Novena to St. Athanasius

Day 9

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 9: Perseverance to the end

After decades of struggle, Athanasius died at peace in Alexandria, having seen the tide begin to turn toward the truth he had defended. He had outlasted hostile emperors and survived every exile, and in his last years he governed his church in quiet. His life proclaims that perseverance in the faith, however costly, is never in vain, for God upholds those who hold fast to Him and crowns their long fidelity at the last.

O God, who crowned the long fidelity of Athanasius with peace at the end, grant me the grace of final perseverance in the faith of Christ. Whatever the cost, hold me fast to You all my days, and bring me at last to the unfading crown. Amen.

Today's intention:

For the grace of final perseverance in the faith of Christ.

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.