Novena to St. John of the Cross
December 14 is a great Solemnity for us Carmelites as we celebrate St. John of the Cross, Carmelite priest, reformer with St. Teresa of Avila, Spanish poet, and doctor of the Church, “Doctor of Mystical Theology”. From the St. John of the Cross, we learn how to attain a deep union with God through the soul’s journey of prayer, solitude, and suffering that opens our hearts to the fire of Divine Love. Join us in praying this novena! May our hearts burn with a living flame of love for our Lord!
Novena to St. John of the Cross
To be prayed daily from December 5–13. Adapted from Carmelite Sisters’ Manual of Prayer
O my loving Father, St. John of the Cross, obtain for me the grace of perfect abandonment to the holy will of God, that placing all my joy and hope in the Passion of my Savior, I may at last rest eternally with you in His glory. Obtain for me also the special grace I ask during this novena if it be for the glory of God and for my salvation
(Here make your petition)
Great St. John of the Cross, model of patience and heroic generosity, who for the glory of God and for the propagation of the holy reform of Carmel, endured so many trials, and undertook such heavy labors, finding, as did St. Paul, your joy in opprobrium, obtain from our Lord for me the grace of unalterable patience in adversity, that I may thereby glorify God, cleanse my soul of every stain, advance in the practice of solid virtue and obtain at last the crown promised to those who suffer for the love of God. Amen
Novena Daily Meditations
Kindly click on the photo for daily meditation.
Novena | Day 1 (December 5)
“Where there is no love, put love, and you will draw out love.”
–St. John of the Cross
My glorious father St. John of the Cross, pray for us to Jesus and Mary for an unwavering faith and love of the cross that nothing will be able to separate me from the love of God.
St. John of the Cross, pray for us!
Novena | Day 2 (December 6)
“Seek in reading and you will find in meditation; knock in prayer and it will be opened to you in contemplation.”
–St. John of the Cross
Dear Jesus, as you gave St. John of the Cross, enlighten us in holy meditation and contemplation to love God and desire heaven alone.
St. John of the Cross, pray for us!
Novena | Day 3 (December 7)
“What we need most in order to make progress is to be silent before this great God… for the language he best hears is silent love.”
–St. John of the Cross
Dear Jesus, through the intercession of St. John of the Cross, grant us the grace to enter into the language of loving silence.
St. John of the Cross, pray for us!
Novena | Day 4 (December 8)
“Contemplation is nothing else but a secret, peaceful, and loving infusion of God, which if admitted, will set the soul on fire with the Spirit of love.”
–St. John of the Cross
Dear Jesus, through the intercession of St. John of the Cross, draw us deeper into Your peace and love so that our souls may burn with Your Spirit of love.
St. John of the Cross, pray for us!
Novena | Day 5 (December 9)
“Strive to preserve your heart in peace; let no event of this world disturb it.”
–St. John of the Cross
Dear Jesus, as St. John of the Cross was a model of patience and peace in times of adversity, grant that we may suffer in love and, clinging to Your Cross, preserve peace within our hearts even amidst the trials of this world.
St. John of the Cross, pray for us!
Novena | Day 6 (December 10)
“In sorrow and suffering, go straight to God with confidence, and you will be strengthened, enlightened, and instructed.”
–St. John of the Cross
Dear St. John of the Cross, my protector, comfort me in my sorrows, help me to see in every cross a promise of divine mercy, and guide me to seek with confidence God’s grace and strength.
St. John of the Cross, pray for us!
Novena | Day 7 (December 11)
“And thus, when the soul rids itself totally of that which is repugnant to the Divine will and conforms not with it, it is transformed in God through love.”
–St. John of the Cross
Dear St. John of the Cross, pray to Jesus and Mary for me, that I may share in that priceless gift, a purity of heart, soul, and body, so I may be transformed by Divine Love.
St. John of the Cross, pray for us!
Novena | Day 8 (December 12)
“Faith and love will lead you along a path unknown to you, to the place where God is hidden.”
–St. John of the Cross
Dear Jesus, when the path before me is unknown and uncertain, through the intercession of St. John of the Cross, grant me a humility of heart to praise You and let you be God and Lord of my life.
St. John of the Cross, pray for us!
Novena | Day 9 (December 13)
“In the evening of life, we will be judged on love.”
–St. John of the Cross
Dear St. John of the Cross, pray for me to Jesus and Mary, that I may place all my joy and hope in the passion of my Savior and be led in the path of Divine Love until at last I may rest eternally in His glory.
St. John of the Cross, pray for us!
Happy Solemnity of St. John of the Cross!
May your heart be enflamed by the Living Flame of Love!
“O living flame of Love
That tenderly wounds my soul in its deepest center!
Since now You are not oppressive,
Now perfect me if it be your will:
Tear through the veil of this sweet encounter!
…
How gently and lovingly
You awake in my heart,
Where in secret You dwell alone;
And in your sweet breathing, filled with good and glory,
How tenderly You swell my heart with love.”
–St. John of the Cross,
excerpt from his poem, “The Living Flame of Love”