HYMN TO ST. JOHN BERCHMANS.

By B. B., in the Irish Messenger, 1888.

Sing our gentle hero’s greatness,

Sing aloud his glorious praise,
To his throne in Heaven’s mansions
Let us hearts and hands upraise.

He will aid us, midst the dangers

Which beset our path through life,
His example will sustain us In the ceaseless weary strife.

Youth angelic, deign to help us,

E’er to tread thy footsteps sure,
Keep our minds and hearts unsullied,
And our souls and bodies pure.

Teach us steadfast, true devotion,

To our peerless Heavenly Queen,
May we to this Virgin Mother
Ever be what thou hast been!

Bright exemplar of perfection,

With thine aid we’ll imitate
Thy unswerving love of duty,
Of each rule and grace of state.

Like thee, faithful to the promptings

Of God’s spirit in our soul,
We shall strive with courage burning,
To attain the Heavenly goal.

PRAYERS FROM THE RACCOLTA

Saint John, angelic youth, sweet-scented flower of innocence, stalwart soldier of the
Company of Jesus, ardent defender of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed
Virgin, whom the all-wise Providence of God hath set forth as a light and pattern, in
order that He might reveal in thee the treasures of that holiness which consisteth in the
devoted and holy fulfillment of the common duties of life, I earnestly beseech thee to
make me ever constant and faithful in observing the duties of my state of life, pure in
heart, fearless and strong against the enemies of my eternal salvation, and cheerfully
obedient to the promptings of God’s holy will. By thy singular devotion to the loving
Mother of Jesus Christ, who looked upon thee also as her dear son, obtain for me the
grace of a fervent love for Jesus and Mary, together with the power of drawing many
others to love them in like manner. Wherefore, dear Saint John, I choose thee as my
special patron, humbly beseeching thee to make me zealous in the things that pertain to
the praise of God, and to assist me by thy mighty help, to lead a life filled with good
works. Finally, when the hour of death cometh, do thou, of thy loving kindness, cherish
in me those motions of humble confidence, which at the moment of thy departure from
this world to thy mansion in the skies, as thou didst lovingly clasp to thy breast the
Image of Jesus Crucified, together with Mary’s Rosary and thy Book of Rules, impelled
thee to utter these sweet words: “these three things are my dearest possessions; with
these I am content to die.” Pray for us, Saint John, that we may be made worthy of the
promises of Christ. Grant, we beseech Thee O Lord God, unto Thy faithful servants, to
copy the pattern of innocence and faithfulness in Thy service, wherewith the angelic
youth, John, did consecrate to Thee the very flower of his years. Through Christ our
Lord. Amen.

Litany to Saint John Berchmans

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Response: pray for us.
St. John Berchmans, whom the Lord preserved from evil,
St. John Berchmans, who did all things well,
St. John Berchmans, faithful in little things,
St. John Berchmans, devoted server at Holy Mass,
St. John Berchmans, obedient to your parents,
St. John Berchmans, submissive to your teachers,
St. John Berchmans, model for your companions,
St. John Berchmans, who from the earliest childhood chose the Blessed Virgin as
guardian of your chastity,
St. John Berchmans, who so tenderly called Mary ‘Mother,’
St. John Berchmans, zealous promoter of devotion to Mary,
St. John Berchmans, mirror of the religious life,
St. John Berchmans, lover of the Blessed Sacrament,
St. John Berchmans, lover of the missions,
St. John Berchmans, lover of mortification,
St. John Berchmans, faithful to your holy Rule,
St. John Berchmans, faithful imitator of St. Aloysius,
St. John Berchmans, ornament of the Society of Jesus,
St. John Berchmans, model of students,
St. John Berchmans, patron of youth. …
Grant, we beseech You, O Lord God, that we Your servants may follow the example of
innocence and fidelity by which the angelic St. John Berchmans consecrated his life and
service to You, through Christ Our Lord.
Amen
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
Pray for us, Saint John Berchmans,
That we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let Us Pray Grant, we beseech You, O Lord God, that we Your servants may follow, in
Your service, the example of innocence and fidelity by which the angelic St. John
Berchmans consecrated to You the flower of his youth, through Christ Our Lord.
R. Amen.

OCCASIONAL PRAYERS.

I. Most innocent St. John, I beseech thee, by thy wonderful purity of heart, to
obtain for me the grace of imitating thee in so excellent a virtue. Oh, never
allow me to lose it, but inspire me with a hatred for those faults which may in
any way stain it. Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory

II. II. Most modest St. John, by that most diligent guard which thou didst keep
over thy senses, and which rendered thee so conspicuous in the eyes of the
world, I beseech thee to obtain for me the grace of restraining my senses so
that the poison of the accursed sin of impurity may never enter by them into
my heart. Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory.

III. Most obedient St. John, by thine assiduous care in keeping the rules of thy
Institute, I beseech thee to obtain for me the grace to keep the
commandments of God, and at least to hold in high esteem and reverence
the evangelical counsels. Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory.

IV. Most devout St. John, by that love which thou didst have for the most
blessed Virgin Mary as thy mother, and for St. Aloysius Gonzaga, as thy
brother, I beg thee to obtain for me a special devotion to St. Aloysius, my
protector and model, and such a tender affection for the Blessed Virgin, that I
may always exclaim with thee: “I will never rest until I shall have obtained a
tender love for my Mother Mary.” Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory.

V. Most fervent St. John, by thy marvelous devotion to the adorable mystery of
the altar and to Christ crucified, I beg thee to obtain for me so to reverence
our Blessed Redeemer, that I shall be nowhere wanting, least of all in church,
in due reverence to His Sacrament of Love, and that I may ever and
everywhere glory in His Cross; that, having thus followed Him like a faithful
disciple on earth I may deserve to enjoy Him forever with thee in Heaven
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory.
PRAYER FOR GRACE. Prevent, we beseech Thee, O Lord, our actions by Thy
inspiration, and further them with Thy continual help; that every prayer and work of ours
may always begin from Thee, and through Thee be likewise ended. Through Christ our
Lord. Amen.