Perpetual Novena

Click Picture for Solemn Novena 2006	No public devotion in Clonard has made such an impact as did the Perpetual Novena of Our Lady in the years 1943 – 1969. Its founding was the result of a visit to Clonard by an American Redemptorist, Father Matthew Meighan, who was then a chaplain in the American Forces of World War 2. For years he had been the official propagator of the Perpetual Novena in the U.S.A., the land of its origin. Following a Novena preached by Father Meighan, the Novena was begun in Clonard on Thursday, December 9th 1943. From the very beginning crowds flocked to the devotions. Within a year there were six crowded sessions, attended by an estimated ten thousand people. From Clonard the Novena spread to other churches in Belfast and throughout the country. Many Protestants who attended it in Clonard with Catholic friends entered the church as a result.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour The altar of Our Lady was a gift of Mr. Caffrey to the new Clonard Church. Father Gerard Reynolds when Rector of Clonard decided to improve it. First, he solemnly crowned the picture on June 20th 1948, as a public act of gratitude to Our Lady for the many blessings and favours of past years. The crowns for Mary and the Child were the gifts of a devout people, and are exact replicas of those that crowned the original picture in Rome. Each is beautifully wrought in gold and inlaid with 27 precious stones, many of which were taken from engagement rings and family jewellery. The picture of Our Lady was retouched, a new lighting system was installed and the Golden Gates that surround the shrine were erected. The renovated shrine was blessed at the 9.00 p.m. Novena on September 8th 1949, by the Redemptorist Superior General, Father Leonard Buys. OUR LADY'S ENVOY. (Father Matthew Meighan, founder of the Perpetual Novena). They will tell you he came with the Yankees, Just a chaplain stationed near, But don't you ever believe it Our Lady sent him here. God in his mercy permitted his lot amongst us to be cast He came as Our Lady's Envoy With a message for all in Belfast. To our Rector he passed on the message And he set to work with a will Got priests and brothers all busy Our Lady's dear wish to fulfil And has the great task been successful? See Clonard on next Thursday night, It's something to gladden the angels For its sure a wonderful sight. The Chaplain who came with the Yankees Enkindled a spark that's divine, He brought out the saints and the sinners To Jesus at Mary's shrine. And when he returns to his homeland And war is a thing of the past Fr. Meighan will e'er be remembered By thousands of friends in Belfast

Novena Prayer Mother of Perpetual Help, with the greatest confidence we come before your holy picture to be inspired by the example of your life. We think of you at that moment when, full of faith and trust, you accepted God's call to be the Mother of his Son. Help us, your children, to accept with joy our own calling in life. When you learned that your cousin Elizabeth was in need, you immediately went to serve her and offer your help. Help us, like you, to be concerned for others. We think of you, Mother, at the foot of the Cross. Your heart must have bled to see your Son in agony. But your joy was great when he rose from the dead, victorious over the powers of evil. Mother of Sorrows, help us through the trials and disappointments of life. Help us not to lose heart. May we share with you and your Son the joy of having faced up to all the challenges of life. Amen.
Thanksgiving Prayer. O Mother of Perpetual Help with grateful hearts we join you in thanking God for all the wonderful things he has done for us especially for giving us, Jesus, your Son, as our Redeemer. O God, our Creator, We thank you for the gift of life and all the gifts of nature: our senses and faculties,our talents and abilities We thank you for creating us in your image and likeness and for giving us this earth to use and develop, to respect and cherish. Despite our failures, you continue to show your love for us today by increasing the life of your Spirit in us at the eucharistic table. Finally, we thank you, loving Father, for giving us Mary the Mother of your Son, to be our Mother of Perpetual Help. We are grateful for all the favours we have received through her intercession. We pray that those past favours may inspire us to greater confidence in your loving mercy and to seek the aid of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. Amen. Redemptorists Church, Clonard Belfast
	Pertepual Novena in honour of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Devotions Every Thursday Novena with Mass 9:30 a. m. \| 4.00 p. m 6.15 p. m.\| 9.00 p. m.
The Novena Masses on Thursday are offered for the intentions of those who make the Novena. Those who are unable to attend the Novena because of sickness or work can join in it by saying the prayer privately.
ASK OTHERS TO PRAY FOR YOUR INTENTIONS SHARE YOUR THANKSGIVINGS WITH OTHERS. Here, on the Internet, we invite you to send your own petitions to us so that others may pray with you to God, our Father, that your prayers be answered through Mary’s intercession. Please click for Petitions. All of our prayers are included in our weekly Novena and if you would like to share your thanks with others visiting the Clonard site, please send your thanksgiving to us. Please click for Thanksgiving.