St. Francis Xavier Novena

The Novena of Grace is a prayer to St. Francis Xavier. The novena became well known because it is believed that Fr. Marcellus Mastrilli was cured in 1643 by reciting the novena. Fr. Mastrilli was on the verge of death from an injury to his brain when he was cured through the intercession of St. Francis Xavier. The novena of St. Francis Xavier became known as the Novena of Grace because of the many miracle cures associated with it.

When to Recite the Novena of Grace

The Novena of Grace is recited for none days, beginning on March 4, the anniversary of St. Francis Xavier's canonization until March 12. Many Catholics say the St. Francis prayer asking for his intercession in the cure of a loved one suffering from disease or affliction. Through the prayer to St. Francis Xavier, many believers have been cured of terminal illnesses.

Wearing a St. Francis Xavier medal, St. Francis Xavier charm, or a St. Francis Xavier pendant offers people suffering from an illness the strength to remain faithful to Jesus Christ and to receive the help of St. Francis.

Novena of Grace

Opening Prayer

O most admirable
and loving St. Francis Xavier,
in union with you,
we adore the Divine Majesty.
While joyfully giving thanks to God
for the wonderful graces,
which God conferred upon you in life,
and for the greater glory with which
God has gifted you in heaven,
we come to you with heartfelt love,
asking you to secure for us,
by your powerful intercession,
the precious blessings
of living and dying
in the state of grace.

We also ask you to obtain the favors
we seek in this Novena.
(Pause for personal petitions)

But if what we ask
is not for the glory of God,
or for the good of our souls, obtain for us
what is most conducive to both.
Amen.

Let us Pray:

Lord God, our Father,
we honor the memory
of the Apostle of the East,
St. Francis Xavier.
The remembrance of the favors
with which You blessed him during life
and of his glory after death,
fills us with joy;
and we unite with him
in offering to You our sincere tribute
of thanksgiving and of grace.

We ask You to grant us,
through his powerful intercession,
the inestimable blessings
of living and dying in the state of grace.
We also ask You to grant us the favors
we seek in this novena.
(Pause for personal petitions)

But if what we ask
is not for the glory of God
and the good of our souls,
grant us, we pray,
what is more conducive to both.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Closing Prayer
Let us Pray:

Almighty God, by the preaching of St. Francis Xavier
You won many peoples to Yourself.
Give his zeal for the faith to all who believe in You,
that Your Church may rejoice
to see the virtue and number of the faithful
increase throughout the world.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen.