Novena to St. Francis de Sales

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. 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 4: Conformity to God's will

Francis summed up the whole spiritual life in a single counsel of holy surrender: ask for nothing, refuse nothing. He taught that we should desire only what God sends, receiving sickness or health, consolation or dryness with the same even heart. He teaches that perfect peace is found not in getting what we want, but in wanting only what God wants for us in each moment.

O Saint Francis de Sales, who lived by the holy indifference of asking for nothing and refusing nothing, obtain for me a heart conformed to God's will. Let me receive from His hand whatever He sends, sweet or bitter, with the same trust, desiring only what He desires, and resting in peace within His good pleasure. Amen.

Today's intention:

For the grace to conform our will to God's.

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.