Prayer to Saint Charles Borromeo
O Saintly reformer, animator of spiritual renewal of priests and religious, you organized true seminaries and wrote a standard catechism. Inspire all religious teachers and authors of catechetical books. Move them to love and transmit only that which can form true followers of the Teacher who was divine. Amen.
A Novena to St. Charles Borromeo
O Glorious St. Charles! The father of the clergy, and the perfect model of holy prelates! Thou art that good pastor, who, like thy divine Master, didst give up thy life for thy flock, if not by death, at least by the numerous sacrifices of thy painful mission. Thy sanctified life on earth was a spur to the most fervent, thy exemplary penance was a reproach to the slothful, and thy indefatigable zeal was the support of the Church.
O Great Prelate! Since the glory of God and the salvation of souls are the only objects of solicitude to the blessed in heaven, vouchsafe to intercede for me now, and to offer up for the intention of this Novena, those fervent prayers which were so successful while thou wert on earth. (Here specify your requests)
Thou art, O great St. Charles! Among all the Saints of God, one in whose intercession I should confide, because thou wert chosen by God to promote the interests of religion, by promoting the Christian education of youth. Thou wert, like Jesus Christ Himself, always accessible to little ones; for whomm thou didst thyself break the bread of the word of God, and procure for them also the blessings of a Christian Education. To thee then I have recourse with confidence, beseeching thee to obtain for the me the grace to profit of the advantages I enjoy, and for which I am so considerably indebted to thy zeal.
Preserve me by thy prayers from the dangers of the world; obtain that my heart may be impressed with a lively horror of sin; a deep sense of my duty as a Christian; a sincere contempt for the opinion and false maxims of the world; an ardent love for God, and that holy fear which is the beginning of wisdom.
Lord, have mercy on us
Holy Mary of God, pray for us
Queen of the Apostles, pray for us
St. Charles, pray for us
St. Charles, imitator of Christ, pray for us
St. Charles, Faithful follower of Christ Crucified, pray for us
St. Charles, replenished with the spirit of the Apostles, pray for us
St. Charles, consumed with zeal for the glory of God, pray for us
St. Charles, Father and Guide of the Clergy, pray for us
St. Charles, the light and support of the Church, pray for us
St. Charles, a model of humility and penance, pray for us
St. Charles, most desirous of the salvation of souls, pray for us
St. Charles, most zealous for the instruction of youth, pray for us
Lamb of God, ect
V. Pray for us, O Glorious St. Charles.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray: Preserve thy Church, O Lord, under the continual protection of thy glorious Confessor and Bishop, St. Charles, that as he was eminent for the discharge of his pastoral duties, so his prayers may make us zealous in the love of Thy holy name: Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord, Amen.