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Novena to St. Catherine of Alexandria

Day 7

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 7: Faithful unto death

When the wheel failed, Catherine was beheaded, sealing her witness with her blood. She received the martyr's crown for being faithful to the end, choosing death rather than the slightest betrayal of Christ. She had been promised life and honor for a single denial, yet she would not yield, knowing that to lose her soul was to lose all. Her constancy crowns her whole struggle and calls us to a fidelity that does not falter when faith costs us dearly, even unto the laying down of life.

O St. Catherine, faithful unto death, who chose the sword rather than betray your Lord, obtain for me the grace of final perseverance. Keep me steadfast in faith through every trial, until I too am faithful to my last breath. Amen.

Today's intention:

For perseverance in the faith until my final breath.

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.

About this prayer

A nine-day novena to St. Catherine of Alexandria, virgin and martyr, whose God-given wisdom confounded the pagan philosophers and whose courage broke even the wheel of torture — patroness of students, scholars, and all who seek the truth.

History

According to ancient tradition, Catherine was a noble and learned maiden of Alexandria in the early fourth century who confronted the emperor Maxentius for persecuting Christians. When fifty pagan philosophers were summoned to refute her, she instead converted them by her wisdom. Condemned to die on a spiked wheel, she touched it and it shattered; she was then beheaded, and is honored among the Fourteen Holy Helpers.

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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