Novena to St. John the Baptist

Day 3

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. John the Baptist

Opening prayer:

Glorious St. John the Baptist, voice crying in the wilderness, you prepared the way of the Lord with fearless preaching and a pure heart. As I begin this novena, obtain for me a spirit of repentance and a love of the truth. Help me to point others always to Christ. Amen.

Read the meditation and offer the intention of the day.

Day 3: A call to repentance

John baptized in the Jordan, urging hearts to turn from sin and bear worthy fruit, warning that the axe is laid to the root of the trees. He did not flatter, but called even soldiers and tax collectors to justice and mercy. He reminds us that conversion is not a single moment but a daily turning back to God, proven by a changed life and not by words alone.

O glorious Saint John the Baptist, preacher of repentance, who called sinners to bear worthy fruit, obtain for me true sorrow for my sins and a firm purpose of amendment, that my whole life may show the conversion my lips profess. Amen.

Today's intention:

For true contrition and a steadfast purpose of amendment.

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. John the Baptist, who decreased that Christ might increase, teach me to seek not my own glory but His. Strengthen me to bear witness to the truth even at great cost, and to await the Lamb of God with a watchful heart. Intercede for me, that I may share one day in your joy. 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.