Produced by Michael Gray, the Diocese of San Jose MARY, THE HELP OF CHRISTIANS MARY, HELP OF CHRISTIANS AND THE Fourteen Saints Invoked as Holy Helpers Instructions, Legends, Novenas and Prayers WITH Thoughts of the Saints for Every Day in the Year COMPILED BY REV. BONAVENTURE HAMMER, O.F.M. TO WHICH IS ADDED AN APPENDIX ON THE Reasonableness of Catholic Ceremonies and Practices BY REV. JOHN J. BURKE --- NEW YORK, CINCINNATI, CHICAGO BENZIGER BROTHERS PRINTERS TO THE HOLY APOSTOLIC SEE PUBLISHERS OF BENZINGER'S MAGAZINE Imprimi Permittitur. FR. CHRYSOSTOMUS THEOBALD, O.F.M., _Minister Provincialis._ Cincinnati, Ohio, die 30, Martii, 1908. Nihil Obstat. REMY LAPORT, S.T.L., _Censor Librorum._ Imprimatur. JOHN M. FARLEY, Archbishop of New York. NEW YORK, March 4, 1909. COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY BENZIGER BROTHERS. PREFACE THE contents of the following pages are based on the Catholic doctrine of the veneration and invocation of the saints, and of the efficacy of the prayer of intercession. The legends of the individual "Holy Helpers" were compiled from authors whose writings have the approval of the Church. In compliance with the decrees of Pope Urban VIII of 1625, 1631, and 1634, the compiler formally declares that he submits everything contained in this little book to the infallible judgment of the Church, and that he claims no other than human credibility for the facts, legends, and miracles related, except where the Church has otherwise decided. THE COMPILER. Contents PREFACE PART I The Veneration and Invocation of Saints and the Efficacy of Prayer CHAPTER I THE VENERATION AND INVOCATION OF SAINTS CHAPTER II EFFICACY OF THE INTERCESSION OF THE SAINTS CHAPTER III FOR WHAT THE INTERCESSION OF THE SAINTS MAY AND SHOULD BE INVOKED CHAPTER IV THE QUALITIES OF PRAYER PART II Mary, the Help of Christians Novenas in Preparation for the Principal Feasts of the Blessed Virgin RULES FOR THE PROPER OBSERVANCE OF NOVENAS ON THE MANNER OF READING THE MEDITATIONS AND OBSERVING THE PRACTICES INTRODUCTION MARY, THE HELP OF CHRISTIANS I. NOVENA IN HONOR OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY FIRST DAY.--THE PREDESTINATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY SECOND DAY.--MARY'S IMMACULATE CONCEPTION THIRD DAY.--MARY, THE VICTRIX OF SATAN FOURTH DAY.--MARY WITHOUT ACTUAL SIN FIFTH DAY.--MARY, FULL OF GRACE SIXTH DAY.--MARY, OUR REFUGE SEVENTH DAY.--MARY, THE MOTHER OF CHASTITY EIGHTH DAY.--THE IMAGE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION NINTH DAY.--THE FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION II. NOVENA IN HONOR OF THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY