St. John of the Cross Novena Prayer Patron Saint of Contemplatives, Mystics and Spanish Poets
St. John of the Cross Novena All 9 Days.
| Novena | St. John of the Cross Novena |
| Novena Begins | December 5 |
| Feast Day | December 14 |
| Patron Saint of | Contemplatives, Mystics and Spanish Poets |
About St. John of the Cross
John is a saint because his life was a heroic effort to live up to his name: “of the Cross.” The folly of the cross came to full realization in time. “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34b) is the story of John’s life. The Paschal Mystery—through death to life—strongly marks John as reformer, mystic-poet, and theologian-priest.
Ordained a Carmelite priest in 1567 at age 25, John met Teresa of Avila and like her, vowed himself to the primitive Rule of the Carmelites. As partner with Teresa and in his own right, John engaged in the work of reform, and came to experience the price of reform: increasing opposition, misunderstanding, persecution, imprisonment. He came to know the cross acutely—to experience the dying of Jesus—as he sat month after month in his dark, damp, narrow cell with only his God.
Yet, the paradox! In this dying of imprisonment John came to life, uttering poetry. In the darkness of the dungeon, John’s spirit came into the Light. There are many mystics, many poets; John is unique as mystic-poet, expressing in his prison-cross the ecstasy of mystical union with God in the Spiritual Canticle.
But as agony leads to ecstasy, so John had his Ascent to Mt. Carmel, as he named it in his prose masterpiece. As man-Christian-Carmelite, he experienced in himself this purifying ascent; as spiritual director, he sensed it in others; as psychologist-theologian, he described and analyzed it in his prose writings. His prose works are outstanding in underscoring the cost of discipleship, the path of union with God: rigorous discipline, abandonment, purification. Uniquely and strongly John underlines the gospel paradox: The cross leads to resurrection, agony to ecstasy, darkness to light, abandonment to possession, denial to self to union with God. If you want to save your life, you must lose it. John is truly “of the Cross.” He died at 49—a life short, but full.
St. John of the Cross Novena Day 1
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Almighty Father, you endowed John of the Cross with a spirit of self-denial and a love of the Cross. By following his example, may we come to the eternal vision of your glory.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen
(Mention your request here…)
St. John of the Cross, pray for us.
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
St. John of the Cross Novena Day 2
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Almighty Father, you endowed John of the Cross with a spirit of self-denial and a love of the Cross. By following his example, may we come to the eternal vision of your glory.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen
(Mention your request here…)
St. John of the Cross, pray for us.
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
St. John of the Cross Novena Day 3
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Almighty Father, you endowed John of the Cross with a spirit of self-denial and a love of the Cross. By following his example, may we come to the eternal vision of your glory.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen
(Mention your request here…)
St. John of the Cross, pray for us.
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
St. John of the Cross Novena Day 4
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Almighty Father, you endowed John of the Cross with a spirit of self-denial and a love of the Cross. By following his example, may we come to the eternal vision of your glory.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen
(Mention your request here…)
St. John of the Cross, pray for us.
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
St. John of the Cross Novena Day 5
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Almighty Father, you endowed John of the Cross with a spirit of self-denial and a love of the Cross. By following his example, may we come to the eternal vision of your glory.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen
(Mention your request here…)
St. John of the Cross, pray for us.
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
St. John of the Cross Novena Day 6
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Almighty Father, you endowed John of the Cross with a spirit of self-denial and a love of the Cross. By following his example, may we come to the eternal vision of your glory.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen
(Mention your request here…)
St. John of the Cross, pray for us.
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
St. John of the Cross Novena Day 7
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Almighty Father, you endowed John of the Cross with a spirit of self-denial and a love of the Cross. By following his example, may we come to the eternal vision of your glory.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen
(Mention your request here…)
St. John of the Cross, pray for us.
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
St. John of the Cross Novena Day 8
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Almighty Father, you endowed John of the Cross with a spirit of self-denial and a love of the Cross. By following his example, may we come to the eternal vision of your glory.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen
(Mention your request here…)
St. John of the Cross, pray for us.
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
St. John of the Cross Novena Day 9
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Almighty Father, you endowed John of the Cross with a spirit of self-denial and a love of the Cross. By following his example, may we come to the eternal vision of your glory.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen
(Mention your request here…)
St. John of the Cross, pray for us.
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Prayer to St. John of the Cross
O Blessed Jesus, grant me stillness of soul in Thee. Let Thy mighty calmness reign in me. Rule me, O thou King of gentleness, King of peace. Give me control, control over my words, thoughts and actions. From all irritability, want of meekness, want of gentleness, O dear Lord, deliver me. By thine own deep patience give me patience, stillness of soul in Thee. Make me in this, and in all, more and more like Thee. Amen.
Thanks for reading St. John of the Cross Novena. Read Also other December Novenas.