- Catholic Review - https://catholicreview.org -

Cathedral of Mary Our Queen introduces special novena

A sculpture of St. Michael the Archangel shows the saint carrying a flaming sword in a side altar at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. (George P. Matysek Jr./CR Staff)

With the blessing of Archbishop William E. Lori, the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen has instituted a special novena that invokes the intercession of nine saints featured in side altars at the Homeland cathedral.

Known as the “Cathedral Novena to Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth,” the prayer will be offered on the feast days of the nine associated saints. It will also be prayed on the feast of the Queenship of Mary, the anniversary of the cathedral’s dedication and the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In a recent letter announcing the novena, Father Louis Bianco, rector, and Father Justin Gough, associate pastor, noted that in the early days of the cathedral, when there were more priests and concelebration of the Mass was only allowed on certain occasions, priests used the side altars to offer Mass if they were not scheduled to celebrate Mass publicly.

“Doing so not only gained inestimable grace from the sacrifice of the Cross, but it also honored the saints and implored their mighty intercession,” the priests wrote. “We would do very well to honor them anew and beg their prayers for the needs of the Church, the world, and our individual lives.”

A sculpture of St. Peter at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland depicts the saint holding the keys to the kingdom of Heaven. (George P. Matysek Jr./CR Staff)

On each novena day, a novena prayer that has Archbishop Lori’s imprimatur will be offered at Mass, with candles to be lit on the corresponding side altar. Father Bianco and Father Gough said all are welcome to visit the cathedral during novena days and offer prayers at the designated saint’s altar. They also encouraged visitors to attend Mass, receive holy Communion and/or receive the sacrament of reconciliation on those days.

“(P)raying the novena from wherever you are is praiseworthy and will be of great spiritual benefit to you and to the Church in Baltimore,” they said.

The novena saints are listed below, along with their feast days and the suggested novena prayer intentions for those feast days.

The intentions for the other novena days are:

Cathedral Novena to Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth

O Most Glorious Queen, who in God’s Providence have been made to reign over Heaven and Earth, we honor you this day with our prayers and devotion as your sons and daughters. You stood beside your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, throughout his life, and you remain with his Church as we make our pilgrimage of faith. Look with favor upon this local church so that the light of Christ may be a light brightly visible upon us. We ask you, through your most powerful intercession, to pray for us and for the graces we need to be faithful disciples of the Lord and active members of his People. In particular, and with the prayers of Saint N., we ask you to hear our petitions (here state your intentions) and bring them before the throne of Almighty God. Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, pray for us. Amen.

Email George Matysek at gmatysek@CatholicReview.org

Also see:

Catholic landmarks emerged from Great Baltimore Fire

‘Full of grace’

More on the saints

Copyright © 2024 Catholic Review Media