NOVENA OF BLESSED JOSEPH AMBROSOLI
The Novena is a devotion that consists of 9 days of prayer. It can be prayed in preparation for
the feast day of Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli or for a specific intention, to obtain from God a
spiritual, moral, physical help, through his intercession.
The Novena can be prayed either individually, at a convenient time, or in community, at the
conclusion of the Vespers or of the Rosary. Each day has a different theme, which is illustrated
by a brief Scripture reading, a passage from the writings of Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli and an
intercessory prayer.
The themes of each day are the following:
Holiness is Jesus living and acting in me
Loving service to the sick
Being humble, like Jesus
Accepting suffering with faith
A life centered on the Eucharist
Loving one another
In the hands of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Gratitude to God for the growth of the Church
Abandonment in God’s hands.
Day 1 – Holiness is Jesus living and acting in me.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Brief Scripture reading (1Peter 1,15-16)
Brethren, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, for it
is written, “Be holy because I am holy”.
From the writings of Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli
To be apostles it is necessary to be saints. It is not enough that others call me Christian; they
must perceive the influence of Jesus that I carry with me; they have to feel that there is in me a
supernatural life, which is being communicated and being radiated by its own nature. O Lord,
help me to become an apostle, to place this ideal as the goal of my life.
Intercessory prayer
Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli, you allowed the presence of Jesus to remain as a living reality
within you, and so radiate His love to all. Ask the Heart of Jesus to allow His love to penetrate
and possess my whole being so that I may radiate His light and love to others. (In particular, ask
Jesus to grant me this grace…). Amen.
1
Glory be to the Father … (3 times)
Sacred Heart of Jesu, have mercy on me.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for me.
Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli, pray for me.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Day 2 – Loving service to the sick
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Brief Scripture reading (Mark 1,29-31)
Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law
lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand,
and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them.
From the writings of Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli
It is very important that I make a resolution on charity toward the Africans in my function as
doctor. I fail to treat them with that charity that they would desire and expect from me, a doctor
and missionary. More patience, more understanding. I will make this the object of my
examination of conscience for a while. I must try to impersonate in myself the Teacher when He
was curing the sick who were coming to Him.
Intercessory prayer
Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli, you allowed the love of Jesus for the sick be within you, and so you
became a witness of His love to them. Ask the Heart of Jesus to allow His love to penetrate in
my heart so that I may radiate His care and compassion to others. (In particular, ask Jesus to
grant me this grace…). Amen.
Glory be to the Father … (3 times)
Sacred Heart of Jesu, have mercy on me.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for me.
Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli, pray for me.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Day 3 – Being humble, like Jesus.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
2
Brief Scripture reading (1 Peter 5,5b-7)
And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for: “God
opposes the proud but bestows favor on the humble.” So humble yourselves under the mighty
hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your worries upon him because he
cares for you.
From the writings of Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli
Without humility a person cannot make a step forward. With pride one goes only backward,
and such a person is only able to do evil. A person, by herself, is only an echo of God’s gifts. No
pessimism but not even self-sufficiency, no pride but humility, and only gratitude for that which
we have from God.
Intercessory prayer
Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli, you have learned from Jesus to be meek and humble of heart and
esteemed the others more than yourself. Ask the Heart of Jesus that I may follow His humility
and always work for your greater glory. (In particular, ask Jesus to grant me this grace…). Amen.
Glory be to the Father … (3 times)
Sacred Heart of Jesu, have mercy on me.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for me.
Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli, pray for me.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Day 4 – Accepting sufferings with faith.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Brief Scripture reading (Hebrews 5,7-9)
Jesus, In the days when he was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud
cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of
his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he
was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
From the writings of Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli
With our hearts burdened with a tremendous weight, we had to abandon Kalongo. But the Lord
is great and has given us the strength to accept everything from His hand. Better still, this is a
marvellous occasion to grow and to mature spiritually, and to let go of so many earthly things.
Therefore, let us thank the Lord for everything!
3
Intercessory prayer
Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli, you followed Jesus on the way to Calvary, taking your cross and
sharing the sufferings of the people. Ask the Heart of Jesus to give me the spirit of sacrifice and
to be always ready to do God’s will. (In particular, ask Jesus to grant me this grace…). Amen.
Glory be to the Father … (3 times)
Sacred Heart of Jesu, have mercy on me.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for me.
Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli, pray for me.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Day 5 – A life centered on the Eucharist.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Brief Scripture reading (1 Corinthians 11,23-25)
I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was
handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that
is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying,
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of
me.”
From the writings of Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli
For a priest, the Eucharist is the centre of his whole life. Every morning Jesus will repeat the
Incarnation in my hands. I must develop my life in a Eucharistic way: placing Jesus in my heart
in the morning and not leaving Him alone any more for the whole day; and living my life in
relation to the Eucharist, which I have received, or I am going to receive. As the bread allows
itself to be transformed into Jesus, so also, I must gradually be transformed into Jesus.
Intercessory Prayer
Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli, you faithfully celebrated the sacrifice of the mass with great
devotion. Ask the Heart of Jesus to give me an ardent love for the Eucharist, so that I may
conform my life to the mystery we celebrate. (In particular, ask Jesus to grant me this grace…).
Amen.
Glory be to the Father … (3 times)
Sacred Heart of Jesu, have mercy on me.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for me.
Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli, pray for me.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
4
Day 6 – Loving one another.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Brief Scripture reading (1 Peter 3,8-9)
All of you, be of one mind, sympathetic, loving toward one another, compassionate, humble. Do
not return evil for evil, or insult for insult; but, on the contrary, a blessing, because to this you
were called, that you might inherit a blessing.
From the writings of Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli
The love of Jesus for us must be the measure of our charity toward our brothers. To know how
to excuse, to know how to esteem, to know how to be understanding! To consider the others
always with a serene and good eye, and above all avoiding false imaginations. Charity in
community! To see the others as “alter ego” (another myself). Christian charity really practiced
must be the most beautiful fragrance of our community.
Intercessory prayer
Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli, you loved others from the depth of your heart, in little things, little
attentions, small acts of kindness. Ask the Heart of Jesus to give me the spirit of mutual
understanding and esteem among us. (In particular, ask Jesus to grant me this grace…). Amen.
Glory be to the Father … (3 times)
Sacred Heart of Jesu, have mercy on me.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for me.
Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli, pray for me.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Day 7 – In the hands of the Blessed Virgin Mary
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Brief Scripture reading (John 19,25-27)
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he
said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son. “Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your
mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
From the writings of Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli
Having become a “soldier” of Mary since March 25, 1952, this morning, on the advice of Father
Vitti, I renewed my consecration to Mary. Now I am all yours, O Mary: use me as your object
5
and your own possession. You see my misery; how empty my soul is. Now that I am in your
hands, fill my heart with love for your Jesus. Tell Him a special and powerful word as that one at
the marriage feast of Cana. I come to you, and I am counting on you. O Immaculate Heart of
Mary, pray for me.
Intercessory prayer
Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli, you had a tender love for the Blessed Virgin Mary and always
prayed the Rosary to find strength and inspiration for your work. Ask the Heart of Jesus that I
may welcome her in my heart and follow her purity, humility and obedience. (In particular, ask
Jesus to grant me this grace…). Amen.
Glory be to the Father … (3 times)
Sacred Heart of Jesu, have mercy on me.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for me.
Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli, pray for me.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Day 8 – Gratitude to God for the growth of the Church
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Brief Scripture reading (2 Thessalonians 1,3-4)
We ought to thank God always for you, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith flourishes ever
more, and the love of every one of you for one another grows ever greater. Accordingly, we
ourselves boast of you in the churches of God regarding your endurance and faith in all your
persecutions and the afflictions you endure.
From the writings of Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli
From June 29 to July 1 we have had here a big feast for the 50th anniversary of the mission. On
June 29 there was the great outdoor Mass with 565 Confirmations: the next day, the 30th, a
Mass with 65 couples receiving Matrimony… An effort was made to help the Christians feel
gratitude to God for the gift of the faith. It is certainly beautiful and consoling to notice the
change that has happened to the population in these 50 years since the first announcement of
the Christian message. Touched with emotion, we have to thank the Lord of the harvest.
Intercessory prayer
Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli, your heart burst with joy in seeing the change brought by the
gospel of Jesus Christ in the lives of so many people. Ask the Heart of Jesus to give me the
apostolic zeal to work tirelessly for the growth of the Church, both in number and in holiness. (In
particular, ask Jesus to grant me this grace…). Amen.
6
Glory be to the Father … (3 times)
Sacred Heart of Jesu, have mercy on me.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for me.
Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli, pray for me.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Day 9 – Abandonment in God’s hands
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Brief Scripture reading (Matthew 6, 25-27.33-34)
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body,
what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the
birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly
Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a
single moment to your lifespan? … But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and
all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take
care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil”.
From the writings of Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli
In this time of sickness the Lord has helped me so much. I begin to understand that what is
most important is to do His will. The rest is nothing. How much time we waste in life for things
that are useless. I have resumed my life, at a calmer rhythm. I have now been back here for six
months. I got sick again three times, each time for a week. Also, for Christmas I was in bed, but
now I am improving, and I am trusting in Jesus to be able to continue, if He wills it… At any rate
it will be whatever God wants, and this is always a very beautiful thing.
Intercessory prayer
Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli, you surrendered yourself into God’s hands, without reserve and with
boundless confidence. Ask the Heart of Jesus to give me the same spirit of trust in God’s hands,
now and in the hour of my death. (In particular, ask Jesus to grant me this grace…). Amen.
Glory be to the Father … (3 times)
Sacred Heart of Jesu, have mercy on me.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for me.
Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli, pray for me.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
