Novena to St. Catherine of Alexandria

Day 3

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. Catherine of Alexandria

Opening prayer:

O glorious St. Catherine, virgin and martyr, who confessed Christ before kings and confounded the wise of this world, intercede for me before the throne of God. Obtain for me a share in your wisdom, your purity, and your unshakable courage. Amen.

Read the meditation and offer the intention of the day.

Day 3: Confounding the wise

The philosophers who came to silence Catherine were instead converted by her arguments and embraced the faith they had been called to attack. God chooses the lowly to shame the strong and the simple to confound the proud. So convincing was the truth she proclaimed that these men accepted martyrdom rather than deny their newfound faith. Her witness reveals that no human wisdom can withstand the power of God, and that the proudest minds may yet be won when grace opens them to the light.

O St. Catherine, who won the proud philosophers to Christ, intercede for all scholars and thinkers astray in error. Open their minds to the light of faith, that, like those you converted, they may bow before the truth and live. Amen.

Today's intention:

That intellectuals and scholars may be led from error to faith.

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. Catherine of Alexandria, faithful unto death and crowned with glory, lead me along the path of truth and keep me steadfast in the faith. By your powerful intercession, help me to love wisdom that comes from above and to remain Christ's to the end. 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.