PERPETUAL NOVENA TO SANTO NINO DE CEBU (VENERATED AT THE BASILICA DEL SANTO NINO,Cebu city,philippines)
History of the Santo Niño de Cebu
On April 28, 1565, Juan Camus, a sailor in the fleet of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, found in a modest house of the then village of Cebu the image of the Santo Niño, which at the time all agreed had been brought from Europe. Deeply impressed by this finding and aware of its significance, Legaspi ordered an official inquiry conducted; the document drawn on May 16 of the same year and still extant in the archives of the Santo Nino Convent of Cebu, tells us from the testimony of eyewitnesses that the Image was found inside a small pine box, preserved in almost perfect condition; it had on a little shirt and cap; two of its right hand's fingers were raised in a gesture of blessing, while the left hand held a globe symbolizing the world.
In a solemn procession the image was carried to the provisional Church the Augustinian Fathers were using at the time (Which is the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral); later, another Church was built on the exact location where the image has been found; this is the site of the Santo Niño Church where the Augustinians have cared for the image and the Filipino people have venerated it through the centuries.
An earlier authenticated entry in the journal of Pigafetta, clerk in the Magellan expedition, explains the original of Santo Niño; on the day Queen Juana was baptized by Father Pedro Valderrama, chaplain on that expedition, Pigafetta himself presented her with the Image.
During the last World War, a bomb fell inside the church, but the image was found unscathed. It was one of the numberless miracles and powers attributed to the Holy Image.
In 1965 the interior of the historic church was renovated for the observance of the Fourth Centennial of the Christianization of the Philippines held in Cebu City. It was during this centennial celebration that the church, on April 1, 1965, was elevated to the rank of Basilica Minore by the Sacred Congregation of Rites and to the order of Pope Paul VI with all the rights and privileges according to such title.
With the full cooperation and support of the Filipino people and sanctioned by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the Agustinian Fathers have built a marble chapel inside the Basilica. Construction of the chapel started in August 1975. This fitting shrine of Santo Nino now serves as the center of devotion of Catholic Philippines. Here the miraculous image of the Comforter of the first missionaries and now the Patron of the Philippines is being honored and venerated.
To preserve our religious and cultural heritage, President Ferdinand E. Marcos, since August 1, 1973, declared the Basilica and Convent of Santo Niño as National Shrine together with other historical places in the Philippines.
(Source: Novena Booklet: PERPETUAL NOVENA TO SANTO NINO DE CEBU)
NOVENA PRAYERS
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O SALUSTARIUS OSTIA
O salutarius hostia Quae coeli pandis ostium Bella premunt hostilia Da robur,fer auxilium
Uni trinoque Domino Sit sempiterna Gloria Que vitam sine termino Nobis donet in patria Amen
PRAYER TO SANTO NINO
O Senor Santo Nino,You are king and our God,We worship You,You are our strong Defender,We turn to You;
You are the Patron of Cebu and the Philippines, We come to you; You have made extraordinary wonders through Your Miraculous Image in these chosen Islands,remember us. Look down at this poor soul that comes to You for help. Lead us with Your wisdom.discipline us with Your Truth, console us with Your Tenderness, protect us with Your Might.
We consecrate today our thoughts to You, only with You shall they be occupied; our words, only of You shall they speak; our sufferings, that we may endure them for Your sake. We beg You,Senor Santo Nino,illumine our understanding,kindle our will, cleanse our body, sanctify our soul. We wish what You wish, because You wish, as You wish, as long as You wish.
Grant us, Senor Santo Nino, that We may feel love toward You,be strict toward ourselves,be zealous toward our fellowmen,and rightly despise the things of the world. Help us to overcome sensuality with strict discipline, avariciousness with generosity, anger with gentleness,indolence with zealous industry.Make us wise in counsel,courageous in danger,patient in adversity, *humble in prosperity.
Teach us, Dear Santo Nino,how worthless is the world,how sublime is heaven,how brief is time,how long is eternity.Grant us, lastly, that We may remember You,adore You,love You,and serve You here on earth,that We may be happy with You forever and ever in Heaven. Amen.
HOLY GOD WE PRAISE THY NAME
Holy God, we praise Your name. Lord of all! We bow before You; All on earth Your scepter claim, All in heaven above adore You; Infinite Your vast domain, Everlasting is Your reign.
Hark! the loud celestial hymn, Angels choirs above are raising; Cherubim and Seraphim In unceasing chorus praising, Fill the Heavens with sweet accord Holy, Holy, Holy Lord!
(Recite three times Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be to the Father in honor of Santo Nino. Ask Senor Santo Nino the favor you want to obtain in this Novena.)
SUPPLICATION TO SANTO NINO DE CEBU (Indulgence of 7 years, No. 114)
Lord,have mercy on us Christ,have mercy on us. Lord,have mercy on us. Jesus,hear us. Jesus,graciously hear us.
In every need let us come to You with humble trust. Santo Nino, help us.
In all our doubts, perplexities, and temptations, Santo Nino, help us.
In hours of loneliness, wearinessand trials, Santo Nino, help us.
In the failure of our plans and hopes, Santo Nino, help us.
In disappointments, troubles and sorrows, Santo Nino, help us.
When others fail us, and Your Grace alone can assist us. Santo Nino, help us.
When We throw ourselves on Your Tender love as our only Refuge, Santo Nino, help us.
When our heart is cast down by failure, Santo Nino, help us.
When We are ill, and our head and hands cannot work and We are lonely, Santo Nino, help us.
When we feel impatient, and our cross irritates us, Santo Nino, help us.
Always, always, in spite of weakness, falls and shortcomings of every kind. Santo Nino, help us.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world: Spare us, O Jesus
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world: Graciously hear us, O Jesus
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world: Have mercy upon us, O Jesus
Jesus,Hear us. Jesus,Graciously hear us.
LET US PRAY
O Santo Nino,who has said,”Ask, and you shall receive,seek,and you shall find,knock,and it shall be opened unto you,” give,we beseech You,to us who ask,the gift of Your divine love,that we may love You with our whole heart,in word and work,and never cease from showing forth Your praise. Make us, O Lord,to have a perpetual fear and love of Your holy name,for You never fail to govern them whom You do solidly establish in Your love,through Christ our Lord. Amen.
SEÑOR SANTO NIÑO HYMN
VERSE 1
One day to these Islands,As gift and in pledge,God sent You to us O beloved Child,And always You have been The light of our souls,The guide of our people,The flame in our hearts.
Refrain
Senor Santo Nino, With your scepter,Guide our people who hail You king Forever, Filipinas is Your kingdom. Senor Santo Nino, in Your hand the world finds its rest; proclaim Your truth and justice, bring to men Your peace and love.
VERSE 2
The ship You were sailing,Arrived at our shores,To conquer this land,The Pearl of the seas,But You had decided,To stay in this soil To conquer our people,And give us a name.
VERSE 3
The queen and the rajah,Accepting the faith,Received You in their arms,And fell on their knees,They welcomed Your presence And called on Your Name,To ask for your blessing,And help in their needs.
VERSE 4
More ships in the Orient With soldiers arrived,And searching for gold,They found You instead,Legaspi,Urdaneta, the rajah, the queen Their subjects, our people, Proclaimed You their king.
VERSE 5
Now one as a nation,We pay You respect,Our people did pledge,a long time ago.We ask You to hear,The prayers of all,The sad and forsaken,The poor and the sick.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
O miraculous Santo Nino! prostate before Your sacred image, we beseech You,to cast a merciful look on our troubled hearts.Let Your tender love,so inclined to pity,be softened at our prayers,and grant us that grace for which we ardently implore You.Take from us all unbearable affliction and despair.For Your sacred infancy's sake,hear our prayers and send us consolation and aid that we may praise You,with the Father and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.
BENEDICTION OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT
Tantum ergo Sacramentum Veneremur cernui Et antiquum documentum Novo cedat retui Praestet fides supplementum Sensuum defectui.
Genitori,Genitoque Laus et jubilatio, Salus,honor,virtus quoque, Sit et benedictio; Procedenti,ab utroque Compar sit laudatio. Amen.
V: Panem de coelo praestitisti eis . R: Omne delectamentum in se habentem.
OREMUS
Deus, qui nobis sub sacramento mirabili,passionis tuae memoriam reliquisti: tribue, quaesumus,ita nos corporis et sanguinis tui sacra mysteria venerari,ut redemptionis tuae fructum in nobis iugiter sentiamus.Qui vivis et regnas in saecula saeculorum.
Amen
THE DIVINE PRAISES
Blessed be God. Blessed be His Holy Name. Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man. Blessed be the Name of Jesus. Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart. Blessed be His Most Precious Blood. Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most Holy. Blessed be her Holy and Immaculate Conception. Blessed be her Glorious Assumption. Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother. Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse. Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints.
O SACRAMENT MOST HOLY
O Sacrament Most Holy O Sacrament divine All praise and all thanksgiving Be every moment Thine Be every moment Thine.