DEVOTION IN HONOR OF OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP 

LEADER: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Most holy and immaculate Virgin and our Mother Mary, you are our Perpetual Help, our refuge and our hope.

ALL: Mother of Perpetual Help, you have been blessed and favored by God. You became not only the Mother of the Redeemer but Mother of the redeemed as well. We come to you today as your loving children. Watch over us and take care of us. As you held the Child Jesus in your loving arms, so take us in your arms. Be a Mother ready at every moment to help us. For God, who is mighty, has done great things for you, and God’s mercy is from age to age on those who love God. Intercede for us, dear Mother, in obtaining pardon for our sins, love for Jesus, final perseverance, and the grace always to call upon you, Mother of Perpetual Help.

SCRIPTURE READING
Isaiah 7:10–14, 8:10c; Micah 5:1–4; Luke 2:15b–19; John 1:1–2

QUIET REFLECTION

LEADER: Mother of Perpetual Help, your very name inspires confidence and offers hope. We come before your holy icon in praise and thanksgiving to God, seeking your intercession with Jesus, your Son, for all the needs of our lives. In celebrating your motherhood, we proclaim Jesus Christ our Lord and Redeemer. You answered “yes” when called to be Mother of our Lord.

ALL: Help us to live up to our baptismal call and especially to embrace the gospel of life and reverence all of creation.

LEADER: You marveled as your Son grew in wisdom, knowledge, and grace.

ALL: Teach us to welcome the Word of God in our lives and be bearers of the Good News to all people.

LEADER: You delighted as your Son healed the sick.

ALL: Assist those who are sick that they may receive good health and, in turn, be healers to others.

LEADER: You rejoiced as your Son forgave sins.

ALL: Bring us into the forgiveness of your Son. Devotion in Honor of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Mother of Perpetual Help, we who call on your most powerful name, thank you for the graces we have received through your intercession and for hearing our prayers today.

LEADER: You suffered at the wounds your Son endured for our salvation.

ALL: Help us to bind up the brokenhearted and to give hope to the downtrodden. May we share their burdens with compassion and fulfill the law of love.

LEADER: You experienced the power of your Son’s resurrection.

ALL: May we persevere in his way all the days of our life and be embraced by him in heaven.

LEADER: We pause now to silently present our own personal intentions to Our Mother of Perpetual Help.

SILENT PAUSE 

LEADER: Let us pray together…

ALL: Mother of Perpetual Help, today we face so many difficulties. Listen to our prayers of petition. Your icon tells us so much about you. It reminds us to reach out and help those in need. Mary, model of abundant love, we know we cannot heal every ill or solve every problem but we do pray with you that God’s will be done in all things. May our daily actions proclaim how fully our lives are modeled after yours, Mother of Perpetual Help. 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 with this confidence, we fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother.To you we come, before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer us.

BLESSING WITH THE ICON

CLOSING PRAYER

LEADER: Let us pray together…

ALL: Mother of Perpetual Help, we who call on your most powerful name, thank you for the graces we have received through your intercession and for hearing our prayers today: for God, who is mighty, has done great things through you, and God’s mercy is from age to age. O Mother of Perpetual Help, you desire our salvation more than we do. Your Son, Our Lord, has given you to be our Mother and you hold us as you hold your son, Jesus. We trust in your goodness and in your maternal love.

The Mother of Perpetual Help Devotion is reprinted with permission courtesy of Liguori Publications.