Oh, Most Holy Virgin! You were chosen by the Most Adorable Trinity from all eternity to be the most pure Mother of Jesus. Permit me, your humble and devoted servant, to remind you of the joy received in the instant of the Most Sacred Incarnation of our Divine Lord and during the nine months you carried Him in your chaste womb. I wish most sincerely that I could renew, or even increase that joy, by the fervour of my Prayers.

Oh, Tender Mother of the afflicted! Grant me under my present necessities that special protection you have promised to those who devoutly commemorate this ineffable joy. Relying on the infinite mercies of your Divine Son, trusting in the promise which He has made that those who ask should receive, and penetrated with confidence in your powerful prayers, I most humbly entreat you to intercede for me. I beg you to obtain for me the favours which I petition for in this novena, if it be the Holy Will of God to grant them; to ask for me whatever graces I most stand in need of.

(Here, mention your petition)

I desire by this novena, which I now offer in your honour, to prove the lively confidence I have in your intercession. Accept it, I beseech you, in honour of that supernatural love and joy, with which your Immaculate Heart was replenished during the abode of your divine Son in your womb; in veneration of which, I offer you the sentiments of my heart.

(Repeat the Hail Mary nine times) and then say the following prayer -

Oh, Mother of God! Accept these salutations in union with the respect and veneration with which the Angel Gabriel first hailed you, "Full of Grace" I wish most sincerely that they may become so many gems in the crown of your incidental glory, which will increase in brightness to the end of the world.

I beseech you, Oh, comfortress of the afflicted, by the joy you received, when the Word was made flesh, to obtain for me the favours and graces, which I have now implored through your powerful intercession. For this end I offer you all the good works which have ever been performed in your honour. I most humbly entreat you for the love of the amiable Heart of Jesus, with which yours was ever so inflammed, to hear my humble prayers and to obtain my requests. Amen.

This Novena prayer will be helpful to those helpless people when everything fails, and who want speedy and visible answers to their agony.

The Prime Minister of Kuwait, Sheikh Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah was in Malta to attend the funeral of the former President Guido de Marco. Sheikh Nasser was accompanied by a 25-member delegation including ministers and advisers. Kuwait has a deep respect for Prof. de Marco in view of his support for the country during the Iraqi Invasion. Prof. de Marco was President of the UN General Assembly at that time.

In the picture: Sheikh Nasser briefly meets with and expresses his condolences to Bishop Emeritus (of Kuwait) Francis Micallef, OCD, at the funeral. [Read the full article here]

Let us take a moment to prayerfully remember divine assistance during the days of the Invasion & Gulf War and ask God for His blessing of peace to all nations...

   "On the 20th anniversary of the invasion of Kuwait by the heavily armed Iraqi military forces which took place in the early hours of the 2nd of August 1990, I thank God and Our Lady of Arabia for their protection not only on that dreadful day but also throughout the seven months of occupation by the Iraqi troops and during the Gulf War for the liberation of Kuwait. I want to also thank the priests, sisters and the faithful for the mutual support and the many services rendered to the churches and the people in general during those months of hardship and bewilderment. Alas! the situation in Iraq is still unstable after these past twenty years. Our Christians are in a very uneasy situation there. I continue to pray and hope that the situation becomes one of peace and trust between the different factions and religious groups. Let us continue to hope and pray that all nations learn to live in peace and share their sustainable material progress. We, Christians, especially have so much to contribute towards the building of the world's people into one big family of the One God, our loving and merciful Father. God bless you all."

- Francis Micallef, ocd - Bishop Emeritus of Kuwait (in Malta)

His Grace Archbishop Petar Rajič very kindly agreed to an interview exclusively for the vicariate web-site. In a candid conversation with Sr. Carmel Ann A.C., His Grace was everything one could expect him to be - gracious, articulate and straightforward! He strikes a deep chord within us as we learn more through the interview about his family, his vocation as a priest and his new ministry as Apostolic Nuncio to the Arabian Gulf States.

  Please click here for the Interview

Lord Jesus, We humbly implore You to grant Your special graces to our family. May our home be the shrine of peace, purity, love and faith.

Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, pray to Jesus for our family, for all the families of the world, to guard the cradle of the new born, the schools of the young and their vocations.

Saint Joseph, Holy Guardian of Jesus and Mary, assist us by your prayers in all the necessities of life. Watch over our home so that with Mary and you, heaven may find our families united and loving all, for ever and ever.   Amen.