Novena to St. Monica

Aug 18–26

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. Monica

Opening prayer:

O glorious St. Monica, mother of tears and of unfailing hope, you never ceased to pray for those entrusted to your love. Obtain for me a heart that does not grow weary in prayer, and present my petitions before the throne of God. Amen.

Read the meditation and offer the intention of the day.

Day 1: Perseverance in prayer

For seventeen long years St. Monica prayed for her son Augustine without seeing any fruit, yet she never abandoned him to despair. Day after day she returned to God, refusing to grow weary in well-doing. She teaches us that God's delays are not refusals, that He hears every petition even in apparent silence, and that love prays on, persistent as the widow before the unjust judge whom the Lord praised.

O faithful St. Monica, who prayed without ceasing through long years of silence, obtain for me a heart that never tires of seeking God for those I love. Teach me to trust that no prayer is wasted and that He hears me even when I cannot see His answer. Amen.

Today's intention:

For the grace never to abandon prayer for those who have strayed from God.

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. Monica, who saw your prayers answered beyond all your hope, intercede for me and for all I carry in my heart. Teach me to wait upon God with patience and to trust that no tear shed for love of souls is ever wasted. 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.