Novena to Saint Bartholomew – 9 Days of Prayer

The apostle in whom Jesus saw "no guile" — identified with Nathanael who asked "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" and was answered with a vision. Martyred by flaying. Patron of leather workers and the simple of heart.

St. Bartholomew is traditionally identified with Nathanael, the man Jesus called one in whom there is no guile. Nathanael first asked, Can anything good come from Nazareth? and then confessed Jesus as Son of God. This novena asks for honesty of heart and for the courage to follow Christ after your doubts have been answered. Tradition says he preached in the East and was martyred. His feast is August 24. He is the patron of tailors and bookbinders in some traditions, which suits his plain, honest character. Pray it before a hard conversation, and ask for a clean heart.

Saint Bartholomew the Apostle · August 249 dayssaint

A novena is nine consecutive days of prayer. Begin nine days before the feast (August 24) and finish on its eve. You can pray this novena at any time of year.

Pray this novena with daily reminders in the Sacred Novenas app

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Novena to Saint Bartholomew – prayer for all nine days

Intention: For Sincere Seekers, India, and Those Who Die for the Faith

Saint Bartholomew, you are almost certainly the Nathanael of the Gospel of John — the man sitting under the fig tree when Philip found you and said "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law." You replied with beautiful, honest skepticism: "Can anything good come from Nazareth?"

And Philip's answer was perfect: "Come and see."

When you came, Jesus looked at you and said: "Here is a true Israelite in whom there is no guile." You, who had just been dismissive of Nazareth, were seen and known and named as a man without pretense.

You were martyred in Armenia — tradition says by being flayed alive, your skin removed. Yet you are depicted in Michelangelo's Last Judgment holding that skin, peaceful and victorious.

Intercede for us as we begin this novena. Amen.

Saint Bartholomew, Jesus loved you for your guilelessness — your honest skepticism, your refusal to pretend enthusiasm you did not have, and your wholehearted surrender once you had truly seen.

Pray for the honest doubters — those who are too intellectually serious to perform a faith they do not feel. Remind them that your "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" was not a barrier but an invitation. Jesus did not rebuke you for it. He called you a man without guile.

Pray for those who are seeking but afraid the answer will not satisfy. Give them courage to "come and see."

Pray for simple, sincere people who do not have eloquent faith but have real faith — who pray plainly, who live honestly, who do not perform religion but simply practice it.

Saint Bartholomew, man without guile, pray for us. Amen.

Lord Jesus, You saw Bartholomew under the fig tree before Philip called him. You know us before we call to You. May we trust that seeing — and come, like Nathanael, to believe that You are the Son of God, the King of Israel. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pray this prayer once a day for nine days in a row.

Traditional Catholic Devotional Prayer · Feast Day: August 24. Bartholomew, identified with Nathanael, received a compliment from Jesus: "an Israelite in whom there is no guile." He is said to have preached in India and Armenia, where he was martyred.

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Frequently asked questions

When should I start the Novena to Saint Bartholomew?

Begin on August 15 to end on August 23, the eve of his feast on August 24.

How do I pray the Novena to Saint Bartholomew?

Pray the daily prayer once a day, asking for a sincere and open heart.

Who is the Novena to Saint Bartholomew for?

It is for those who value honesty, for skeptics and for people seeking a clear conscience.

Pray this novena with daily reminders in the Sacred Novenas app

Open in the app App Store Google Play