Skip to the text

Novena to St. Francis de Sales

Day 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. Francis de Sales

Opening prayer:

O gentle St. Francis de Sales, friend of every soul, draw us to the sweetness of God's love. Calm our restless hearts and teach us to serve the Lord with patience, charity, and unwavering trust. Amen.

Read the meditation and offer the intention of the day.

Day 1: Devotion for everyone

In his Introduction to the Devout Life, Francis taught that holiness is not reserved for cloisters but is meant for the soldier, the merchant, the parent, and the worker. Devotion, he wrote, must be practiced differently by each, yet all are called to it. He shows us that we need not flee our state in life, but can sanctify its very duties, making of ordinary days a path to God.

O Saint Francis de Sales, who taught that every soul is called to holiness in its own place, obtain for me the grace to seek God where He has set me. Let me not wait for some other life, but sanctify the duties of this day, finding in my ordinary tasks a sure road to Him. Amen.

Today's intention:

For the grace to seek holiness in our daily life.

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:

O holy Bishop and Doctor, who sought in all things only the good pleasure of God, obtain for us a heart wholly conformed to His will. May we, asking nothing and refusing nothing, find true peace in loving surrender. 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. Francis de Sales, Doctor of gentleness, seeking the grace of a devout life lived in God's will.

History

St. Francis de Sales (1567–1622), Bishop of Geneva and Doctor of the Church, won countless souls back to the faith through patience, charity, and gentle persuasion rather than harshness. In his Introduction to the Devout Life he taught that holiness is for everyone in every state of life, lived through small daily acts of love. His counsel of conformity to God's will — to ask for nothing and refuse nothing — remains a sure path to peace of soul.

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.

Found in