Novena to the Holy Face of Jesus

photos courtesy of the Shrine of the Holy Face of Manoppello and Paul Badde

Novena prayers from website of the Shrine of the Holy Face of Manoppello
 https://www.voltosanto.it/novena-al-santo-volto-di-gesu/

FIRST DAY

Initial prayer

Lord Jesus, crucified and risen, image of the glory of the Father, Holy Face who looks at us and scrutinizes us, merciful and meek, to call us to conversion and invite us to the fullness of love, we adore you and we thank you. In your luminous Face, we learn how we are loved and how we are to love; where freedom and reconciliation are found; how to become builders of the peace that radiates from you and leads to you. In your glorified Face we learn to overcome all forms of selfishness, to hope against all hope, to choose the works of life against the actions of death. Give us the grace to place you at the center of our lives; to remain faithful, amidst the perils and changes of the world, to our Christian vocation; to announce to the peoples the power of the Cross and the Word that saves; to be alert and hard working, attentive to the least of the brethren; to grasp the signs of true liberation, which has begun and will be fulfilled in you. Lord, grant your Church to stand, like the Virgin Mother, at your glorious Cross and at the crosses of all men to bring consolation, hope, and comfort to them. May the Spirit you have given us bring to maturity your work of salvation, so that all creatures, freed from the constraints of death, may contemplate in the glory of the Father your Holy Face, which luminously shines for ever and ever. Amen.  (St. John Paul II)

Invocation

«Hear, Lord, my voice. I cry: "Have mercy on me!". Answer me. My heart has said of you: "Seek his face". Your face, Lord, I seek. Do not hide your face from me, do not be angry with your servant. You are my help, do not leave me, do not abandon me, God of my salvation "». Lord Jesus, show us your face and we will be saved.

3 Glory be to the Father

Final prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, whose Most Sacred face, hidden in passion, shines like the sun in its splendor, graciously grant us that, by participating here on earth in your sufferings, we can then exult in heaven, when your glory will be revealed to us. You are God and live and reign with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.

.

SECOND DAY

Initial prayer

(see first day)

Invocation

Lord Jesus, your face is the radiation of the Father's Glory and the image of his face. Grace spreads on your lips; You are the most beautiful of the children of men. Whoever sees you sees your Father who sent you to us to be our wisdom, justice, sanctification and redemption. Lord Jesus, we adore you and thank you.

3 Glory be to the Father

Final prayer

(see first day)

THIRD DAY

Initial prayer

(see first day)

Invocation

Lord Jesus, in the Incarnation you took on the face of each of us, in the passion you wished to humble yourself until death and death on the cross, giving all of yourself for our ransom. Your face had no appearance or beauty. Despised and rejected by men, man of pain who knows suffering, you have been pierced for our sins and crushed for our iniquities. Lord Jesus, let us dry your face by drying the suffering face of our brothers.

3 Glory be to the Father

Final prayer

(see first day)

FOURTH DAY

Initial prayer

(see first day)

Invocation

Lord Jesus, who showed compassion and tenderness towards everyone to the point of weeping over human misfortunes and sufferings, make your face to shine on us during our earthly pilgrimage until one day we can contemplate you face to face forever. Lord Jesus, who are the fullness of truth and grace, have mercy on us.

3 Glory be to the Father

Final prayer

(see first day)

FIFTH DAY

Initial prayer

(see first day)

Invocation

Lord Jesus, who looked upon Peter with eyes of mercy by inducing him to cry bitterly over his sin, look with benevolence on us too: cancel our faults, grant us the joy of being saved. Lord Jesus, forgiveness is being close to you and your mercy is great.

3 Glory be to the Father

Final prayer

(see first day)

SIXTH DAY

Initial prayer

(see first day)

Invocation

Lord Jesus, who accepted the traitor kiss of Judas and endured being slapped and spit in the face, help us make our life a sacrifice pleasing to you, carrying our cross every day. Lord Jesus, help us complete what is missing from your passion.

3 Glory be to the Father

Final prayer

(see first day)

SEVENTH DAY

Initial prayer

(see first day)

Invocation

Lord Jesus, we know that every man is the human face of God, who by our faults we disfigure and hide. You, who are mercy, do not look upon our sins, do not hide your face from us. Your blood falls on us, you purify us and you renew us. Lord Jesus, who rejoices for every sinner who is converted, have mercy on us.

3 Glory be to the Father

Final prayer

(see first day)

EIGHTH DAY

Initial prayer

(see first day)

Invocation

Lord Jesus, who in the transfiguration on Mount Tabor made your face shine like the sun, allow us also, walking in the splendor of your light, to transform our lives and be light and leaven of truth and unity. Lord Jesus, who with your resurrection have overcome death and sin, walk with us.

3 Glory be to the Father

Final prayer

(see first day)

NINTH DAY

Initial prayer

(see first day)

Invocation

O Mary, you who contemplated the face of the boy Jesus with motherly affection and kissed his bloody face with deep emotion, help us to collaborate with you in the work of redemption so that the kingdom of your Son may be established in the world, which is the kingdom of truth. and of life, of holiness and of grace, of justice, of love and of peace. O Mary, Mother of the Church, intercede for us.

3 Glory be to the Father

Final prayer

(see first day)

walled town of Manoppello

Shrine of the Holy Face one kilometer distant from the walled town of Manoppello with the snow capped heights of the Gran Sasso in the distance