Traditional Catholic Novena
Holy Innocents Novena
A traditional Catholic Holy Innocents novena for foundlings, babies, and children's choirs. Traditionally prayed December 19 through December 27, or any time.
Pray This Novena
Start with day 1
Begin the novena now, move one day at a time, and come back here whenever you are ready for the next day.
Your prayer progress and private intention stay only on this device unless you clear them. How to pray a novena.
About This Novena
This novena treats the Holy Innocents not as a remote tragedy but as living intercessors for children, bereaved parents, and everyone wounded by violence they could not prevent.
Traditionally prayed for
Often prayed for foundlings, babies, children's choirs, and grieving parents.
Usual timing
December 19 through December 27, or any time
Day 1 of 9
The same principal prayer is used each day. Choose the day you are on, pray the main prayer, and mark the day complete when you finish.
Day checklist
Check off each day as you pray
0 of 9
Tap a day after you pray it. Your checklist stays on this device.
Private intention
This stays only on this device and appears at the intention moment in the prayer.
Pray Day 1 of 9
Day 1
Not marked complete yet.
Tap any day to jump straight to it. Blue days are already marked complete on this device.
Pray the principal prayer for this day of the novena.
Principal Prayer for Each Day
Pray this same prayer each day after the day's meditation.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Father, by their wordless profession of faith in Thy Son, the Holy Innocents were crowned with life at His birth.
Hear their prayers for us in this novena, especially for
Pause here for the grace you are asking.
Holy Innocents, you died before you were old enough to know what life means, pray for all children who die young that God may gather them into His loving arms.
Holy Innocents, you were killed because one man was filled with hatred, pray for those who hate that God may touch their hearts and fill them with love.
Holy Innocents, you experienced a violent death, pray for all who are affected by violence that they may find peace and love.
Holy Innocents, your parents grieved for you with deep and lasting sorrow, pray for all parents who have lost young children that God may wrap a warm blanket of comfort around them.
Holy Innocents, those around you certainly felt helpless to prevent your deaths, pray for all who feel helpless in their circumstances that they may cling to God for courage and hope.
Holy Innocents, you who are now in Heaven, pray for all of us that one day we may join you there to bask in God's love forever.
Amen.
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Holy Innocents, pray for us!
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Related devotion
Keep this novena connected
Move naturally from this novena into the nearest saint life or traditional litany in the library.
Tools, privacy, and reminders
Prayer progress and local tools stay on this device unless you clear them.
About this novena
Description
This novena treats the Holy Innocents not as a remote tragedy but as living intercessors for children, bereaved parents, and everyone wounded by violence they could not prevent.
Traditionally invoked as patron of
foundlings, babies, children's choirs, grieving parents
Traditionally prayed for
Often prayed for foundlings, babies, children's choirs, and grieving parents.
Usual timing
December 19 through December 27, or any time
The Virgin and Child Surrounded by the Holy Innocents, Louvre