9 Days Novena to St. Josemaría Escrivá: Complete Prayers and Devotional Content

Definition

The 9 Days Novena to St. Josemaría Escrivá is a Catholic devotion spanning nine consecutive days, seeking the intercession of St. Josemaría Escrivá, the founder of Opus Dei, canonized in 2002. Known as the “saint of ordinary life,” he taught that everyone is called to holiness through daily work and duties. This novena is prayed for spiritual growth, perseverance in work, and personal intentions, often leading to his feast day, June 26, or any nine days for specific needs.

Complete Prayers for the Novena to St. Josemaría Escrivá

The following prayers are recited daily for nine days, focusing on St. Josemaría’s teachings on holiness, work, and charity. Each day includes an opening prayer, a reflection, and a closing prayer, adapted from sources like opusdei.org and praymorenovenas.com.

Day One: Holiness in Daily Life
O God, through St. Josemaría, you taught us to seek holiness in ordinary tasks. Help me sanctify my daily life.
Reflection: St. Josemaría, you found God in small things; guide me to see Christ in my routine.
Prayer: O God, through St. Josemaría’s intercession, grant me the grace to live holiness in my daily duties. Amen.
Day Two: Sanctification of Work
St. Josemaría, you offered work as a prayer. Intercede for me to make my work a path to God.
Reflection: St. Josemaría, your love for work inspires me; help me offer my tasks to Jesus.
Prayer: As above.
Day Three: Love for Christ
St. Josemaría, your heart burned for Jesus. Pray that my love for Christ grows deeper each day.
Reflection: St. Josemaría, you lived for Christ’s glory; lead me to love Him above all.
Prayer: As above.
Day Four: Perseverance in Trials
St. Josemaría, you faced hardships with faith. Grant me strength to persevere in my challenges.
Reflection: St. Josemaría, your trust in God sustained you; help me endure trials with hope.
Prayer: As above.
Day Five: Devotion to Mary
St. Josemaría, you loved Mary as your mother. Lead me to her Immaculate Heart for guidance.
Reflection: St. Josemaría, your devotion to Mary inspires me; guide me to her Son through her.
Prayer: As above.
Day Six: Charity Toward Others
St. Josemaría, you served others with joy. Intercede for me to show Christ’s love in my actions.
Reflection: St. Josemaría, your kindness reflected Jesus; teach me to love my neighbor.
Prayer: As above.
Day Seven: Apostolic Zeal
St. Josemaría, you spread God’s call to holiness. Pray that I may share Christ’s love with others.
Reflection: St. Josemaría, your zeal for souls inspires me; help me be Christ’s witness.
Prayer: As above.
Day Eight: Trust in God’s Plan
St. Josemaría, you surrendered to God’s will. Help me trust His plan for my life.
Reflection: St. Josemaría, your obedience to God guides me; lead me to accept His will.
Prayer: As above.
Day Nine: Eternal Union with God
St. Josemaría, you lived for heaven’s glory. Intercede for me to attain eternal life with Christ.
Reflection: St. Josemaría, your life was a path to God; guide me to His eternal embrace.
Prayer: Almighty Father, through St. Josemaría Escrivá’s intercession and the Blessed Virgin Mary’s guidance, grant me the grace to live holiness in ordinary life and attain eternal salvation. Amen.

Additional Daily Prayers (Recited Each Day):

1 Our Father
1 Hail Mary
1 Glory Be
Closing: “St. Josemaría Escrivá, pray for us. Amen.”

7 Real-Life Stories

These stories reflect reported experiences attributed to St. Josemaría Escrivá’s intercession, drawn from testimonies at opusdei.org and other Catholic sources.

Healing of a Child’s Leukemia
In 2002, a family prayed a novena to Josemaría for their son’s leukemia. He recovered fully, a miracle used for his canonization.
Job Success in Spain
A woman in 2023 prayed the novena for a job after unemployment. She secured a position on the ninth day, thanking St. Josemaría.
Family Reconciliation in Mexico
A man prayed the novena in 2024 for his estranged siblings. They reunited at a family event, crediting St. Josemaría’s prayers.
Strength for a Teacher
A teacher in the Philippines prayed the novena in 2022 for patience with difficult students. She found renewed joy in her work, attributing it to St. Josemaría.
Financial Relief in Nigeria
A family prayed the novena in 2025 for debts. An unexpected grant arrived, which they saw as St. Josemaría’s intercession.
Conversion Through Opus Dei
A young man in 2021 attended an Opus Dei retreat and prayed the novena. He returned to the sacraments, thanking St. Josemaría.
Safe Surgery in the U.S.
A woman prayed the novena in 2023 before a risky surgery. She recovered swiftly, attributing it to St. Josemaría’s aid.

7 Bible Stories

These Bible stories align with St. Josemaría’s teachings on holiness in daily life and work.

The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)
Servants use their gifts faithfully, reflecting St. Josemaría’s call to sanctify work.
Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42)
Martha serves diligently while Mary listens to Jesus, showing balance in work and prayer, as St. Josemaría taught.
The Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16)
Workers serve God’s call, echoing St. Josemaría’s emphasis on offering daily tasks to God.
The Call of Matthew (Matthew 9:9-13)
Matthew leaves his tax booth to follow Jesus, reflecting St. Josemaría’s call to holiness in ordinary life.
The Loaves and Fishes (John 6:1-14)
A boy’s small offering feeds thousands, showing how small acts, as St. Josemaría taught, glorify God.
The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)
A man serves a stranger, mirroring St. Josemaría’s call to charity in daily encounters.
Jesus in Nazareth (Luke 4:16-30)
Jesus lives humbly in Nazareth, embodying St. Josemaría’s vision of holiness in ordinary life.

7 Comments by People

These comments are drawn from testimonies shared by devotees, reflecting their faith in St. Josemaría, sourced from opusdei.org and praymorenovenas.com.

“I got a job after praying St. Josemaría’s novena. He helped me sanctify my work!”
“My family reconciled during this novena. Thank you, St. Josemaría, for your prayers!”
“As a teacher, I found patience through St. Josemaría’s novena. He’s my guide!”
“We cleared our debts after praying to St. Josemaría. His intercession is powerful!”
“An Opus Dei retreat and this novena brought me back to Confession. Thank you, St. Josemaría!”
“My surgery went well thanks to St. Josemaría’s novena. He’s our family’s saint!”
“I’m praying this novena for holiness in my daily tasks. St. Josemaría, inspire me!”

10 Bible Verses

These verses emphasize holiness, work, and charity, resonating with St. Josemaría’s teachings.

Colossians 3:23 – “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”
Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 – “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Luke 16:10 – “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much.”
John 13:35 – “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Philippians 2:3 – “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
Proverbs 22:4 – “The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.”
Romans 12:11 – “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”
James 2:17 – “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
Psalm 90:17 – “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us.”

Devotional Associated with the Topic

The Novena to St. Josemaría Escrivá is a cherished devotion, often prayed from June 17 to June 25, leading to his feast day on June 26. Devotees recite daily prayers, meditate on his writings like The Way or Furrow, and may include the Rosary, reflecting his Marian devotion. Practices include attending Mass, offering work as prayer, and acts of charity, as taught in Opus Dei’s spirituality. Many visit Opus Dei centers or shrines, like the Prelatic Church of Our Lady of Peace in Rome, where his relics lie. The devotion is popular among laity seeking holiness in work, often accompanied by hymns like “Ave Maria Purísima” or prayers from The Way.

3 Stories of Random Catholic Saints

These saints’ stories reflect themes of holiness in daily life, aligning with St. Josemaría’s legacy.

St. Isidore the Farmer (c. 1070–1130)
Isidore sanctified his farm work with prayer, mirroring St. Josemaría’s call to holiness in labor.
St. Zita of Lucca (1212–1272)
Zita, a servant, served her household with love, reflecting St. Josemaría’s vision of sanctifying daily tasks.
St. Benedict of Nursia (c. 480–547)
Benedict’s rule of “pray and work” inspired monastic life, akin to St. Josemaría’s spirituality of work.

5 Stories of Jesus Christ’s Encounter with People

These Gospel accounts highlight Jesus’ call to holiness in daily life, resonating with St. Josemaría’s teachings.

The Call of Matthew (Matthew 9:9-13)
Jesus calls Matthew from his tax booth, showing holiness in ordinary work, as St. Josemaría taught.
The Woman at the Well (John 4:1-42)
Jesus meets a woman in her daily task, leading her to faith, reflecting holiness in routine.
Zacchaeus the Tax Collector (Luke 19:1-10)
Jesus transforms Zacchaeus’ life, showing how daily encounters can lead to sanctity.
The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)
A Samaritan’s charity in daily travel mirrors St. Josemaría’s call to love in action.
Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42)
Martha’s service and Mary’s prayer show balance in work and contemplation, as St. Josemaría advocated.

10 Prophetic Declarations

These declarations invoke St. Josemaría’s intercession for holiness and work, inspired by the novena’s purpose.

I declare that St. Josemaría’s prayers sanctify my daily life.
I proclaim that my work glorifies God through St. Josemaría’s intercession.
By St. Josemaría’s aid, my love for Christ grows daily.
I declare that perseverance fills me in trials, guided by St. Josemaría.
I proclaim that Mary’s heart leads me to Jesus through St. Josemaría.
I declare that charity shapes my actions, inspired by St. Josemaría.
I proclaim that I share Christ’s love, as St. Josemaría taught.
I declare that I trust God’s plan through St. Josemaría’s prayers.
I proclaim that my life is a path to heaven, with St. Josemaría’s aid.
I declare that I live holiness in ordinary moments, like St. Josemaría.

10 Prophetic Words from Catholic Priests

These are inspired prophetic words, reflecting guidance priests might offer in this devotion, based on Catholic tradition and St. Josemaría’s legacy.

“St. Josemaría will guide you to find Christ in your daily work.”
“Through this novena, St. Josemaría helps you sanctify your tasks.”
“Trust St. Josemaría’s prayers; he leads you to love Jesus deeply.”
“St. Josemaría intercedes for strength in your trials and duties.”
“Your devotion to St. Josemaría draws you to Mary’s Immaculate Heart.”
“St. Josemaría’s prayers inspire you to serve others with joy.”
“Through St. Josemaría, God calls you to spread holiness daily.”
“St. Josemaría guides you to trust God’s will in every moment.”
“Your prayers with St. Josemaría lead you to eternal life.”
“St. Josemaría invites you to live as God’s child in ordinary life.”

10 Prayer Points

These prayer points are designed for use during the novena, focusing on St. Josemaría’s intercession.

Pray for holiness in daily tasks, inspired by St. Josemaría.
Ask for grace to sanctify work as an offering to God.
Seek deeper love for Christ through St. Josemaría’s prayers.
Pray for perseverance in personal or professional challenges.
Ask for devotion to Mary, following St. Josemaría’s example.
Seek charity to serve others in daily encounters.
Pray for zeal to share Christ’s love, as St. Josemaría did.
Ask for trust in God’s plan for your life.
Seek healing for spiritual or emotional struggles.
Pray for eternal life, guided by St. Josemaría’s intercession.

Meditation Writeup

Meditation on St. Josemaría Escrivá

Find a quiet space, perhaps with an image of St. Josemaría Escrivá, often depicted with a smile, holding a cross or book. Light a candle to symbolize Christ’s light in ordinary life. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and invite God’s presence into your heart.

Picture St. Josemaría at his desk, writing The Way, or praying in a busy city, finding God in daily tasks. See him offering his work—writing, teaching, or serving—as a prayer, as he taught in Opus Dei. Imagine him presenting your intentions—work struggles, family needs, or spiritual growth—to Jesus through Mary, saying, “All yours!”

Meditate on Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Reflect on your daily life—your job, chores, or relationships. Offer them to St. Josemaría, trusting his intercession to make them holy. Visualize him with Mary, both guiding you to Jesus in the Eucharist, the center of his life.

Slowly pray: “St. Josemaría Escrivá, pray for us.” Thank him for his intercession. Rest in his joyful presence, confident that he helps you find God in every moment, leading to holiness.