Novena to St Francis of Assisi
Feast: 4 Oct
When to pray: Begin on 25 Sep and finish on 3 Oct, the eve of the feast. A novena is prayed on nine consecutive days.
Prayer for each day
St Francis, you gave up everything to follow Christ. Help me be free of what owns me, to serve the poor and to bring peace. Amen.
Day by day
Day 1: Leaving his father's house
Jesus saith to him: If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
Matt 19:21, Douay-Rheims
St Francis, you left your father's house and wealth to follow Christ in poverty. Jesus said, Go sell what thou hast and give to the poor, and come, follow me. Free me from whatever holds me back from God. Amen.
Day 2: Rebuild my Church
For other foundation no man can lay, but that which is laid: which is Christ Jesus.
1 Cor 3:11, Douay-Rheims
St Francis, at San Damiano you heard the Lord ask you to rebuild his Church. Other foundation no man can lay but that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus. Help me to build up the Church by my faith and good works. Amen.
Day 3: Lady Poverty
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 5:3, Douay-Rheims
St Francis, you loved Lady Poverty as a bride. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Teach me to be detached from possessions and rich in love of God. Amen.
Day 4: Kissing the leper
And Jesus stretching forth his hand, touched him, saying: I will, be thou made clean. And forthwith his leprosy was cleansed.
Matt 8:3, Douay-Rheims
St Francis, you overcame your disgust and kissed a leper, finding Christ in him. Jesus touched the leper and made him clean. Help me to love those whom others avoid, and to see Christ in them. Amen.
Day 5: Brother Sun
O ye sun and moon, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
Dan 3:62, Douay-Rheims
St Francis, you praised God for Brother Sun and all creation. O ye sun and moon, bless the Lord. Teach me to see God's glory in his works and to care for the world he has made. Amen.
Day 6: Peace with the wolf
The wolf shall dwell with the lamb: and the leopard shall lie down with the kid: the calf and the lion, and the sheep shall abide together, and a little child shall lead them.
Isa 11:6, Douay-Rheims
St Francis, the story is told of how you made peace with the wolf of Gubbio. The wolf shall dwell with the lamb. Make me an instrument of peace where there is anger and division. Amen.
Day 7: Preaching to the Sultan
For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
Acts 4:20, Douay-Rheims
St Francis, you crossed into the camp of the Sultan to speak to him about Christ. Like the apostles, we cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard. Give me courage to share my faith with respect and love. Amen.
Day 8: The stigmata
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.
Gal 6:14, Douay-Rheims
St Francis, on Mount La Verna you received the wounds of Christ in your body. God forbid that I should glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Draw me to love the Cross. Amen.
Day 9: Welcoming Sister Death
For to me, to live is Christ: and to die is gain.
Phil 1:21, Douay-Rheims
St Francis, you welcomed Sister Death with a song. To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Help me to live in such a way that I may meet death in peace, trusting in God's mercy. Amen.
Scripture
Douay-Rheims numbering (modern in brackets): 1 Cor 3:11; Acts 4:20; Dan 3:62; Gal 6:14; Isa 11:6; Matt 19:21; Matt 5:3; Matt 8:3; Phil 1:21. Scripture index
Source
Written for The Crusade, 2026. How we check sources