Novena to St Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio)
Feast: 23 Sep
When to pray: Begin on 14 Sep and finish on 22 Sep, the eve of the feast. A novena is prayed on nine consecutive days.
Prayer for each day
St Pio, you carried the wounds of Christ and spent your life hearing confessions. Help me to pray, hope and not worry, and bring my intention to the Lord. Amen.
Day by day
Day 1: Pray, hope and don't worry
Be not therefore solicitous for to morrow; for the morrow will be solicitous for itself. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.
Matt 6:34, Douay-Rheims
St Pio, you taught the faithful to pray, hope and not to worry. Our Lord tells us not to be anxious for tomorrow. Help me to hand over my fears to God, to pray with perseverance, and to rest in his providence. Bring my intention before the Lord, and obtain for me a peaceful heart. Amen.
Day 2: The confessional
When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them: and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.
John 20:22-23, Douay-Rheims
St Pio, for many hours each day you heard confessions and led souls back to God. The risen Lord gave his apostles power to forgive sins. Give me a sincere sorrow for my sins and the courage to confess them honestly, and pray for all who are afraid to return to the sacrament of mercy. Amen.
Day 3: The wounds of Christ
From henceforth let no man be troublesome to me: for I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus in my body.
Gal 6:17, Douay-Rheims
St Pio, you bore in your body the marks of the Lord Jesus and suffered them in silence and obedience. Teach me to love the wounds of Christ, to meditate often on his Passion, and to see in his suffering the measure of his love for me. Amen.
Day 4: The Mass
And taking bread, he gave thanks and brake and gave to them, saying: This is my body, which is given for you. Do this for a commemoration of me.
Luke 22:19, Douay-Rheims
St Pio, you offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with deep devotion, aware that Calvary was made present on the altar. Increase my faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. Help me to assist at Mass with attention and love, and to receive Holy Communion worthily. Amen.
Day 5: Spiritual battle
Put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil.
Eph 6:11, Douay-Rheims
St Pio, you knew that our struggle is a spiritual one, and you fought it with prayer and trust in God. Help me to put on the armour of God, that I may stand against the snares of the devil. Protect me in temptation and keep me faithful to Christ. Amen.
Day 6: Suffering offered
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you and fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ, in my flesh, for his body, which is the church:
Col 1:24, Douay-Rheims
St Pio, you united your sufferings with those of Christ for the good of his Body, the Church. Teach me not to waste my pain, but to offer it to God with patience, for my own conversion and for souls. Comfort all who suffer today, and bring them hope. Amen.
Day 7: The Guardian Angel
For he hath given his angels charge over thee; to keep thee in all thy ways.
Ps 90:11 [Ps 91:11], Douay-Rheims
St Pio, you had a great love for the holy angels and often sent your guardian angel on errands of charity. God has given his angels charge over us, to keep us in all our ways. Help me to be grateful for my guardian angel, to listen to his good inspirations, and to call on him in danger. Amen.
Day 8: Home for the relief of suffering
And the king answering shall say to them: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me.
Matt 25:40, Douay-Rheims
St Pio, you founded the Home for the Relief of Suffering so that the sick would be cared for with skill and with love. Christ said that what we do for the least of his brethren we do for him. Make me attentive to the sick and the suffering, and pray for all doctors, nurses and carers. Amen.
Day 9: Obedience under trial
And whereas indeed he was the Son of God, he learned obedience by the things which he suffered.
Heb 5:8, Douay-Rheims
St Pio, when you were misunderstood and restricted, you obeyed with humility and patience. Christ himself learned obedience by the things which he suffered. Help me to accept trials without resentment, to trust God when I am treated unjustly, and to remain faithful to the Church. Amen.
Scripture
Douay-Rheims numbering (modern in brackets): Col 1:24; Eph 6:11; Gal 6:17; Heb 5:8; John 20:22-23; Luke 22:19; Matt 25:40; Matt 6:34; Ps 90:11 [Ps 91:11]. Scripture index
Source
Written for The Crusade, 2026. How we check sources