St. Ignatius of Loyola Novena – 9 Days of Prayer
Novena to the founder of the Jesuits and master of spiritual discernment — patron of retreats and educators
St. Ignatius of Loyola was a soldier turned spiritual master who founded the Jesuits and wrote the Spiritual Exercises, a guide to discerning God's will. This novena asks for his help when you face important choices. He is also a patron of retreats and educators. Praying with Ignatius means noticing what moves you toward God and what draws you away. His feast is July 31. His motto, For the greater glory of God, gives a simple test for any choice. If you teach, study or lead a group, this novena is a natural companion; so is a quiet walk at the end of each day.
A novena is nine consecutive days of prayer. Begin nine days before the feast (July 31) 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 PlaySt. Ignatius of Loyola Novena – prayer for all nine days
Intention: For Discernment, Spiritual Growth, and Finding God in All Things
Great St. Ignatius of Loyola, soldier turned saint, you sought to find God in all things and to do all for His greater glory — Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam. Your Spiritual Exercises have guided millions of souls to deeper union with God.
St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, I come to you seeking the grace of holy discernment. You taught us to order our lives around the one thing necessary — the greater glory of God — and to find Him in every person, place, and circumstance.
You prayed: 'Lord, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve You as You deserve — to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to ask for reward, save that of knowing that I do Your holy will.'
(Pause here to mention your intentions)
St. Ignatius, help me to make decisions not from fear or self-interest, but from a heart free and ordered toward God. Teach me to find God in all things. Obtain for me the grace I seek in this novena, if it is for God's greater glory.
Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...
St. Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us.
Pray this prayer once a day for nine days in a row.
Traditional Catholic Devotional Prayer · Feast Day: July 31. Canonized 1622
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 St. Ignatius of Loyola Novena?
Begin on July 22 to end on July 30, the eve of his feast on July 31, or start before a big decision.
How do I pray the St. Ignatius of Loyola Novena?
Pray the daily prayer once a day and spend a few minutes noting where you felt peace or unrest.
Who is the St. Ignatius of Loyola Novena for?
It is for students, teachers, those discerning vocations and anyone choosing between good options.
Pray this novena with daily reminders in the Sacred Novenas app
Open in the app App StoreGoogle Play