Novena for Christian renewal

Annual Stations of the Cross in Maiduguri diocese, Nigeria 2022 (ACN©)
Annual Stations of the Cross in Maiduguri diocese, Nigeria 2022 (ACN©)

A Novena is a Catholic devotional practice consisting of prayers or spiritual exercises repeated for nine consecutive days, often seeking a special grace, intercession, or specific intention. Rooted in the tradition of the Apostles praying for nine days after Jesus’ Ascension until the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, it reflects a time of fervent prayer and petition. Novenas are commonly directed to God, the Blessed Virgin Mary, or the saints, and they are a powerful way to deepen one’s faith and trust in divine assistance.

Together let us pray to God for an outpouring of His abundant grace and for the following gifts of:
Day 1 Love
Day 2 Faith
Day 3 Mercy
Day 4 Trust
Day 5 Obedience
Day 6 Joy
Day 7 Peace
Day 8 Patience
Day 9 Kindness

Day 1: For the gift of Love

Christ our Saviour, Redeemer and King, Shepherd and Brother you told us to:
“Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Mt 7: 7-8)

So, we begin by saying together:
Restore us to thyself, O Lord, that we may be restored! (Lam 5: 21)

And we pray:

1.To the 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.

2. To the Son
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner

3. The Word of the Lord from the Gospel according to John – pause briefly for reflection
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. (Jn 13: 34)

4. To the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love.
V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.
R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Day 2: For the gift of Faith

Christ our Saviour, Redeemer and King, Shepherd and Brother you told us to:
“Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Mt 7: 7-8)

So, we begin by saying together:
Restore us to thyself, O Lord, that we may be restored! (Lam 5: 21)

And we pray:

1. To the 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.

2. To the Son
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner

3. The Word of the Lord taken from the Gospel according to Matthew -pause briefly for reflection
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Mt 16: 15 – 16)

4. To the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love.
V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.
R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Day 3: For the gift of Mercy

Christ our Saviour, Redeemer and King, Shepherd and Brother you told us to:
“Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Mt 7: 7-8)

So, we begin by saying together:
Restore us to thyself, O Lord, that we may be restored! (Lam 5: 21)

And we pray:

1. To the 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.

2. To the Son
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner

3. The Word of the Lord – from the Gospel according to Luke – pause briefly for reflection
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered right; do this, and you will live.” (Lk 10: 25 – 28)

4. To the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love.
V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.
R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Day 4: For the gift of Trust

Christ our Saviour, Redeemer and King, Shepherd and Brother you told us to:
“Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Mt 7: 7-8)

So, we begin by saying together:
Restore us to thyself, O Lord, that we may be restored! (Lam 5: 21)

And we pray:

1.To the 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.

2. To the Son
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner

3. The Word of the Lord – from the Gospel according to John – pause briefly for reflection
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; 14 if you ask anything in my name, I will do it. (Jn 14: 12-14)

4. To the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love.
V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.
R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Day 5: For the gift of Obedience

Christ our Saviour, Redeemer and King, Shepherd and Brother you told us to:
“Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Mt 7: 7-8)

So, we begin by saying together:
Restore us to thyself, O Lord, that we may be restored! (Lam 5: 21)

And we pray:

1. To the 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.

2. To the Son
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner

3. The Word of the Lord – from the First Book of Samuel – pause briefly for reflection
10 And the Lord came and stood forth, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for thy servant hears.” (1 Samuel 3: 10)

4. To the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love.
V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.
R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Day 6: For the gift of Joy

Christ our Saviour, Redeemer and King, Shepherd and Brother you told us to:
“Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Mt 7: 7-8)

So, we begin by saying together:
Restore us to thyself, O Lord, that we may be restored! (Lam 5: 21)

And we pray:

1. To the 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.

2. To the Son
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner

3. The Word of the Lord – from the Gospel according to John – pause briefly for reflection
10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (Jn 15: 10 – 11)

4. To the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love.
V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.
R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Day 7: For the gift of Peace

Christ our Saviour, Redeemer and King, Shepherd, and Brother you told us to:
“Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Mt 7: 7-8)

So, we begin by saying together:
Restore us to thyself, O Lord, that we may be restored! (Lam 5: 21)

And we pray:

1. To the 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.

2. To the Son
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner

3. The Word of the Lord – from the Gospel according to John – pause briefly for reflection
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (Jn 14: 27)

4. To the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love.
V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.
R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Day 8: For the gift of Patience

Christ our Saviour, Redeemer and King, Shepherd, and Brother you told us to:
“Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Mt 7: 7-8)

So, we begin by saying together:
Restore us to thyself, O Lord, that we may be restored! (Lam 5: 21)

And we pray:

1. To the 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.

2. To the Son
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner

3. The Word of the Lord – from St Paul’s letter to the Colossians – pause briefly for reflection
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, 13 forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. (Col 3: 12 – 14)

4. To the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love.
V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.
R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Day 9: For the gift of Kindness

Christ our Saviour, Redeemer and King, Shepherd, and Brother you told us to:
“Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Mt 7: 7-8)

So, we begin by saying together:
Restore us to thyself, O Lord, that we may be restored! (Lam 5: 21)

And we pray:

1. To the 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.

2. To the Son
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner

3. The Word of the Lord – from the Gospel according to Matthew – pause briefly for reflection
25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave; 28 even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mt 20: 25 – 28)

4. To the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love.
V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.
R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.