Prayer was the foundation of Saint Katharine’s missionary life. She knew that no work done for Christ could bear lasting fruit without first being rooted in Him. The Shrine invites you to join in prayer and to ask Saint Katharine to intercede for your needs and for the needs of the Church and world.
Thursday Perpetual Novena
Each Thursday, following the 7:15 a.m. and 12:05 p.m. Masses, the Shrine prays a Perpetual Novena to Saint Katharine Drexel. Thursday is traditionally associated with the Holy Eucharist, making it especially fitting for this devotion to a saint whose life and mission were rooted in the Blessed Sacrament. You are welcome to pray the Thursday Novena at any time, wherever you are.
Let us pray. All praise and thanks to the Most Blessed Trinity, the Father and Son and Holy Spirit. We honor you when we acclaim all those who share your life in eternal glory, our Mother Mary, all the angels and saints. We come before you, Father, in your Holy Spirit, as we follow the way of your Son, Jesus, to ask the heavenly aid of Saint Katharine Drexel. Her sacred relics in this Mother Church remind us that she is numbered among the Saints in heaven. Your divine grace led Saint Katharine Drexel to give herself completely over to your service in the Church in imitation of the poor Savior, attending to the least, as a virgin foundress and a laborer for the justice of the Gospel. Her strength, virtue and fortitude came from her unwavering devotion to the Mystery of the Most Holy Eucharist, the Blessed Sacrament. Hear us now, we pray, as we bring to you our many prayers, petitions and intentions through the intercession of Saint Katharine Drexel. Pause for the silent mention of prayers, petitions and intentions. O holy and Triune God, our faith fills us with confidence as we bring our many needs to you, trusting in the unfailing assistance of those in your everlasting company, most especially our Philadelphia Saint. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. |
Solemn Novena
Each year, the Shrine prepares for the Feast of Saint Katharine Drexel with a Solemn Novena. The Novena begins on February 22 and concludes on March 2, leading into her feast day on March 3.
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