வு பெறவும், நோய்கள் நீங்கி சுகம் பெறவும் குடும்பங்களில் வேற்றுமைகள்; பிரிவினைகள் நீங்கி ஒற்றுமை, அன்பு, அமைதி நிலவவும்,
உமது திருமுகத்தைப் பார்ப்போர் ஆறுதல் அடையவும் உம்மை வேண்டுகிறோம்.
எமது வேண்டுதல்களைக் கேட்டு நிறைவாழ்வை பெற்றுத் தர ஆரோக்கிய அன்னையே!
உம்மை மன்றாடுகிறோம். ஆமென்.
In English, for those who do not read Tamil. The Tamil above is the prayer as it is actually prayed.
O Mother of Health, enthroned here in Muthamizh Nagar, stretching out your hand of mercy — we praise you.
O Mother who, one with your holy Son Jesus and helped by the Holy Spirit, pleads for us before the Father in heaven,
look upon us as we stand bearing the sorrows of want, of helplessness and of sickness.
We ask you: that those who come seeking you may be freed from poverty and receive a life of plenty; that sickness may depart and health be given; that difference and division in our families may end, and unity, love and peace take their place;
and that all who look upon your holy face may find consolation.
O Mother of Health, hear our petitions and obtain for us the fullness of life.
We plead with you. Amen.
Our patronal devotion
Novena to Our Lady of Health
Prayed on nine consecutive days — traditionally during the ten days feast leading to 8 September, or on any nine days when something is weighing on the heart. Many pray it on Saturdays.
Opening
Begin with the Sign of the Cross.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth.
Prayer to Our Lady of Health
O most gracious Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Health, you were pleased to show yourself a Mother to a shepherd boy who had only a little milk to give, to a lame boy who had only buttermilk, and to sailors who had nothing at all but their fear. You turned none of them away.
We come to you now with no more than they had. Look upon the sickness of our bodies and the sickness of our hearts. Obtain for us from your Son the health he wills for us: healing where he wills to heal, and strength to carry what he does not take away.
Mother of Good Health, pray for the sick of this parish and of our families. Pray for those who watch beside them. Pray for those who have no one to pray for them.
And obtain for us, above every other favour, that health of soul which is your Son’s own gift — that we may live as your children and come at last to the glory where you reign with him. Amen.
Here mention your particular intention in silence.
Concluding prayers
Then pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory Be, and conclude:
V. Our Lady of Health,
R. Pray for us.
V. Health of the sick,
R. Pray for us.
V. Comfort of the afflicted,
R. Pray for us.
V. Star of the Sea,
R. Pray for us.
May the divine assistance remain always with us, and may the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.
This novena has been composed for our parish around the three Velankanni events. If the parish uses a particular published novena, or its Tamil text, we will replace this with the version prayed here.
For those who are ill
Prayer for the sick
For one who is ill
Lord Jesus Christ, who went about doing good and healing all who were sick, be near to [name] now.
Ease their pain. Steady their fear. Give skill to those who care for them and patience to those who wait. If it is your will, restore them to health; and whatever comes, let them know that they are not alone and not forgotten.
Through the intercession of your Mother, Our Lady of Health, who stood by your own cross and did not leave it, we make this prayer. Amen.
For those who care for the sick
God our Father, bless the doctors, nurses and attendants who serve the sick of this city, and all who nurse their own families at home. Give them gentleness when they are tired, and courage when they can do nothing but stay. Let them see in every patient the face of your Son. Amen.
A prayer of confidence
The Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
The prayer of the rosary
The Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Sung at the close of the day
Hail, Holy Queen
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy,
our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve;
to you do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
your eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this our exile
show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.
At six, at noon, and at six
The Angelus
Prayed three times a day at the ringing of the bell — morning, midday and evening.
V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary…
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to your word.
Hail Mary…
V. And the Word was made flesh.
R. And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary…
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray. Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son was made known by the message of an angel, may by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of his Resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Lady’s own prayer
How to pray the Holy Rosary
The order of prayer
- Make the Sign of the Cross and say the Apostles’ Creed.
- Say the Our Father.
- Say three Hail Marys, for faith, hope and love.
- Say the Glory Be.
- Announce the first mystery, then say the Our Father, ten Hail Marys while meditating on it, and the Glory Be.
- Repeat for the remaining four mysteries.
- Conclude with the Hail, Holy Queen.
The mysteries, and the days they are prayed
The Joyful Mysteries — Monday and Saturday
- The Annunciation
- The Visitation
- The Nativity of Our Lord
- The Presentation in the Temple
- The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
The Luminous Mysteries — Thursday
- The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan
- The Wedding at Cana
- The Proclamation of the Kingdom
- The Transfiguration
- The Institution of the Eucharist
The Sorrowful Mysteries — Tuesday and Friday
- The Agony in the Garden
- The Scourging at the Pillar
- The Crowning with Thorns
- The Carrying of the Cross
- The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord
The Glorious Mysteries — Wednesday and Sunday
- The Resurrection
- The Ascension
- The Descent of the Holy Spirit
- The Assumption of Our Lady
- The Coronation of Our Lady as Queen of Heaven
Entrusting ourselves
Consecration to Our Lady
O Mary, Our Lady of Health, I place myself and all who belong to me under your protection this day.
Take my hands, that they may work honestly. Take my lips, that they may speak kindly. Take my heart, and keep it near your Son. Take my sicknesses, my worries and my fears, and carry them to him.
Watch over this parish and this street. Guard our children. Comfort our sick. Have mercy on our dead. And when my own hour comes, be at my side as you were at the side of Jesus. Amen.
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Would you like us to pray for someone?
Intentions for the sick and the departed are remembered at Mass. Give the name at the parish office or telephone it in.