Novena to Our Lady of Good Counsel

I've been thinking that, especially at this time, it would be good to offer this novena for our Successor of St. Peter. I'm also offering mine for the intentions of all of our pastors. (My apologies for publishing it so late; I hope maybe some have the chance to finish it on the upcoming feast day!)

My friend (Hi, Mary!) reminded me this morning that we have nine days until the Feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel! As a devotee of the Blessed Mother under this title, she was so kind as to send along two prayers ~ the following prayer, composed by Pope St. Pius X. There is a partial indulgence attached to this first prayer.

Prayer to Our Lady of Good Counsel:

O Holy Virgin, to whose feet we are lead by our anxious uncertainty in our search for and attainment of what is true and good, invoking thee by the sweet title of Mother of Good Counsel. We beseech Thee to come to our assistance, when, along the road of this life, the darkness of error and of evil conspires towards our ruin by leading our minds and our hearts astray.

Do Thou, O Seat of Wisdom and Star of the Sea, enlighten the doubtful and the erring, that they be not seduced by the false appearances of good; render them steadfast in the race of the hostile and corrupting influences of passion and of sin. O Mother of Good Counsel, obtain for us from Thy Divine Son a great love of virtue, and, in the hour of uncertainty and trial, the strength to embrace the way that leads to our salvation.

If Thy hand sustains us,we shall walk unmolested along the path indicated to us by the life and words of Jesus our Redeemer, and having followed freely and securely, even in the midst of this world's strife, the Sun of Truth and Justice under Thy maternal star, we shall come to the enjoyment of full and eternal peace with Thee in the haven of salvation.

Amen-------------------Shorter prayer:

Prayer to Mary Most Holy of Good Counsel to Implore Her Protection:

O Mary of Good Counsel, inflame the hearts of all Thy devotees, so that all of them have recourse to Thee, O great Mother of God. Deign, O most worthy Lady, that everyone choose Thee as teacher and wise counselor of their souls, since Thou art, as St. Augustine says, -the counsel of the Apostles and counsel of all peoples.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, Author and Dispenser of all good, Who in becoming incarnate in the womb of the Blessed Virgin, hast communicated to Her lights above those of all the heavenly intelligences, grant that in honoring Her under the title of Our Lady of Good Counsel, we may merit always to receive from Her goodness, the counsels of wisdom and salvation, which will conduct us to the port of a blessed eternity. Amen.