Novena to St. Francis de Sales

Day 5

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 5: Living charity

For Francis, true devotion is simply charity grown active, prompt, and diligent. It is not a matter of sighs and sweet feelings but of love that does the will of God readily and well. He teaches that genuine love of God necessarily overflows into kindness, service, and patience toward our neighbor, for we cannot truly love the God we do not see while neglecting the brother we do.

O Saint Francis de Sales, who taught that devotion is charity made active, set my love of God on fire so that it overflows toward those around me. Let my prayer prove itself in deeds of kindness, my faith in patient service, that I may love my neighbor as the very image of the God I adore. Amen.

Today's intention:

For a charity active in word and deed.

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.