On the first day for this Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes, let us remember the favor that God bestowed on the Blessed Virgin by choosing her as a mother to His Son and preserving her from the stain of original sin. 

In the words of St. Bernadette

"Oh my Mother, to you I sacrifice all other attachments so that my heart may belong entirely to you and to my Jesus."

Daily Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our Lady of Lourdes, we come to you like little Bernadette at the grotto. We pray with childlike trust in you.

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, when you appeared in Lourdes, you made it a holy sanctuary where many have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal. We pray with confidence for your holy intercession. Holy Mother of the Rosary, we feel confident that your prayers on our behalf will be graciously heard by God. Immaculate Mother, show us your mercy, O Mother of God.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, we fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to you do we come, before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer us. Amen. 

O Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Lourdes, virgin and mother, queen of heaven, chosen from all eternity to be the Mother of the Eternal Word and in virtue of this title preserved from original sin, we kneel before you as did little Bernadette at Lourdes and pray with childlike trust in you that as we contemplate your glorious appearance at Lourdes, you will look with mercy on our present petition and secure for us a favorable answer to the request for which we are making this novena.

(State your request here)

O Brilliant star of purity, Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Lourdes, glorious in your assumption, triumphant in your coronation, show unto us the mercy of the Mother of God, Virgin Mary, Queen and Mother, be our comfort, hope, strength, and consolation. Amen.

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

Saint Bernadette, pray for us.

Picture: The grotto where St. Bernadette's visions took place is very simple and stark. Above the main recess is the niche where the apparitions took place and Fabisch's 1864 statue of Our Lady of Lourdes now stands - Photograph by Dennis Jarvis - CC BY-SA 2.0