About this novena
Saint Catherine Labouré was a Daughter of Charity associated with the Marian apparitions of 1830 and the Miraculous Medal. Her life also included decades of care for older people and others in need. This nine-day community companion is newly written for Prayers and Reflections, not a transcription of an established novena or an officially approved liturgical text. The linked Daughters of Charity biography supplies historical background, not the words of these prayers. We ask her intercession while directing our worship and trust to God. Pray one day each day for nine days. No particular outcome is guaranteed.
The guided companion follows the St. Vincent novena’s six sections. The nine-day Scripture cycle follows the St. Vincent companion. Scripture, reflection, intentions and thanksgiving are companion additions; the devotional prayer text is preserved. Scripture readings use the public-domain Douay-Rheims Bible. Added community prayers and reflections are original devotional texts.
Prayer text
Read the full nine-day novena text
How to pray this novena
Choose one day at a time. One person reads the Prayer leader parts; everyone joins the shared responses. If praying alone, read both parts. These original site-authored community prayers are devotional additions, not a traditional novena transcription.
Opening prayer
God our Father, we gather in the name of Jesus Christ and ask the intercession of Saint Catherine Labouré. Receive the needs of our families, our neighbours, and all who have asked for our prayers.
Draw us into your presence with honest and grateful hearts. Help us listen to your word, support one another, and recognize Christ in those who need our care. May our prayer deepen our love and lead us to generous action. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Day 1 · Listening to God
Quiet prayer makes room for attention to God and to our neighbours. Silence is an invitation to listen rather than an escape from responsibility.
God of mercy, Gather our scattered thoughts and receive what we struggle to express. Help us notice the needs hidden behind familiar faces and answer your call with patient and generous hearts. Through the intercession of Saint Catherine Labouré, strengthen our faith and lead us closer to Jesus. Help us support one another with understanding, speak truth with kindness, and turn our prayer into practical love. We entrust our needs to your wisdom and goodness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Pause for silent prayer.
Let us continue together, bringing all our spoken and unspoken intentions to God.
Lord, hear our prayer and help us follow your will.
Today, let us set aside a quiet moment to listen before speaking.
Day 2 · Trust with Mary
Mary leads us toward her Son. Seeking her intercession can help us return to Christ with confidence and a willingness to follow him.
God of mercy, Deepen our trust in Jesus when fear distracts us. Through the prayers of Mary and Saint Catherine, help us receive your mercy and live our faith in choices that bring hope to others. Through the intercession of Saint Catherine Labouré, strengthen our faith and lead us closer to Jesus. Help us support one another with understanding, speak truth with kindness, and turn our prayer into practical love. We entrust our needs to your wisdom and goodness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Pause for silent prayer.
Let us continue together, bringing all our spoken and unspoken intentions to God.
Lord, hear our prayer and help us follow your will.
Today, let us pray a Hail Mary for someone who is afraid.
Day 3 · Humility without recognition
Much faithful service happens without applause. Humility helps us value hidden work and receive correction without losing hope.
God of mercy, Release us from the need to be praised. Teach us to use our gifts honestly, acknowledge our mistakes, and honour the unseen labour that sustains our homes and communities. Through the intercession of Saint Catherine Labouré, strengthen our faith and lead us closer to Jesus. Help us support one another with understanding, speak truth with kindness, and turn our prayer into practical love. We entrust our needs to your wisdom and goodness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Pause for silent prayer.
Let us continue together, bringing all our spoken and unspoken intentions to God.
Lord, hear our prayer and help us follow your will.
Today, let us do a helpful task without seeking recognition.
Day 4 · Love for older people
Older people carry memories, gifts, and concerns that deserve our attention. Accompaniment begins with respect for each person.
God of mercy, Bless older people who live alone, those in care homes, and those who fear being forgotten. Give their caregivers wisdom and tenderness, and help us make time for friendship across generations. Through the intercession of Saint Catherine Labouré, strengthen our faith and lead us closer to Jesus. Help us support one another with understanding, speak truth with kindness, and turn our prayer into practical love. We entrust our needs to your wisdom and goodness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Pause for silent prayer.
Let us continue together, bringing all our spoken and unspoken intentions to God.
Lord, hear our prayer and help us follow your will.
Today, let us visit or call an older person and listen to their story.
Day 5 · Faithful daily work
Holiness can grow in repeated tasks. Love gives meaning to work that seems small or unnoticed.
God of mercy, Bless our daily responsibilities and everyone who works to support others. Keep us honest and attentive, and help us serve without treating any person as an inconvenience. Through the intercession of Saint Catherine Labouré, strengthen our faith and lead us closer to Jesus. Help us support one another with understanding, speak truth with kindness, and turn our prayer into practical love. We entrust our needs to your wisdom and goodness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Pause for silent prayer.
Let us continue together, bringing all our spoken and unspoken intentions to God.
Lord, hear our prayer and help us follow your will.
Today, let us complete an ordinary duty with special care.
Day 6 · Hope in suffering
We can bring grief and pain to Christ without easy explanations. Accompanying one another is a way of refusing to let suffering become isolation.
God of mercy, Comfort the bereaved, the anxious, and those living with illness. Give us the courage to stay near people in distress, seek appropriate help, and offer hope without making promises we cannot keep. Through the intercession of Saint Catherine Labouré, strengthen our faith and lead us closer to Jesus. Help us support one another with understanding, speak truth with kindness, and turn our prayer into practical love. We entrust our needs to your wisdom and goodness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Pause for silent prayer.
Let us continue together, bringing all our spoken and unspoken intentions to God.
Lord, hear our prayer and help us follow your will.
Today, let us offer companionship to someone who is grieving.
Day 7 · The Miraculous Medal and Christian life
The medal is a sacramental sign that invites prayer and trust in God through Mary’s intercession. It is not a charm or a guarantee of protection from every hardship.
God of mercy, Help us approach this devotion with faith rather than superstition. May its reminder of Mary turn our attention to Jesus, to the sacraments, and to a life of repentance and charity. Through the intercession of Saint Catherine Labouré, strengthen our faith and lead us closer to Jesus. Help us support one another with understanding, speak truth with kindness, and turn our prayer into practical love. We entrust our needs to your wisdom and goodness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Pause for silent prayer.
Let us continue together, bringing all our spoken and unspoken intentions to God.
Lord, hear our prayer and help us follow your will.
Today, let us let a familiar devotional sign prompt an act of charity.
Day 8 · Peace in our community
Peace grows through truthful words, patient listening, and just action. Prayer can help us resist gossip and hostility.
God of mercy, Heal resentment in our families and communities. Protect those who are harmed, give courage to those seeking justice, and teach us to disagree without denying another person’s dignity. Through the intercession of Saint Catherine Labouré, strengthen our faith and lead us closer to Jesus. Help us support one another with understanding, speak truth with kindness, and turn our prayer into practical love. We entrust our needs to your wisdom and goodness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Pause for silent prayer.
Let us continue together, bringing all our spoken and unspoken intentions to God.
Lord, hear our prayer and help us follow your will.
Today, let us replace a critical remark with a constructive conversation.
Day 9 · Perseverance in quiet faith
A faithful life is formed over many ordinary days. Our prayer continues in the way we welcome and care for people.
God of mercy, Receive our intentions and thanksgiving at the close of this novena. Keep us close to Christ, attentive to Mary’s example, and ready to serve those whose needs are easily overlooked. Through the intercession of Saint Catherine Labouré, strengthen our faith and lead us closer to Jesus. Help us support one another with understanding, speak truth with kindness, and turn our prayer into practical love. We entrust our needs to your wisdom and goodness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Pause for silent prayer.
Let us continue together, bringing all our spoken and unspoken intentions to God.
Lord, hear our prayer and help us follow your will.
Today, let us choose one habit of prayer and service to keep.
Closing prayer
Saint Catherine Labouré, pray for us.
Father of mercy, thank you for this time together and for every person who accompanies us in faith. Receive what remains unfinished in our hearts. Help us return to our homes and responsibilities with patience, courage, and compassion. Keep our prayer alive in faithful service, and draw us closer to your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.