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Novena to St. Athanasius

Apr 23–May 1

10 min
Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.

Novena to St. Athanasius

Opening prayer:

St. Athanasius, intrepid bishop and pillar of the true faith, you confessed Christ as true God when nearly the whole world turned away. Strengthen me as I begin this novena, that I may hold fast to the truth without fear. Obtain for me from God the grace I now ask and a heart firmly fixed on Christ. Amen.

Read the meditation and offer the intention of the day.

Day 1: Christ is true God

Athanasius insisted that the Son is of one substance with the Father, true God from true God, not a creature however exalted. Against those who made Christ a mere creature, he held fast to the apostolic faith that the Word is eternal and divine. He saw clearly that our salvation depends on this truth, for only God can make us partakers of His own life, lifting us from death into the very household of heaven.

Lord Jesus Christ, true God and true man, by the witness of St. Athanasius deepen my faith in Your divinity. Let me adore You as one with the Father, and never let any error dim my confession that in You God Himself has come to save me. Amen.

Today's intention:

For the grace to adore Jesus Christ as true God and true man.

Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

Pater noster, qui es in cælis,

sanctificétur nomen tuum.

Advéniat regnum tuum.

Fiat volúntas tua, sicut in cælo et in terra.

Panem nostrum quotidiánum da nobis hódie,

et dimítte nobis débita nostra,

sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris.

Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem,

sed líbera nos a malo.

Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum.

Benedícta tu in muliéribus,

et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.

Sancta María, Mater Dei,

ora pro nobis peccatóribus,

nunc et in hora mortis nostræ.

Amen.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.

Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper,

et in sǽcula sæculórum.

Amen.

Closing prayer:

St. Athanasius, who endured exile and slander rather than betray the faith, teach me your steadfast love of the truth. Help me to adore the eternal Son, consubstantial with the Father, and to confess Him before the world. By your prayers, may I persevere in the faith of Nicaea until I see God face to face. Amen.

Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.

About this prayer

A nine-day novena to St. Athanasius, Father and Doctor of the Church, fearless defender of the divinity of Christ against the Arian heresy.

History

St. Athanasius (c. 296–373) was Bishop of Alexandria and the great champion of the faith proclaimed at the Council of Nicaea. When much of the world embraced the Arian error that denied Christ's true divinity, he stood firm and was exiled five times for the truth. His phrase "Athanasius against the world" became a watchword of unshakable orthodoxy, and his treatise On the Incarnation remains a treasure of the faith. This novena begs his courage to confess Christ as true God.

How to pray it

Pray once each day for nine consecutive days. Begin with the Sign of the Cross and the opening prayer, prayerfully read the meditation and offer the day's intention, then conclude with an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be, and the closing prayer.

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