A novena to St. Francis of Assisi is nine days of prayer asking the help of the “Poor Man of Assisi” (1181/82–1226), the founder of the Franciscans, who gave up everything to follow Christ and became one of the best-loved saints in the world. The traditional novena is prayed from September 25 to October 3, ending on the eve of his feast on October 4, but it can be prayed at any time. This novena follows his life in nine steps, with a passage of Scripture, a moment from his story and, on several days, a prayer that Francis himself prayed.
A short prayer to St. Francis, written for this page:
St. Francis, you loved Jesus poor and crucified with all your heart.
Pray for me in my need: (name your intention).
Help me to live simply, to make peace, and to praise God in all his creatures. Amen.
How to pray the novena
- Make the Sign of the Cross and name your intention.
- Read the Scripture and the reflection for the day.
- Pray the day’s prayer.
- End with an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be.
Day 1: “Enlighten the darkness of my mind”
As a young man Francis, the son of a rich cloth merchant, dreamed of glory as a knight. After illness and a year as a prisoner of war, he began to pray alone in the half-ruined chapel of San Damiano. His biographer Paul Sabatier gives his prayer before its crucifix:
Great and glorious God, and thou, Lord Jesus, I pray ye, shed abroad your light in the darkness of my mind…. Be found of me, Lord, so that in all things I may act only in accordance with thy holy will.
St. Francis, pray that I may see the path God wants for me. Amen.
Day 2: “Rebuild my Church”
From the crucifix at San Damiano Francis heard the words, “Francis, go and repair my house, which, as you see, is falling into ruin.” At first he rebuilt chapels stone by stone; later he understood that God wanted him to renew the Church itself. Jesus said to Peter (Matthew 16:18, Douay-Rheims):
And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
St. Francis, pray for the Church, and help me to build it up with my life. Amen.
Day 3: Lady Poverty
Before the bishop of Assisi, Francis gave back to his angry father even the clothes he was wearing, and from then on called God alone his Father. Jesus said (Matthew 19:21, Douay-Rheims):
Jesus saith to him: If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come follow me.
St. Francis, free my heart from the love of possessions. Amen.
Day 4: Sent to preach
In 1208, hearing the Gospel of the sending of the apostles read at Mass, Francis knew that this was his way of life (Matthew 10:7–10, Douay-Rheims):
And going, preach, saying: The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils: freely have you received, freely give.
Do not possess gold, nor silver, nor money in your purses:
Nor scrip for your journey, nor two coats, nor shoes, nor a staff; for the workman is worthy of his meat.
St. Francis, help me to share the Gospel by my words and my example. Amen.
Day 5: Instrument of peace
Francis greeted everyone with “The Lord give you peace,” made peace between the bishop and the mayor of Assisi, and in 1219 crossed the battle lines in Egypt to speak with the Sultan. Jesus said (Matthew 5:9, Douay-Rheims):
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God.
St. Francis, make me a peacemaker in my family and my world. See the Prayer of St. Francis. Amen.
Day 6: Brother Sun and Sister Moon
Near the end of his life, sick and almost blind, Francis composed the Canticle of the Creatures, praising God through all his works:
O most high, almighty, good Lord God, to thee belong praise, glory, honor, and all blessing! To thee alone, Most High, do they belong, and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce thy Name.
Praised be my Lord God with all his creatures, and specially our brother the sun, who brings us the day and who brings us the light; fair is he and shines with a very great splendor: O Lord, he signifies to us thee!
Praised be my Lord for our sister the moon, and for the stars, the which he has set clear and lovely in heaven.
Praised be my Lord for our brother the wind, and for air and cloud, calms and all weather by the which thou upholdest life in all creatures.
Praised be my Lord for our sister water, who is very serviceable unto us and humble and precious and clean.
Praised be my Lord for our brother fire, through whom thou givest us light in the darkness; and he is bright and pleasant and very mighty and strong.
Praised be my Lord for our mother the earth, the which doth sustain us and keep us, and bringeth forth divers fruits and flowers of many colors, and grass.
Praised be my Lord for all those who pardon one another for his love’s sake, and who endure weakness and tribulation; blessed are they who peaceably shall endure, for thou, O most Highest, shalt give them a crown.
Praised be my Lord for our sister, the death of the body, from which no man escapeth. Woe to him who dieth in mortal sin! Blessed are they who are found walking by thy most holy will, for the second death shall have no power to do them harm.
Praise ye and bless the Lord, and give thanks unto him and serve him with great humility.
St. Francis, teach me to praise God in all his creatures and to care for his creation. Amen.
Day 7: The crib at Greccio
At Christmas 1223, at Greccio, Francis set up a manger with an ox and an ass so that the people could see with their own eyes the poverty in which Jesus was born (Luke 2:7, Douay-Rheims):
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
St. Francis, give me a heart that marvels at the humility of God. Amen.
Day 8: The stigmata
In September 1224, praying on Mount La Verna, Francis received in his hands, feet and side the wounds of Christ. St. Paul wrote (Galatians 6:14–17, Douay-Rheims):
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
And whosoever shall follow this rule, peace on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
From henceforth let no man be troublesome to me; for I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus in my body.
The prayer of the feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis, from the 1916 daily missal:
O Lord Jesus Christ who to kindle our hearts with the fire of thy love as the world was losing fervor didst renew in the flesh of blessed Francis the sacred wounds of thy passion, graciously grant that through his merits and prayers, we may always bear our cross and bring forth proper fruits of penance. Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God world without end. Amen.
Day 9: Sister Death
Francis died at the Portiuncula, near Assisi, on the evening of October 3, 1226, singing Psalm 141 and welcoming “Sister Death.” He was canonized two years later. St. Paul wrote (Philippians 1:21, Douay-Rheims):
For to me, to live is Christ; and to die is gain.
The prayer of his feast from the 1916 daily missal:
O God, who for the merits of blessed Francis, didst enrich thy Church by the birth of a new Order, grant us by his example to look down upon mere earthly things and to rejoice always in partaking of the heavenly blessings. Through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God world without end. Amen.
A daily prayer of St. Francis
From Prayers of the Middle Ages:
My God, and my all, who art Thou, sweetest Lord, my God? And who am I, a poor worm, Thy servant? Holiest Lord, I would love Thee! Sweetest Lord, I would love Thee! Lord, my God, I give to Thee all my heart and body, and vehemently desire, if I might know how, to do more for Thy love. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
When should I pray the novena to St. Francis?
Traditionally from September 25 to October 3, ending the day before his feast on October 4, but it can be prayed at any time.
What is St. Francis the patron saint of?
Animals, ecology, Italy, merchants and peace. See the patron saint of animals.
What prayers did St. Francis write?
The Canticle of the Creatures, the Praises of God, the prayer before the crucifix of San Damiano and others. The famous “Make me an instrument of your peace” was written in the twentieth century.
More prayers
- Feast of St. Francis
- Prayer of St. Francis
- Patron saint of animals
- Patron saint of nature
- Novenas
- Patron saint of peace
Texts and sources
- Paul Sabatier, Life of St. Francis of Assisi, trans. Louise Seymour Houghton (1894), ch. 4 and the Canticle of the Sun, public domain (Project Gutenberg #18787).
- Prayers of the Middle Ages, ed. Potts, public domain (Project Gutenberg #48242).
- The Mass Every Day of the Year (1916), Stigmata of St. Francis (September 17) and St. Francis (October 4), Collects, public domain (archive.org).
- Matthew 16:18, 19:21, 10:7–10 and 5:9; Luke 2:7; Galatians 6:14–17; Philippians 1:21 (Douay-Rheims).