Miraculous Novena of Grace – Saint Francis Xavier
The Miraculous Novena of Grace is one of the most beloved devotions in honor of Saint Francis Xavier, the great Jesuit missionary who brought the Gospel to India, Japan, and other parts of Asia during the 16th century.
This powerful novena traces its origin to Naples, Italy, in December 1633, when the Venerable Father Marcello Mastrilli, S.J., a devout Jesuit priest, was near death after a serious accident. While he lay suffering, Saint Francis Xavier appeared to him and promised that all who sincerely sought his intercession through this novena — from November 25 to December 3, the day of his feast — would receive extraordinary graces from God.
Father Mastrilli was instantly cured through the saint’s intercession. He later went on to fulfill his missionary calling and died a martyr in Japan. From that moment on, devotion to Saint Francis Xavier under the title of the Miraculous Novena of Grace spread rapidly throughout Europe and eventually around the world.
The faithful have prayed this novena for centuries, seeking spiritual renewal, healing, and conversion of heart. Countless miracles have been attributed to those who prayed it with faith and trust in God’s will.
How to Pray the Novena
- Pray this novena daily from November 25 to December 3.
- After the main prayer, add 3 Our Fathers and 3 Hail Marys.
- Say Glory be to the Father 10 times in thanksgiving for the graces received.
Prayer to Saint Francis Xavier
Most amiable and most loving Saint Francis Xavier,
in union with thee I reverently adore
the Divine Majesty.
I rejoice exceedingly on account of the
marvelous gifts which God bestowed upon thee.
I thank God for the special graces He gave
thee during thy life on earth and for the great
glory that came to thee after thy death.
I implore thee to obtain for me,
through thy powerful intercession,
the greatest of all blessings – that of living
and dying in the state of grace.
I also beg of thee to secure for me the
special favor I ask in this novena.
(Here you may mention the grace,
spiritual or temporal,
that you wish to obtain.)
In asking this favor,
I am fully resigned to the Divine Will.
I pray and desire only to obtain
that which is most conducive to the greater
glory of God and the greater good of my soul.
V. Pray for us,
Saint Francis Xavier.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises
of Christ.
O God,
Who didst vouchsafe,
by the preaching and miracles of Saint Francis Xavier,
to join unto Thy Church the nations of the Indies,
grant,
we beseech Thee,
that we who reverence his
glorious merits may also imitate his example,
through Jesus Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
Then add 3 Our Father’s and 3 Hail Mary’s in
memory of Saint Francis Xavier’s devotion to the Most Holy Trinity,
and Glory be to the Father 10 times in thanksgiving
for the graces received during his 10 years of apostleship.
Encouragement for Devotees
Saint Francis Xavier continues to intercede for those who pray with faith and devotion. Through this novena, believers seek spiritual renewal, healing, and guidance, trusting in God’s infinite mercy and the powerful intercession of this great missionary saint.
Related Novenas and Devotions
- Novena to Saint Peregrine – 9 Days of Prayer for Healing
Pray for strength, comfort, and healing through the intercession of Saint Peregrine, patron saint of cancer patients. - Novena to Padre Pio – 9 Powerful Days of Prayer and Intercession
Seek guidance, healing, and spiritual support from the beloved Capuchin saint. - All Souls Novena – 9 Days of Prayer for the Faithful Departed
Pray for the souls in purgatory and ask God’s mercy on their journey to heaven. - Novena to Saint Jude – 9 Days for Impossible Causes
Turn to Saint Jude in times of desperation and hope for divine assistance in difficult situations. - Novena to Saint Monica – 9 Days of Prayer for Family and Children’s Conversion
Pray for the conversion of loved ones and for family peace through Saint Monica’s intercession.
