Our Mother of Perpetual Help is one of the best-loved titles of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and her novena is prayed in thousands of parishes every week. The devotion centers on a small Byzantine icon kept in Rome, in which the Child Jesus runs to his mother at the sight of the instruments of his passion, and she holds him tight and looks at us.
This page gives the traditional novena prayer from a 1911 Catholic prayer book, a short reflection on one detail of the icon for each of the nine days, the act of consecration to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and answers about the icon and her feast on June 27.
How to pray the novena
- Make the Sign of the Cross and place your intention before Mary.
- Read the reflection for the day and look at an image of the icon.
- Pray three Hail Marys, in thanksgiving to the Holy Trinity for the privileges given to Mary.
- Pray the novena prayer below, naming the favor you ask.
- End with the Sign of the Cross.
Many parishes keep a “perpetual novena” on Wednesdays, praying it every week of the year. You can join them, or pray it on nine consecutive days.
The novena prayer (every day)
This is the traditional prayer of the novena as printed in Father Lasance’s With God (1911). It asks the help of Mary and of St. Alphonsus Liguori, whose Redemptorist sons spread the devotion around the world.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, show that thou art indeed our Mother, and obtain for me the favor I desire (here specify the desired favor) and the grace to use it for the glory of God and the salvation of my soul.
Glorious St. Alphonsus, who by thy confidence in the Blessed Virgin didst obtain from her so many favors, and who, by thy writings, hast shown us what graces God bestows on us by the hands of Mary. Obtain for me the greatest confidence in our good Mother of Perpetual Help, and beg of her to grant me the favor I am asking of her power and maternal goodness.
Eternal Father, in the name of Jesus, and by the intercession of our Mother of Perpetual Help, and of St. Alphonsus, I pray Thee to hear me and to grant my request, if it be to Thy greater glory and the good of my soul. Amen.
Day 1: The icon of Perpetual Help
The icon is painted on wood in the Byzantine style, probably on the island of Crete, and was brought to Rome around 1499. For three centuries it was honored in the church of St. Matthew; when that church was destroyed in 1798 it was almost forgotten. In 1866 Blessed Pius IX entrusted it to the Redemptorists with the words, “Make her known throughout the world.” Today it hangs above the altar of the church of St. Alphonsus in Rome.
Reflect: God does not forget what is hidden. Ask Mary to bring to light what has been forgotten or lost in your life.
Pray three Hail Marys and the novena prayer.
Day 2: Mary’s eyes
Mary does not look at her Son. She looks at us. Her face is calm but serious, as if she knows our troubles and wants us to bring them to her.
Reflect: Let Mary look at you just as you are today. Tell her plainly what you need.
Pray three Hail Marys and the novena prayer.
Day 3: The Child who runs to his mother
The Child Jesus has turned to look at an angel holding the cross. In his hurry to reach his mother, one of his sandals has come loose and hangs by a strap. He clutches Mary’s hand with both of his.
Reflect: Even the Son of God, as a child, ran to his mother when he was afraid. Run to her with your fears.
Pray three Hail Marys and the novena prayer.
Day 4: The archangels and the passion
On the left, St. Michael holds the spear, the sponge and the vessel of vinegar; on the right, St. Gabriel holds the cross and the nails. The angels bring the instruments of the passion, but they hold them with veiled hands, as things that are holy.
Reflect: Our sufferings, united to Christ’s, can become holy. Ask for the grace to carry your cross with him.
Pray three Hail Marys and the novena prayer.
Day 5: Mary’s hand
Mary holds the Child with her left arm, and her right hand both holds his hands and points toward him. It is the gesture of the Hodegetria, “she who shows the way.”
Reflect: Mary always points to Jesus. Ask her to lead you to him in this need.
Pray three Hail Marys and the novena prayer.
Day 6: The star on her veil
A star shines on Mary’s veil above her forehead. Christians have long called Mary the Star of the Sea, the star sailors look to in the storm.
Reflect: In every storm, “look to the star, call upon Mary,” as St. Bernard taught.
Pray three Hail Marys and the novena prayer.
Day 7: The letters on the icon
Greek letters name each figure: MP ΘΥ, “Mother of God”; IC XC, “Jesus Christ”; and the names of the archangels Michael and Gabriel. Mary’s greatest title is the one given at the Council of Ephesus: Mother of God.
Reflect: The Son of God is Mary’s son and our brother. Thank God that he gave us his own mother.
Pray three Hail Marys and the novena prayer.
Day 8: The gold background
The figures stand on a background of gold, the color of heaven and of God’s glory. The scene of fear and suffering is surrounded by eternal light.
Reflect: Whatever we are going through, it takes place within God’s glory and love. Ask for hope.
Pray three Hail Marys and the novena prayer.
Day 9: Perpetual help
“Perpetual” means always. Mary’s help is not for one moment only but for every day of our lives and for the hour of our death.
Reflect: Entrust your whole life to Mary with the act of consecration below, and thank her in advance for her help.
Pray three Hail Marys, the novena prayer and the consecration.
Act of consecration to Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Most holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God, whom I love to honor under the lovely title of Mother of Perpetual Help, I, N., although most unworthy to be thy servant, yet moved by thy wonderful compassion, and by my desire to serve thee, now choose thee, in presence of my guardian angel and of the whole celestial court, for my queen, advocate, and mother: and I firmly purpose always to love and serve thee for the future, and to do whatever I can to induce others to love and serve thee also. I beseech thee, O Mother of God, and my most compassionate and loving Mother, by the blood which thy Son shed for me, to receive me into the number of thy servants, to be thy child and servant forever. Assist me in my thoughts, words, and actions every moment of my life, so that all may be directed to the greater glory of my God; and through thy most powerful intercession, may I never more offend my beloved Jesus, but may I glorify Him, and love Him on earth, and enjoy and praise Him forever in heaven. Amen.
When to pray the novena
| Novena | Begin | End |
|---|---|---|
| Before her feast | June 18 | June 26 (the feast is June 27) |
| The perpetual novena | Every Wednesday | Every week of the year |
| For any need | Any day | Nine days later |
Frequently asked questions
When is the feast of Our Mother of Perpetual Help?
June 27. It is kept by the Redemptorists, in many dioceses and in places where she is the patroness, such as Haiti.
What is the perpetual novena?
A weekly novena service, usually on Wednesdays, started in Redemptorist churches in the twentieth century and now prayed in parishes around the world. Because it continues every week, it is called “perpetual.”
Why is one of the Child’s sandals falling off?
The Child has just seen the cross and the nails held by the angels and has run so fast to his mother that his sandal came loose. It shows his true humanity and his trust in Mary.
Who was St. Alphonsus?
St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696–1787), a bishop and Doctor of the Church, founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (the Redemptorists) and wrote The Glories of Mary. His feast is August 1.
More novenas and Marian prayers
- Novenas: how to pray a novena
- The Memorare
- The prayers of the Rosary
- The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- The Seven Sorrows Rosary
- The St. Jude novena
Texts and sources
- Novena prayer and act of consecration: F. X. Lasance, With God (1911), Devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary, public domain (Wikisource).
- St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Homilies in Praise of the Virgin Mother, 2.17 (“look to the star, call upon Mary”).
- The reflections for each day were written for this page.