Saint Giles protecting the hind, a detail from a painting by the Master of Saint Giles

Catholic novena

Novena to St. Giles (Aegidius)

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At a glance

What it is
A complete novena in honor of St. Giles, from Father Bonaventure Hammer's 1909 devotional manual. The same full prayer is said on each of the nine days.
Often prayed for
Humility, escape from vanity, sincere confession, peace of conscience, and a holy life to the end.
Suggested start
August 23, 2027. You may also begin this novena at any time.
Length
9 days
Feast
September 1
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Preparatory Prayer

ALMIGHTY and eternal God! With lively faith and reverently worshiping Thy divine Majesty, I prostrate myself before Thee and invoke with filial trust Thy supreme bounty and mercy. Illumine the darkness of my intellect with a ray of Thy heavenly light and inflame my heart with the fire of Thy divine love, that I may contemplate the great virtues and merits of the saint in whose honor I make this novena, and following his example imitate, like him, the life of Thy divine Son.

Moreover, I beseech Thee to grant graciously, through the merits and intercession of this powerful Helper, the petition which through him I humbly place before Thee, devoutly saying, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Vouchsafe graciously to hear it, if it redounds to Thy greater glory and to the salvation of my soul. Amen.

Prayer and Invocation

O GOD, we beseech Thee to grant us through the merits and intercession of St. Giles to flee from the vanity and praise of this world, to avoid carefully all occasions of sin, to cleanse our hearts from all wickedness by a sincere confession, to leave this world in Thy love and rich in good works, and to find Thee gracious on the day of judgment. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Invocation

ZEALOUS follower of Christ, St. Giles; from early youth thou didst take to heart the words of our Saviour: "Learn of Me, because I am meek and humble of heart." Therefore thou didst flee from the praise and honors of the world, and wast rewarded with the grace to preserve thy heart from all sin and to persevere in a holy life to a ripe old age. I, on my part, through pride, self-confidence, and negligence, yielded to my evil inclinations, and thereby sinned grievously and often, offending my God and Lord, my Creator and Redeemer, my most loving Father. Therefore I implore thee to help me through thy mighty intercession to be enlightened by the Holy Ghost, that I may know the malice, grievousness, and multitude of my sins, confess them humbly, fully, and contritely, and receive pardon, tranquillity of heart, and peace of conscience from God. Amen.

Concluding Prayer

MY LORD and my God! I offer up to Thee my petition in union with the bitter passion and death of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, together with the merits of His immaculate and blessed Mother, Mary ever virgin, and of all the saints, particularly with those of the holy Helper in whose honor I make this novena.

Look down upon me, merciful Lord! Grant me Thy grace and Thy love, and graciously hear my prayer. Amen.

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About this devotion

Which edition is shown here?

A complete novena in honor of St. Giles, from Father Bonaventure Hammer's 1909 devotional manual. The same full prayer is said on each of the nine days.

Related devotion

Move naturally from this novena into the nearest saint life or traditional litany in the library.

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About this novena

Description

The St. Giles novena has the feel of an honest examination of conscience. It asks to flee praise, face sin truthfully, confess it well, and die with a heart at peace before God.

Traditionally invoked as patron of

the disabled, repentance, peace of conscience, a holy death

Traditionally prayed for

Often prayed for the disabled, repentance, peace of conscience, and a holy death.

Usual timing

August 23 through August 31

9 daysFeast: September 1the disabledrepentancepeace of consciencea holy death
How to pray a novena
Saint Giles protecting the hind, a detail from a painting by the Master of Saint Giles

Saint Giles and the Hind, detail, Master of Saint Giles (c. 1500)