Novena to St Expeditus
Feast: 19 Apr
When to pray: Any nine consecutive days. A novena is prayed on nine consecutive days.
Prayer for each day
St Expeditus, you refused to put off your conversion until tomorrow. Help me act today in what God asks, and pray for my urgent need. Amen.
Day by day
Day 1: Don't put off conversion
Delay not to be converted to the Lord, and defer it not from day to day.
Ecclus 5:8 [Sir 5:7], Douay-Rheims
St Expeditus, honoured in popular devotion, delay not to be converted to the Lord, and defer it not from day to day. Help me not to put off my conversion. Amen.
Day 2: Today, not tomorrow
For he saith: In an accepted time have I heard thee and in the day of salvation have I helped thee. Behold, now is the acceptable time: behold, now is the day of salvation.
2 Cor 6:2, Douay-Rheims
St Expeditus, behold now is the acceptable time, behold now is the day of salvation. Help me to turn to God today, not tomorrow. Amen.
Day 3: Crushing procrastination
How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
Prov 6:9, Douay-Rheims
St Expeditus, how long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? Help me to overcome laziness and delay, and to do promptly the good I know I should do. Amen.
Day 4: Urgent needs
O God, come to my assistance; O Lord, make haste to help me.
Ps 69:2 [Ps 70:1], Douay-Rheims
St Expeditus, O God, come to my assistance; O Lord, make haste to help me. I bring you my urgent need. Present it to the Lord, and help me to accept his will. Amen.
Day 5: Soldier's discipline
Labour as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
2 Tim 2:3, Douay-Rheims
St Expeditus, you are pictured as a soldier. Labour as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Give me discipline in prayer and in daily duty. Amen.
Day 6: Faith under pressure
Wherein you shall greatly rejoice, if now you must be for a little time made sorrowful in divers temptations: That the trial of your faith (much more precious than gold which is tried by the fire) may be found unto praise and glory and honour at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
1 Pet 1:6-7, Douay-Rheims
St Expeditus, the trial of our faith is more precious than gold tried by fire. Keep me steady under pressure and trusting in God. Amen.
Day 7: Patience in delay
For as yet the vision is far off, and it shall appear at the end, and shall not lie: if it make any delay, wait for it: for it shall surely come, and it shall not be slack.
Hab 2:3, Douay-Rheims
St Expeditus, if the answer makes delay, wait for it, for it shall surely come. Teach me patience when God's answer is slow. Amen.
Day 8: Trust
Have confidence in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not upon thy own prudence.
Prov 3:5, Douay-Rheims
St Expeditus, have confidence in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not upon thy own prudence. Help me to trust God rather than my own plans. Amen.
Day 9: Thanks
In all things give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you all.
1 Thess 5:18, Douay-Rheims
St Expeditus, in all things give thanks, for this is the will of God. I thank God for his help, and I place my need in his hands. Amen.
Scripture
Douay-Rheims numbering (modern in brackets): 1 Pet 1:6-7; 1 Thess 5:18; 2 Cor 6:2; 2 Tim 2:3; Ecclus 5:8 [Sir 5:7]; Hab 2:3; Prov 3:5; Prov 6:9; Ps 69:2 [Ps 70:1]. Scripture index
Source
Written for The Crusade, 2026. How we check sources