Novena for the St. Ignatius Martyr Community

To be prayed on 9 consecutive days from October 9 to October 17, St. Ignatius of Antioch’s feast day.

Almighty ever-living God,
you gave St. Ignatius Martyr, Bishop of Antioch,
the courage to witness to the Gospel of Christ
even to the point of giving his life for it.

By his prayers, help us to endure all suffering for love of you
and to seek you with all our hearts,
for you alone are the source of life.

Through St. Ignatius’ intercession, we pray for our parish community.
Help us joyfully give witness to Jesus Christ, the light of the world,
so we may more fully make God known, loved and served
by our prayers and actions.

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
for ever and ever.

Amen.

Learn more about this Novena

Novena para la Comunidad de San Ignacio Mártir

Para ser orado 9 días consecutivos del 9 de octubre al 17 de octubre, la fiesta de san ignacio de antioquía.

Dios todopoderoso y eterno, / le diste a San Ignacio Mártir, obispo de Antioquía,
el coraje para dar testimonio del Evangelio de Cristo,
incluso hasta el punto de dar su vida por ello.

Por sus oraciones, ayúdanos a soportar todo sufrimiento por amor a ti,
y buscarte con todo nuestro corazón,
porque solo tú eres la fuente de la vida.

A través de la intercesión de San Ignacio, / rezamos por nuestra comunidad parroquial,
para que podamos dar la bienvenida a los feligreses antiguos y nuevos
para que podamos dar a conocer, amar y servir a Dios más plenamente con nuestras oraciones y acciones.

Concédelo por nuestro Señor Jesucristo, tu Hijo, 
Que vive y reina contigo y el Espíritu Santo,   
por los siglos de los siglos.

Amén.

What is a novena?

A novena is a prayer or series of prayers typically prayed over nine days. When prayed personally, novenas are a way for us to grow in devotion, strive for virtue, or seek divine help for the needs in our life or the world. When prayed in community, a novena is all those things magnified as we join our sisters and brothers in praying for a common intention.

What happens if I miss a day?

God loves you just the same, and you're welcome to join and rejoin any day. The beauty and gift of praying a novena together is that we can be certain other in the community are praying the novena. Even if we forget, our community continues to pray for us and on our behalf.

How can I pray?

Pick a regular time to pray the novena by yourself, with your family, or with other parishioners. Light a candle next to a crucifix or cross in your home, close your eyes and take a few breaths, asking for God to be with you, and then begin with the sign of the cross. If you’re praying with others, you can pray in unison, or you can take turns praying the different sections of the prayer.

Why this intention?

A martyr is someone who was a witness to Christ to the point of death. We ask for the intercession of St. Ignatius, a martyr in the early church, so that we may, collectively and individually, be joyful witnesses in the way we live our lives. As Pope Francis wrote in the beginning of Evangelii Gaudium: “The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew.” Through our joy in Christ, we ask for strength to make God know, loved, and served in a world ever in need of a savior.