Novena to St. Peter of Alcantara

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. Peter of Alcantara

Opening prayer:

O God, who adorned St. Peter of Alcantara with the spirit of penance and the gift of deep prayer, grant us through his intercession to seek You above all things. Teach us to die to ourselves that we may live more fully in You. Amen.

Read the meditation and offer the intention of the day.

Day 4: A master of prayer

Peter wrote a treatise on prayer and meditation that has guided souls for centuries and was praised by St. Teresa herself. He taught that prayer is the breath of the spiritual life, and that without it the soul withers however busy it may be. For him, mental prayer was not a duty but a meeting with the living God, the source of every virtue. He urges us to make daily, faithful prayer the foundation of our walk with the Lord.

O Saint Peter of Alcantara, master of prayer, teach me to seek God faithfully each day in the silence of my heart. Grant me perseverance when prayer is dry and fervor when it is sweet, that I may breathe always the air of His presence. Amen.

Today's intention:

For perseverance and fervor in our daily prayer.

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:

Glorious St. Peter of Alcantara, lover of poverty and silence, you found God in the cell of your own heart. Obtain for us a spirit of holy detachment, perseverance in prayer, and the courage to seek nothing but the will of God. 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.