Novena to Saints Philip and James – 9 Days of Prayer
Philip who asked "show us the Father" and received the greatest answer in Scripture. James the Less, cousin of Jesus, first bishop of Jerusalem, author of the Epistle of James. Feast: May 3.
Sts. Philip and James are honoured together on May 3. Philip is the Apostle who asked, Lord, show us the Father, and received one of the clearest answers in the Gospels: whoever has seen me has seen the Father. James the Less, called a relative of the Lord, led the Church in Jerusalem and is linked to the Letter of James. This novena asks them to help you see Christ and to put faith into action. Start the nine days by asking a plain question of God, the way Philip did, and then listen.
A novena is nine consecutive days of prayer. Begin nine days before the feast (May 3) 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 Saints Philip and James – prayer for all nine days
Intention: For Those Who Ask Hard Questions and Those Who Are Misunderstood
Saints Philip and James, you were both close to Jesus — Philip among the first called, James among the leaders of the Jerusalem church. Yet you remain somewhat in the shadow of Peter and John and the others, and perhaps this is itself instructive: the Church is built on the quiet faithfulness of many, not only the famous few.
Philip, you brought Nathanael to Jesus with the simple words "Come and see." You fed the five thousand in your bewilderment. And at the Last Supper, you asked the question that unlocked the deepest teaching: "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." And Jesus replied: "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father."
James, you were known as "the Just" for your righteous life. You presided over the first council in Jerusalem. Your epistle teaches that faith without works is dead — a bracing antidote to comfortable Christianity.
Pray for us now as we begin this novena. Amen.
Saints Philip and James, you show us two complementary paths of discipleship: the seeker and the servant.
Philip, you sought — you asked the great questions, brought others to Jesus, and sought the Father's face. Pray for all who are seeking — who are not yet sure they believe, who are looking for the right question to ask, who need a friend to say "come and see."
James, you served — you presided over a community, wrote a letter of practical wisdom, and gave your life for the Gospel. Pray for all who serve quietly: the parish volunteers, the hospitality ministers, the ones who show up every week without applause.
Together, pray for the unity of the Church — that we may hold together the contemplative and the active, the questioner and the doer, the mystic and the servant.
Saints Philip and James, pray for us. Amen.
Lord God, through Saints Philip and James You gave us seekers of Your face and servants of Your community. May we have Philip's hunger for truth and James's practical charity — and may we never separate the two. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Pray this prayer once a day for nine days in a row.
Traditional Catholic Devotional Prayer · Feast Day: May 3. Philip was called by Jesus and immediately brought Nathanael. James the Less was a cousin of Jesus who led the Jerusalem church. Both were martyred for the faith.
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 Saints Philip and James?
Begin on April 24 to end on May 2, the eve of their feast on May 3.
How do I pray the Novena to Saints Philip and James?
Pray the daily prayer once a day and read a few verses from the Letter of James.
Who is the Novena to Saints Philip and James for?
It is for seekers who want to see God more clearly and for those who work in teaching.
Pray this novena with daily reminders in the Sacred Novenas app
Open in the app App StoreGoogle Play