Blessed Imelda Novena
Contents
Show HideBlessed Imelda was a young girl who lived in Italy. She lived during the 1300s for only eleven years. During her short life, she became very holy.
Blessed Imelda was known for her deep devotion to the Eucharist. You can use this novena to seek intercession from this holy child in your life!
About Blessed Imelda
Blessed Imelda was born in Bologna, Italy, in 1322. She was the only child of her parents. Her father was a count, and her parents were well-known for their charity towards those in need.
From the time she was a very young child, Imelda was very pious. Praying made her very happy, and she made a small oratory for prayer at home. She developed a deep love for the Eucharist. She would often ask, “Can anyone receive Jesus into their heart and not die?”
When Imelda turned five years old, she asked to be able to receive the Eucharist. But in the 1300s, it was the standard for children to wait until they were around twelve to make their First Holy Communion.
Imelda also visited a nearby Dominican convent very frequently. She enjoyed praying the Liturgy of the Hours with the nuns in the convent.
When Imelda was nine, she asked to stay in the convent so that she could be educated and trained by the nuns. Soon, Imelda was loved by all the nuns as she zealously entered into every aspect of the convent’s religious practices. She also continued requesting to receive the Eucharist, but she was denied because she was still too young.
In 1333 when she was eleven years old, Imelda requested to receive the Eucharist on the feast of the Ascension. She was denied again because she was still too young. Each time she was denied, her love for the Eucharist and her desire to receive Jesus increased.
On the evening before the feast of the Ascension, Imelda and the nuns of the convent attended a vigil Mass for the feast. After all of the nuns had received Communion, Imelda was kneeling in prayer in front of the closed tabernacle.
Some say that the nuns were drawn back to the chapel as they were leaving because they smelled the scent of roses. Other accounts say that a bright light caught the nuns’ attention. The nuns then saw a consecrated Host in the air above Imelda’s head.
The chaplain saw this miracle as a sure sign that God wished Imelda to receive Him in the Eucharist. The chaplain gave the Host to Imelda as her First Holy Communion.
After receiving, Imelda knelt to pray and entered into an ecstatic state. When the nuns returned for her, they found that she was dead. She had died out of love and joy after receiving Jesus.
Blessed Imelda’s Feast Day: May 13th
Why Pray the Blessed Imelda Novena?
Blessed Imelda is the patron saint of First Communicants. You can ask her to pray for someone you know who is about to make their First Holy Communion. You can also ask her to pray for you if you are preparing to make your own First Holy Communion.
Blessed Imelda is also a great saint to seek prayers from if you are striving to grow in reverence and love for the Eucharist in your life. Or you can ask her to pray for others whom you know, that they might grow in their love and reverence for the Eucharist.
You can pray the Blessed Imelda Novena for any intention!
Blessed Imelda Novena Prayers
Blessed Imelda Novena - Day 1
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Blessed Imelda as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You she showed from the time she was a young child.
Blessed Imelda, you grew up in a holy family life. Your parents were known for their charity towards those in need, and you began on the path to great holiness while you were in their care.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you began to serve in your childhood!
Your childhood was marked by pious practices, love of prayer, and the deep desire to be united to Jesus in the reception of Holy Communion. You continued on this holy path for the rest of your short life.
Pray for me, that I may be as eager to be united to God as you were. Pray that I may grow in love for God each day.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
Blessed Imelda, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Blessed Imelda Novena - Day 2
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Blessed Imelda as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You she showed through her deep love of prayer.
Blessed Imelda, your childhood was a very holy one as you began on the path to deep unity with God. You were known to be pious, and your prayer life made you very happy.
Please bring my petitions before God in Whom you took such joy!
You made a small oratory for prayer at home, and you developed a deep love for the Eucharist. You continued to grow in love for Our Eucharistic Lord throughout the rest of your short life.
Pray for me, that I may grow to take joy in prayer each day. Pray that I may love God more and may take greater joy in conversing with Him.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
Blessed Imelda, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Blessed Imelda Novena - Day 3
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Blessed Imelda as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You she showed in her deep longing to receive the Eucharist.
Blessed Imelda, you began asking to receive Christ in the Eucharist when you were five years old. Though the custom of the time was for children to receive First Holy Communion at age twelve, your love for Jesus compelled you to continue asking to receive.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you loved so deeply!
Your longing for Our Eucharistic Lord was finally fulfilled through the miraculous appearance of a Host above your head. When you received the Eucharist, you died out of love and joy.
Pray for me, that I may grow in love and reverence for the Eucharist each day. Pray that I may never take the gift of Christ’s Body and Blood for granted in my life.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
Blessed Imelda, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Blessed Imelda Novena - Day 4
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Blessed Imelda as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the deep love of You she showed in her devotion to the Eucharist.
Blessed Imelda, you longed to receive Jesus in the Eucharist from the time you were a very young child. You must have known what a magnificent grace it is to receive the Eucharist.
Please bring my petitions before Christ Whom you longed to receive!
You continued asking to receive the Eucharist from the time you were five until you were eleven. When you received Our Eucharistic Lord at long last, you died out of love and joy.
Pray for me, that I may always have the deepest reverence and respect for the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Pray that I may grow in appreciation for the gift of the Eucharist each day.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
Blessed Imelda, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Blessed Imelda Novena - Day 5
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Blessed Imelda as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You she showed in her deep longing to receive Your Body and Blood.
Blessed Imelda, you were eager to receive the Eucharist from the time you were five years old. Though you were denied your request because of your young age, you persevered in asking to receive.
Please persevere in bringing my petitions before God!
You were finally granted the privilege of receiving the Eucharist when a Host was seen miraculously floating above your head. After receiving, you entered an ecstatic state and died out of joy and love.
Pray for me, that I may always be adequately prepared to receive Our Eucharistic Lord. Pray that I may grow in love for the Eucharist each time I receive.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
Blessed Imelda, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Blessed Imelda Novena - Day 6
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Blessed Imelda as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You she showed in her desire to serve You in the convent.
Blessed Imelda, you were a holy and pious child, longing to serve God as wholeheartedly as possible from the time you were very young.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you served so wholeheartedly!
At your request, you were placed into a Dominican convent when you were nine years old. Despite your young age, you entered zealously into the religious practices of the convent, doing all you could to grow in holiness.
Pray for me, that I may be as eager to serve God as you were. Pray that I may be eager to devote myself to God in whatever ways He might call me to.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
Blessed Imelda, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Blessed Imelda Novena - Day 7
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Blessed Imelda as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You she showed as she began to live out the Dominican nuns’ way of life in their convent.
Blessed Imelda, you often visited a nearby Dominican convent when you were a small child. You enjoyed praying the Liturgy of the Hours with the nuns, and you began to desire to serve God along with them.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you longed to serve!
You requested to live in the Dominincan convent when you were nine years old, so that the nuns could educate and train you. You lived out the rest of your short life with them.
Pray for me, that I may be as devoted a servant of God as you were. Pray that I may always be eager to follow God’s call in my life.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
Blessed Imelda, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Blessed Imelda Novena - Day 8
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Blessed Imelda as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You she showed by requesting to live in a convent as a small child.
Blessed Imelda, you longed to be united to Christ as closely as possible. Though you were still a small child, you asked to live as a religious sister with the nuns at a nearby convent.
Please continue to bring my petitions before the throne of God!
You entered zealously into every aspect of the religious practices in the convent. You continued seeking permission to receive Jesus in the Eucharist until you were finally able to be united with Him in this way.
Pray for me, that I may be as eager to serve God as you were. Pray that I may never weary of seeking to grow in holiness.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
Blessed Imelda, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Blessed Imelda Novena - Day 9
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Blessed Imelda as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You she showed throughout her short life, until she died out of love and joy.
Blessed Imelda, you longed to receive the Eucharist from the time you were a very young child. You continued asking for permission to receive the Eucharist for several years.
Please continue to bring my petitions before God!
When you were eleven years old, a Host miraculously appeared floating above your head. The miracle showed all that God wished to unite Himself to you in Holy Communion. When you received, you died out of love and joy.
Pray for me, that I may die a holy death. Pray that I may live worthily and be ready to die whenever God should end my life.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
Blessed Imelda, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.