St. Lawrence Novena – 9 Days of Prayer

Novena to the deacon who served the poor and faced martyrdom with courage — patron of deacons, the poor, and cooks

St. Lawrence was a deacon of Rome who served the poor and was martyred in 258. Tradition says that when asked to hand over the Church's treasures, he presented the poor. He is the patron of deacons, the poor and cooks. This novena asks for generosity and courage. His feast is August 10. According to tradition he was martyred on a gridiron and joked about being done on one side. Cooks and comedians honour him for that. Pray it for those who serve in your parish and for the generosity to give your own time.

Feast of St. Lawrence · August 109 dayssaint

A novena is nine consecutive days of prayer. Begin nine days before the feast (August 10) 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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St. Lawrence Novena – prayer for all nine days

Intention: For the Poor and for the Grace of Joyful Service

St. Lawrence, you were one of the seven deacons of Rome in the year 258. When Pope Sixtus II was arrested and led away to be executed, you followed him weeping and asked why you could not come with him. The Pope told you: 'You will follow me in three days.' And you did.

St. Lawrence, the prefect of Rome demanded that you hand over the treasures of the Church. You asked for three days to gather them. And when you returned, you brought the poor — the lame, the blind, the crippled, the outcasts. 'These,' you said, 'are the treasures of the Church.'

For this act of holy defiance you were sentenced to be burned alive on a gridiron. The tradition says that after some time you told your tormentors: 'Turn me over — I'm done on this side.' Your courage was so complete that your suffering could not extinguish your spirit.

You showed that the Church's wealth is not in gold but in people — especially in the poor, whom Christ called blessed, whom He identified with Himself: 'Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me.'

I bring my own poverty before you now — not only material poverty, but the poverty of spirit, of patience, of love.

(Pause to mention your intentions)

St. Lawrence, patron of deacons and all who serve in the Church, pray for those who serve the poor — that they may see Christ in those they serve and never grow weary. Pray for those who are themselves poor — that they may know their dignity as the treasures of the Church. And pray for me, that I may find joy in service rather than recognition.

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...

St. Lawrence, pray for us.

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

Traditional Catholic Devotional Prayer · Feast Day: August 10. Martyred 258 AD. One of the most venerated martyrs of Rome

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Frequently asked questions

When should I start the St. Lawrence Novena?

Begin on August 1 to end on August 9, the eve of his feast on August 10.

How do I pray the St. Lawrence Novena?

Pray the daily prayer once a day, and give something to someone in need.

Who is the St. Lawrence Novena for?

It is for deacons, cooks, the poor and those who serve them.

Pray this novena with daily reminders in the Sacred Novenas app

Open in the app App Store Google Play