Novena to St. John Paul II

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. John Paul II

Opening prayer:

Loving Father, who gave St. John Paul II to Your Church as a fearless witness to Christ, grant us through his intercession the courage to open wide the doors of our hearts to the Redeemer. Help us, like him, to belong entirely to Jesus through Mary. Amen.

Read the meditation and offer the intention of the day.

Day 1: Be not afraid!

At the beginning of his pontificate in 1978, John Paul II cried out to a fearful world, 'Be not afraid! Open wide the doors to Christ!' Having lived through Nazi occupation and Communist rule, he knew firsthand the powers that frighten the human heart, and yet he had learned that Christ is greater than them all. He teaches us that fear loses its grip on a heart that has welcomed the Redeemer and entrusted everything to Him.

O Saint John Paul II, who told the world to fear not and open its doors to Christ, obtain for me a courageous and trusting heart. Help me to throw open every corner of my life to the Redeemer, that His love may cast out all my fear. Amen.

Today's intention:

For the courage to open every part of our lives to Christ.

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 Paul II, friend of the young and defender of life, you taught us that man cannot live without love. Obtain for us a heart wholly given to Christ, unwavering hope in His mercy, and the strength to proclaim the Gospel without fear. 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.