
Catholic novena
St. Giles Novena (Hammer, 1909)
Quick answer
At a glance
Prayer source
Reviewed public-domain English devotional edition (1909)
Bonaventure Hammer, O.F.M., Mary, Help of Christians, and the Fourteen Saints Invoked as Holy Helpers (Benziger Brothers, 1909), Part IV, Novena to Each of the Holy Helpers, XI. Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/33596/pg33596-images.html
Read the source standards- 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
- Prayed for repentance, a good confession, freedom from sin, peace of conscience, and a holy death.
- Suggested start
- August 23, 2027. You may also begin this novena at any time.
- Length
- 9 days
- Feast
- September 1 (commemoration, 1962 Roman calendar)
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About This Novena
This reading gives the complete older proper edition identified in the source note. It replaces the former incomplete imported text.
Traditionally prayed for
Often prayed for a good confession, repentance, disabled people, peace of conscience, and holy death.
Usual timing
August 23 through August 31, or any nine consecutive days
Day 1 of 9
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Day 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
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About this novena
Description
This reading gives the complete older proper edition identified in the source note. It replaces the former incomplete imported text.
Traditionally invoked as patron of
a good confession, repentance, disabled people, peace of conscience, holy death
Traditionally prayed for
Often prayed for a good confession, repentance, disabled people, peace of conscience, and holy death.
Usual timing
August 23 through August 31, or any nine consecutive days

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