Novena Dedicated to the Most Miraculous Child of Atocha: Novena Dedicada al Milagrosismo Nino de Atocha

By Charles M. Carrillo, Felipe R. Mirabal and Thomas J. Steele

For the first time, the Novena dedicated to the Holy Child of Atocha is available in English. Three local scholars and authors have worked together to produce the Novena in both English and Spanish. The bilingual booklet for the Novena to the Santo Niño de Atocha was first released before Christmas in 2008 by LPD Press.

Father Thomas J. Steele, S.J., Dr. Charles M. Carrillo, and Felipe R. Mirabal have compiled, edited and translated the Novena. Christmas is the Santo Niño's birthday and the appropriate release date for the booklet. The booklet has the full Novena in Spanish and English.

The compilation and translation work took five years to complete. The three authors did this project because of their love for the Santo Niño de Atocha. Carrillo's daughter is named for the Santo Niño. Carrillo and Steele have written many books on the religious traditions of New Mexico and all three have written many articles and have taught various religious subjects including at UNM.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Nov 1, 2008
• ISBN: 9781936744800

Book preview

Novena Dedicated to the Most Miraculous Child of Atocha

as he is venerated in his Sanctuary of Plateros, in Fresnillo, Zacatecas, with permission of the Church

Notice & Manner Of Praying This Novena

Incomparable are the blessings that the Holy Child of Atocha daily bestows, and we ought to rely on him with faith and the truths of the heart so that He will kindly hear our request in an instant, the day and hour in which we invoke Him. Therefore it will be very profitable if on the first and last day of this novena we should have the necessary attitude to obtain what we wish, and on the other days to perform certain works of charity, primarily on behalf of the poor children who lack anything to live on due to their parents’ poverty. We should either pray for the poor souls in Purgatory or visit the sick so that in that manner we might quickly receive our share from the Holy Child.

This novena can occur in any time, for we always need to resort to the Holy Child when we find ourselves surrounded with difficulties or afflictions. Without Him we are nothing, and when He takes our side nothing will be lacking, and so we will obtain whatever we wish from our heart.

Act Of Contrition

O most handsome Child of Atocha! The greatest simplicity of infinite love, adored Child of my heart, constant fountain of miracles, abundance of prodigies, wellspring of enlightenment, and Father of all pity and mercy! O most precious Child of Atocha, at your feet, my Lord, this thankless and vile sinner humbly kneels, who desires at the cost of his tears to apologize to You, beseeching pardon for his sins, with your most holy Mother interceding as an advocate. With such certainty He comes with confidence, for You are the fathomless ocean of goodness; to You, my Beloved, to you I sigh, unfortunate, poor, and shame-stricken soul, to come before your divine Presence. He speaks to You from the core of his soul so that I regret my having offended You. The idolized Child of Atocha, being who you are, I ask you to grant me the contrition you gave Dismas,¹ the tears of Simon Peter,² the sweet utterances of Augustine,³ for so to apologize to you is as my heart desires. No, little Child, do not cut the thread of my unfortunate life; grant me time to do penance and to weep over my faults, as you granted to Saint Mary Magdalen,⁴ and similarly I beg you the endurance of Saint Peter of Alcántara,⁵ to be as pleasing to your divine eyes, power to have means for penance, file open the shackles that you hold me with, such as are in the hand of your most Holy Mother. O most merciful Child, pardon me for having offended you, and I commit myself not to offend you more, for I ask you by your most holy Mother, Saint Mary of Atocha, by her intact purity, for that virginal milk with which You suckled from her most pure breasts and for the sorrow that she had You circumcised. Most loving Child of Atocha, I hope in You, I rely on You, and for You I believe I will achieve my salvation and that by means of this novena I humbly ask You and truly believe never to go forth dejected with that which You know I need; I hope that all my afflictions, my labors, my needs, my sufferings, my depressions You will turn into delights, giving for my tribulations joys, for my incarcerations freedom, since You are my Father and all of my God, help me, strengthen me, aid me, defend me, favor me in the hour of my death, appear to me with the bright squadron of angels, receiving my soul in your arms so as to be at rest in you and enjoying the heavenly enjoyments in your delightful company unto life everlasting. Amen.

Prayer

for all the days to the Most Holy Mother after the Act of Contrition

Immaculate Mother of God Most Holy, Mother of Atocha, worthy Tabernacle of the Holy Spirit, Gateway to the Kingdom of Heaven, Divine Dawn, for whom after God every rational being on earth, turn toward me your most beautiful eyes, enlighten this darkened and wretched soul. Look on it, Mother of Mercy, so antiquated and moth-eaten with the desires of my passions; take pity, Lady, on the soul’s ruin so that you