Novena to St. Catherine of Siena

Day 4

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 Siena

Opening prayer:

St. Catherine of Siena, bride of Christ and lover of His Precious Blood, you set the world on fire with the love that burned in your own heart. Be with me as I begin this novena and obtain for me a like ardor for God and His Church. Through your powerful intercession, grant me the grace I now humbly ask. Amen.

Read the meditation and offer the intention of the day.

Day 4: Charity to the poor and sick

Catherine nursed plague victims that others fled, embracing the most repulsive wounds for love of Christ in the suffering. She gave away food and clothing from her own home, serving the hospitals of Siena with tireless tenderness. Her contemplation never closed her in upon herself but poured out in fearless service, for the love that filled her in prayer demanded to be spent on the broken bodies of her neighbors.

Lord Jesus, hidden in the poor and the suffering, by St. Catherine's example free me from every fear that keeps me from serving. Give me hands ready to bind wounds and a heart wide enough to love the least, that in them I may touch and tend You. Amen.

Today's intention:

For the grace to serve Christ in the poor and the suffering without fear.

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, who counseled, "Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire," kindle that flame in me. Help me to seek truth, to love the Church, and to spend myself for the souls Christ redeemed with His Blood. By your prayers, may I serve God boldly in my own time. 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.