Born in Alfaro (La Rioja, Spain on April 9, 1848, he professed his vows in the Order of Augustinian Recollects in Monteagudo (Navarra) in 1865.  He was ordained priest in Manila in 1871 and worked for 15 years as a missionary in the Philippines.  Prior of Monteagudo in 1885, he left for Colombia in 1888 where he restored the Augustinian Recollect Order and reactivated the old missions.  Named Apostolic Vicar of Casanare (1893) and Bishop of Pasto (1896), he was a model of a pastor for his fidelity to the Church and for his apostolic zeal.  He fell ill and in 1906 returned to Spain where he died of cancer on August 19 of the same year in the convent of Monteagudo.  Innumerable cures, especially of cancer, are attributed to his intercession.  Beatified on November 1, 1975, he was canonized on October 11, 19922 in Santo Domingo on the occasion of the V Centenary of the Christianization of America. 

FIRST DAY:

Reflection: Saint Ezekiel was born and raised in a humble but deeply pious family, from which he inherited a character which, informed by the religious vows made him attain holiness.  (Pause)

Prayer of the day: I beg you, O Lord, for the sanctification of all families; for the Christian formation of youth, and for the specific needs of my own family.  Through Christ our Lord. 

Ask the favor you want to obtain by this Novena. (Pause)

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory . . .

Saint Ezekiel, pray for us.

DAILY CLOSING PRAYER OF THANKS

God our Father, You gave us Saint Ezekiel as a faithful preacher of Your Gospel and an outstanding pastor of Your Church.  By his prayers help us reach out to you with all our heart as true witnesses of the Christian faith and life.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

SECOND DAY:

Daily Opening Prayer (as on the First Day)

Reflection: Saint Ezekiel responded with great generosity to his vocation as a religious, as a priest, and as a missionary.  He was always and everywhere an active and docile instrument in the hands of the Lord.  Are we? (Pause)

Prayer of the day: Grant us, O Lord, a strong will to fulfill assiduously our duties in our own state of life, so that we may always enjoy the effectiveness of your help.  Through Christ our Lord. 

Ask the favor . . .

Daily Closing Prayer of Thanks (as on the First Day)

THIRD DAY:

Daily Opening Prayer (as on the First Day)

Reflection: An outstanding portion of St. Ezekiel’s life was his dedication to the ministry of preaching, hearing confessions, counseling souls, caring of the sick and many other occupations of the missionary work. (Pause)

Prayer of the day: We beg you today Lord, for religious and priestly vocations.  Stir up laborers, give them perseverance, and bless their apostolic endeavors.  Through Christ our Lord.

Ask the favor . . .

Daily Closing Prayer of Thanks (as on the First Day)

FOURTH DAY:

Daily Opening Prayer (as on the First Day)

Reflection: “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”  And let us beg him to send them out with the same spirit and dedication of his servant Ezekiel, so that the Kingdom of Christ may reach till the end of the earth. (Pause)

Prayer of the day: Hear our prayer, O Lord, on behalf of all missionaries, especially those of our Order.  They are our representatives; they have accepted the most difficult part of your service.  Help them, Lord, and ever increase its numbers.  Through Christ Our Lord.

Ask the favor . . .

Daily Closing Prayer of Thanks (as on the First Day)

FIFTH DAY:

Daily Opening Prayer (as on the First Day)

Reflection: The most perfect thing we can do is to do the will of God in everything.  Saint Ezekiel attained so high a holiness because he tried to fulfill God’s will at any cost in all circumstances of his entire life. (Pause)

Prayer of the Day: Grant us, O Lord, to accept with generosity the designs of your most holy will, and always to trust in your loving protection.  Through Christ our Lord. 

Ask the favor . . .

Daily Closing Prayer of Thanks (as on the First Day)

SIXTH DAY:

Daily Opening Prayer (as on the First Day)

Reflection: It has been said that prayer is the soul of all apostolate.  Saint Ezekiel spent daily several hours in contemplation, most frequently before the Tabernacle.  Hence, his ardent charity, his apostolic zeal, his courage and his profound interior life. (Pause)

Prayer of the Day: O Lord, teach us to pray; give us perseverance in prayer and trust in your mercy.  Through Christ our Lord.

Ask the favor . . .

Daily Closing Prayer of Thanks (as on the First Day)

SEVENTH DAY:

Daily Opening Prayer (as on the First Day)

Reflection: The devotion to the Virgin Mary is guarantee of Christian life.  Saint Ezekiel professed a tender affection to the Mother of God.  Before Her image he consecrated his life to the Lord, through the religious profession; and at Her feet he wanted, like a loving son, to render his soul to God. (Pause)

Prayer of the Day: We ask you, O Lord, to increase our devotion to your Mother and our Mother, so that by imitating her, we may enjoy her protection and obtain everlasting life. Through Christ our Lord.


Ask the favor . . .

Daily Closing Prayer of Thanks (as on the First Day)

EIGHTH DAY:

Daily Opening Prayer (as on the First Day)

Reflection: Love of God and love of neighbor is the synthesis of Christian life.  Saint Ezekiel dedicated all his entire life to the service of others.  His zeal for the sanctification of souls, his love for the poor, the sick and the needy, knew no limits. (Pause)

Prayer of the Day: May his example, O Lord, encourage us to live in harmony with our brothers and sisters and to show sincere concern for the needy.  Through Christ our Lord.

Ask the favor . . .

Daily Closing Prayer of Thanks (as on the First Day)

NINTH DAY:

Daily Opening Prayer (as on the First Day)

Reflection: Jesus Christ redeemed us through suffering.  Saint Ezekiel drank in his life of austerity the chalice of suffering.  For more than a year he suffered intense physical pain, due to a palate and nose cancer, with admirable courage and the heroism of a saint. (Pause)

Prayer of the Day: Loving Father, assist us in our needs, and help us to profit by them for our purification, so that we may become more and more like you.  Through Christ our Lord.

Ask the favor . . .

Daily Closing Prayer of Thanks (as on the First Day)

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My dear friend sent me a link to the following article about a place in the Philippines where a spring is said to have been dug up by St. Ezekiel.   They said some miracles have been attributed to this water and St. Ezekiel’s intercession.  Although it appears these miracles have yet to be verified and approved but that is how everything starts.  As you know it takes many years for the Catholic Church to recognize a miracle.  It is understood why the process is so long because they have to be 100% certain the miracle is true.  In the meantime, for anyone who may live in the Philippines or visiting the area you may want to take out some time to visit Balon Pari.  Below is the link to the article:


http://www.recoletosfilipinas.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=237:balon-pari-finally-a-done-deal