Novena to St. Catherine of Siena – 9 Days of Prayer
Novena to the Dominican tertiary, mystic, Doctor of the Church, and patron of Italy and Europe. She boldly called popes back to Rome and reformed the Church through prayer and letters.
St. Catherine of Siena was a Dominican tertiary and mystic who wrote bold letters to popes and helped bring the papacy back to Rome. She was named a Doctor of the Church. This novena asks for her courage in speaking truth and for the reform of the Church. Her feast is April 29. She was a lay woman with little formal education who counselled popes, nursed the sick and wrote a classic work called the Dialogue. In 1970 she was named a Doctor of the Church. Pray the novena for the Church, for unity and for courage in your own conversations.
A novena is nine consecutive days of prayer. Begin nine days before the feast (April 29) 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
Open in the app App StoreGoogle PlayNovena to St. Catherine of Siena – prayer for all nine days
Intention: For Boldness in Faith, Wisdom, and the Reform of the Church
Lord Jesus, You revealed to Saint Catherine that You are the way, the truth, and the life, and that all holiness consists in knowing oneself and knowing God. Through her intercession, grant us a deeper knowledge of our own souls and an ever-growing love for You. Amen.
O glorious Saint Catherine of Siena, virgin and Doctor of the Church! From your earliest years you gave yourself completely to God, and He rewarded your love with extraordinary mystical gifts — the stigmata, mystical marriage, and an unquenchable thirst for souls.
You were a woman of immense courage who wrote letters to popes and princes, calling them back to their duty. Yet you served the sick and the poor with your own hands, washed lepers, and accompanied condemned criminals to their deaths with a mother's love.
You wrote: 'Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.' And: 'Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.'
Holy Catherine, you who burned with love for the Church, intercede for me now. Obtain for me the grace I seek. (Mention your intention here.)
Help me to love God above all things, to serve my neighbor with generous love, and to have courage in speaking truth. May I too set my small corner of the world on fire with the love of Christ. Amen.
Eternal God, the fire and abyss of charity, You called Catherine of Siena to be a mother and teacher of souls. Through her intercession, inflame our hearts with the fire of Your love and give us courage to work for the renewal of Your Church. Amen.
Pray this prayer once a day for nine days in a row.
Traditional Catholic Devotional Prayer · Feast Day: April 29. Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) was a Dominican tertiary, mystic, and Doctor of the Church. She urged Pope Gregory XI to return the papacy from Avignon to Rome and is co-patron of Italy and Europe.
More novenas
- St. Jude Novena
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena
- St. Joseph Novena
- St. Therese Novena
- St. Anthony of Padua Novena
- St. Rita Novena
Frequently asked questions
When should I start the Novena to St. Catherine of Siena?
Begin on April 20 to end on April 28, the eve of her feast on April 29.
How do I pray the Novena to St. Catherine of Siena?
Pray the daily prayer once a day and offer it for the Church.
Who is the Novena to St. Catherine of Siena for?
It is for women, writers and anyone called to speak up.
Pray this novena with daily reminders in the Sacred Novenas app
Open in the app App StoreGoogle Play