Traditional Catholic Novena
Novena to St. Paul the First Hermit
A traditional Catholic novena to St. Paul the First Hermit, for solitude with God, perseverance, and freedom from worldly distraction.
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About This Novena
This older Pauline novena honors St. Paul the First Hermit as a father of solitude and hidden holiness, asking for a life less scattered and more recollected before God.
Traditionally prayed for
Often prayed for hermits, solitude, prayer, detachment from the world, and perseverance.
Usual timing
Traditionally before the external solemnity after January 15, or any nine days before his feast
Day 1 of 9
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Day 1
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Traditional Concluding Prayer and Hymn Text
Pray this same prayer each day after the day's meditation.
God, Thou didst grant that Saint Paul, our Father, should achieve sanctity in the desert; grant through his intercession that we, who are striving to develop in ourselves a spirit of prayer and service, may come ever closer to Thee in love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Or:
O God, who didst lead St. Paul our Father into the desert to contemplate the mystery of Thy Holy Name and arrive safely at his eternal dwellings; teach us through his intercession that we may despise worldly pleasures and seek everlasting happiness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
From the traditional Pauline novena hymns:
Alone with God alone, all proud honours unknown, he fled his heritage, hid in his hermitage, desiring more.
This is his hope for you, withdrawn from sec’lar view, as he sought out a den, which for some time had been, a place most true.
In order to give man the strength for a life’s span, the raven brought repast, daily bread to holdfast, at noontime came.
Pray for us, Saint Paul the Hermit, that we may learn holy silence, patient endurance, and deeper love of God. Amen.
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About this novena
Description
This older Pauline novena honors St. Paul the First Hermit as a father of solitude and hidden holiness, asking for a life less scattered and more recollected before God.
Traditionally invoked as patron of
hermits, solitude, prayer, detachment from the world, perseverance
Traditionally prayed for
Often prayed for hermits, solitude, prayer, detachment from the world, and perseverance.
Usual timing
Traditionally before the external solemnity after January 15, or any nine days before his feast
Saint Paul the Hermit, devotional painting by Mattia Preti