New Novena Begins September 12, Feast of the Holy Name of Mary

Your soul, O, Queen of the World, is like an ardent lamp 

that burns with love for its God and is never consumed.

Your crown, all brilliant with charity, 

dispels the fears of our heart, leading us to the foot of your altars.

54-Day Rosary Novena

First of all, the reader will notice that the Mysteries announced for Day One are the Joyful Mysteries.  This is because we follow the original plan for the 54-Day Rosary Novena as given in a private revelation by the Blessed Virgin Mary to a young girl named Fortuna Agrelli. Fortuna, burdened with an incurable disease, along with her family began a novena of Rosaries.  

The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Fortuna, sitting on a throne and surrounded by angel, with the Child Jesus on her lap, and a Rosary in her hand.

Our Lady spoke:

"Child, you have invoked me by various titles and have always obtained favors from me. Now, since you have called me by that title [Queen of the Holy Rosary] so pleasing to me, I can no longer refuse the favor you petition; for this name is most precious and dear to me. Make three novenas, and you shall obtain all.  Whoever desires to obtain favors from me should make three novenas of prayers of the Rosary in petition and three novenas in thanksgiving."

Young Fortuna faithfully prayed the Novenas and was cured.  In our Novena for the Consecration of Russia, we attempt to faithfully pray the Novena as given to Fortuna Agrelli by our Blessed Mother.  This plan is given by Our Lady and we follow it faithfully here. It is as follows:

• None of this is binding in any way, and joining this group imposes no commitment. Your level of engagement is between you and Our Lady.
• Three Novenas of nine days each in petition to Our Blessed Mother for the Conversion of Russia. You are encouraged to add your own intentions. The main purpose of the Novena is to petition Heaven for the Consecration of Russia by the Holy Father in union with the Catholic Bishops of the World, but we come together to pray to Our Lady for all our needs. 
• The Novena is to be said in the following manner: Day One, Joyful Mysteries; Day Two, Sorrowful Mysteries; Day Three, Glorious Mysteries. The same pattern is repeated throughout. We do not include the Luminous Mysteries, as the plan was given with the traditional Rosary Mysteries.
• In order to do the Novena properly, one must pray five decades of the Rosary daily. HOWEVER, if one misses a day, please continue to pray the Rosary for this intention. Even if you are having a hard time with it, come back and persevere. The Rosary is powerful. Never abandon it. Simply come back and continue. After all, Fifty-Three Rosaries said for the cause of the Consecration of Russia is far, far better than missing a day and dropping the Novena. 
• People have asked if they can say the Rosary in their customary way and include the intention. Yes, of course. We will be sticking with the program here. In addition to announcing the mysteries, the administrator will post, time permitting, beautiful Catholic art, and the spiritual reflections from saints and from those with a reputation for holiness, and postings concerning the richness of the Church's Liturgical Year.  Our souls thrive on sound spiritual reading and the beauty of our Faith in sight and sound. We hope to make some small contribution in this regard.
• LEARN THE MESSAGE OF FATIMA.  Our Lady appeared and God performed the most astounding miracle since New Testament times, the Miracle of the Sun on October 13, 1917 to highlight the importance and serious nature of Our Lady’s message. Pray your Rosary, wear your scapular. Make many acts of reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The destination of our souls and those of our loved ones are at stake. The message of Our Lady of Fatima is the hope of the world. Following Fatima is the path given to us by God for World Peace and the salvation of many souls.  This message is URGENT and the time to act and pray is NOW.
• Our Lady gave us a lifeline in these perilous times – she will NEVER abandon those who seek her help, but we must seek it. Our Lord said “My yoke is easy and my burden light.” Go to Our Lady, she will intercede with her Son for you and your loved ones.

(Information concerning the 54-Day Rosary Novena is from the website fatima.org)

The upcoming Novena will end on the feast of St. Charles Borromeo, who we adopt as a patron of our novena.  St. Charles Borromeo was a central figure in the Catholic Counter-Reformation, and a great bishop - a central figure in the glorious restoration of the Catholic Church in his day.  May he intercede in our day and in these sad times. May he intercede for us to bring about the triumph of the Immaculate!