Saint Margaret of Antioch from an illuminated manuscript

Catholic novena

Novena to St. Margaret of Antioch

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At a glance

What it is
A complete novena in honor of St. Margaret, from Father Bonaventure Hammer's 1909 devotional manual. The same full prayer is said on each of the nine days.
Often prayed for
Constancy in the Faith, purity, victory over temptation, perseverance in prayer, and a good death.
Suggested start
July 11, 2027. You may also begin this novena at any time.
Length
9 days
Feast
July 20
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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, grant us through the intercession of thy holy virgin and martyr Margaret, undauntedly to confess the Faith, carefully to observe the chastity of our state of life, and to overcome the temptations of the world, the devil, and the flesh, and thereby escape the punishments of eternal damnation. Amen.

Invocation

ST. MARGARET, holy virgin and martyr, thou didst faithfully preserve the robe of holy innocence and purity, valiantly resisting all the blandishments and allurements of the world for the love of thy divine Spouse, Jesus Christ; help me to overcome all temptations against the choicest of all virtues, holy purity, and to remain steadfast in the love of Christ, in order to preserve this great gift of God. Implore for me the grace of perseverance in prayer, distrust of myself, and flight from the occasions of sin, and finally the grace of a good death, so that in heaven I may "follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth." 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. Margaret, 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

St. Margaret appears here as both virgin and martyr, a witness whose purity was defended under pressure. The novena is direct about the battle against temptation and the need for perseverance to the end.

Traditionally invoked as patron of

pregnant mothers, childbirth, nurses, women in labor

Traditionally prayed for

Often prayed for pregnant mothers, childbirth, nurses, and women in labor.

Usual timing

July 11 through July 19

9 daysFeast: July 20pregnant motherschildbirthnurseswomen in labor
How to pray a novena
Saint Margaret of Antioch from an illuminated manuscript

Saint Margaret of Antioch, illuminated manuscript, c. 1440