NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL DE SAN SEBASTIAN (SAN SEBASTIAN BASILICA, QUIAPO, MANILA, PHILIPPINES -QUEEN OF QUIAPO-
NUESTRA SENORA DEL CARMEN DE SAN SEBASTIAN,QUIAPO,MANILA
ABOUT OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL DE SAN SEBASTIAN
The image of Our Lady of Carmel housed at the San Sebastian Church on Plaza del Carmen, depicts the classical theme of the Mother and Child with the signature Carmel scapular in their hands. The title of "Our Lady of Mount Carmel" was given to the Blessed Virgin in honor of the brown scapular given to St. Simon Stock, who organized the Carmelite Order in Aylesford,England. The members were required to wear the brown habit as well as the scapular which became a symbol of Mary's love and protection. The head and hands of the Virgin and the Child Jesus are of ivory, and both wear heavily embroidered vestments in traditional gold and brown colors. Unfortunately, the heads of the Virgin and Jesus were stolen in the mid 1970s, and has not been recovered since. The head of the sacristans, Felipe Dy, head of the sacristan mayores, offered to restore the statue from the generous donations of parishioners. The well-known shop of Maximo Vicente re-created the missing parts of the original images. The revered statue of the Virgen del Carmen was brought to the Philippines in 1617, by Spanish Recoletos, on their 3rd mission to the country, led by Fray Rodrigo de San Miguel. The sacred statue was actually a gift presented by the Discalced Carmelite Sisters of Mexico while their ship was anchored there, en route to Manila. The crew elected the Virgen del Carmen the ‘capitana’ of their ship in their voyage to the Pacific. When the Agustininan Recollects safely arrived, the image was enthroned in a makeshift church that was built in an area called Calumpang, the same place where San Sebastian now stands. The Cofradia of the Virgen del Carmen was established in 1625, and quickly gained popularity, attracting members not only from Manila but also from nearby provinces like Laguna,Pampanga, Bulacan and Batangas. They were primarily responsible for spreading the devotion to the Virgen del Carmen, with Her feast initially celebrated every January 21. Rome later moved her feast day to July 16 for the universal church. In 1964, the Mt. Carmel Shrine and the Monastery was built in New Manila, becoming only the second shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.
OPENING HYMN
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Our Mother and Our Queen In Life's daily conflict O help us to win We are thine own children Wherever we may be We pledge to be faithful To Jesus and to Thee To Jesus and to Thee The confraternity's emblem We'll always on high We'll serve thee in life In Love we may die We'll serve thee in life In Love we may die
ACT OF CONTRITION
My Lord and my God,I Prostrate before your Sovereign Majesty,with all my heart,soul and my entire beign.I adore,I praise and glorified you.I acknowledge you as my Lord and God.I believe in you,hope in you and trust that you will forgive my sins and grant me the grace to preserve in your love.I love you above all things.to you i confess my utter ingratitude,my faults and my sins,for all of which i am heartly sorry.Aided by your Divine Grace,I firmly resolve never more to offend you,to avoid all occasions of sin and to do penance.Make my soul pure and clean that i may worthilly praise you and your Holy Mother.By her powerful intercession,obtain for me the special grace which i ask during this novena if it be for your greater glory and honor and for the good of my soul.Amen
READINGS:
Galatians 4:4-7
But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out,''Abba,Father.”So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
(Alternative: Revelation 12:1-7
A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.She was pregnant and cried out in painas she was about to give birth.Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads.Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born.She gave birth to a son,a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.”And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne.The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.)
NOVENA PRAYER
O Virgin of Carmel De San Sebastian,Mary most Holy,you promised to be a shield to those who wear you Most Holy Scapular,to defend them against all dangers of the world and the malice and snares of the evil,demonstrating this truth with numerous and singular miracles.I implore you,Our Lady,be my powerful defender in this mortal life so that in tribulations and dangers,I may be secure,and in temptations i may emerge victorious,ever trusting in your assistance to obtain the final rewards.O Virgin of Carmel De San Sebastian,Mother of God and Special Protectress of those who wear your sacred scapular,since Divine Majesty has exalted you by choosing you as his own mother,I implore you to secure from your beloved son,pardon for my sins,amendment of my life,aid in my necessities,comfort in my afflictions and the special graces and favors i ask during this novena if it shall redound to the greater honor and glory of god and the good of my soul.Amen
(Recite 3 Hail Mary,Ask Our Lady of Mount Carmel De San Sebastian the favors you want to obtain during this novena)
LITANY
Lord,have mercy on us. Christ,have mercy on us. Lord,have mercy on us,Christ,hear us. Christ,graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven Have mercy on us. God the Son,Redeemer of the world Have mercy on us. God the Holy Ghost Have mercy on us. Holy Trinity,One God Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary (*pray for us sinners.) Our Lady of Mount Carmel De San Sebastian,Queen of Heaven* Our Lady of Mount Carmel De San Sebastian,vanquisher of Satan* Our Lady of Mount Carmel De San Sebastian,most dutiful Daughter* Our Lady of Mount Carmel De San Sebastian,most pure Virgin* Our Lady of Mount Carmel De San Sebastian,most devoted Spouse* Our Lady of Mount Carmel De San Sebastian,most tender Mother* Our Lady of Mount Carmel De San Sebastian,perfect model of virtue* Our Lady of Mount Carmel De San Sebastian,sure anchor of hope* Our Lady of Mount Carmel De San Sebastian,refuge in affliction* Our Lady of Mount Carmel De San Sebastian,dispenser of God's gifts* Our Lady of Mount Carmel De San Sebastian,tower of strength against our foes* Our Lady of Mount Carmel De San Sebastian,our aid in danger* Our Lady of Mount Carmel De San Sebastian,road leading to Jesus* Our Lady of Mount Carmel De San Sebastian,our light in darkness* Our Lady of Mount Carmel De San Sebastian,our consolation at the hour of death* Our Lady of Mount Carmel De San Sebastian,advocate of the most abandoned sinners*
For the Hardened in Vice* (*With confidence we come to thee,O Lady of Mount Carmel De San Sebastian) For Those who Offend Thy Divine Son* For Those Who Neglect to Pray* For Those Who are in Agony* For Those Who Defer Their Conversion* For Those Suffering in Purgatory* For Those Who Do Not Know Thee*
Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world Spare us,O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world Graciously hear us O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world Have mercy on us.
V: Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Hope of the Despairing R: Intercede for us with thy Divine Son.
Let Us Pray:
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, glorious Queen of Angels, channel of God's tenderest mercy to man, refuge and advocate of sinners, with confidence I prostrate myself before thee, beseeching thee to obtain for me [Mention request silently]. In return I solemnly promise to have recourse to thee in all my trials, sufferings and temptations, and I shall do all in my power to induce others to love and reverence thee and to invoke thee in all their needs. I thank thee for the numberless blessings which I have received from thy mercy and powerful intercession. Continue to be my shield in danger, my guide in life, and my consolation at the hour of death. Amen.
ACT OF CONSECRATION
O Mary, Queen of all Saints, who art the beauty of Carmel, how sweet it is for me to venerate thee under the title of Our Lady of Mount Carmel De San Sebastian. Even from the days of the Apostles,thou hast been honored under this mystic title,I am filled with joy as I consecrate myself to thee,O holy Mary,most unworthy though I am to be thy servant, yet touched by thy motherly care for me and longing to serve thee, in the presence of my Guardian Angel and the court of Heaven,I choose thee this day to be my Queen,my Advocate,and my Mother, and I firmly purpose to serve thee ever more and to do what I can that all may render faithful service to thee.Therefore, most devoted Mother, through the Precious Blood thy Son poured out for me, and through the promises of thee as Our Lady of Mount Carmel De San Sebastian,I beg thee,deign to take me among thy clients and receive me as thy servant forever.O beauty of Carmel,glory of Libanus,thou purest of lilies, mystic rose in the garden of the Church, I salute thee! O Virgin of virgins, be mindful of me in my misery, and show thyself my Mother. Shed upon me ever more and more the living light of that faith which made thee blessed; inflame with that Heavenly love wherewith thou didst love thy dear Son, Jesus Christ.Do thou, Mother of God, who hast such power and might, obtain for me from blessed Jesus, the Heavenly gifts of humility, chastity, and meekness, which were the fairest ornaments of thine Immaculate soul. Do thou grant me to be strong in the midst of the temptations and bitterness which so often overwhelm my spirit.Aid me in every action,and beg for me the grace, never, by word or deed or thought, to be displeasing in thy sight and that of thy most holy Son.Think of me my dearest Mother, and desert me not at the hour of death. Amen. [Kiss your scapular.]
Most Holy Virgin of Mount Carmel De San Sebastian,Our Lady of the Most Sacred Scapular, pray for us!
CLOSING PRAYER
Most Blessed and Immaculate Lady of Mount Carmel De San Sebastian.Ornament and Splendor of Mount Carmel,you who regard with particular goodness those who wear you Most Sacred Scapular,please kindly look upon me also and cover me with the mantle of your maternal care and protection.Fortify my weakness with your strength,illuminate the darkness of my mind with your wisdom,increase faith,hope and love within me,adorn my soul with such graces and virtues that in may be always precious to you and your Divine Son.Assist me in life, console me at the hour of death with your presence and present me to the Most August Trinity as your child and devout servant,to eternally praise and bless you in heaven.Amen
Our Lady of Mount Carmel De San Sebastian,Pray for Us.
CLOSING HYMN:
SALVE REGINA
Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiæ,vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevæ,Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentesin hac lacrimarum valle.Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuosmisericordes oculos ad nos converte;Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.
V: Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genitrix. R: Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.
Oremus
Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui gloriosæ Virginis Matris Mariæ corpus et animam, ut dignum Filii tui habitaculum effici mereretur, Spiritu Sancto cooperante præparasti: da, ut cuius commemoratione lætamur; eius pia intercessione, ab instantibus malis, et a morte perpetua liberemur. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum.