St. Basil the Great Novena
Contents
Show HideSt. Basil the Great was a bishop and theologian. He lived in the 300s, in what is now Turkey. He did a lot in the fight against the early heresies. St. Basil also contributed to the establishment of monastic life in the Church.
You can use this novena to ask for intercession from this holy bishop!
About St. Basil the Great
St. Basil the Great was born in 330 to pious parents in Cappadocia. His maternal grandfather was an early Christian martyr, and his parents were St. Basil the Elder and St. Emmelia. He had nine siblings, and several of them have been canonized as well.
Basil was educated in Caesarea, Constantinople, and Athens. During his school years, he became acquainted with St. Gregory of Nazianzus. In 356, Basil left Athens and traveled through Egypt and Syria. Then, he returned to Caesarea to practice law and teach rhetoric.
Soon, Basil met a bishop named Eustathius of Sebaste. This acquaintance helped bring Basil to a deeper conversion, and he decided to leave behind his career in order to devote his life to God.
Basil began studying monasticism and asceticism. Then, he gave away his possessions and money to the poor. He spent some time as a hermit but realized he was not called to live in solitude.
In 358, Basil gathered a group of men (including his brother Peter) to establish a monastic community. Here, Basil wrote a famous monastic rule which would become significant in the formation of monastic life within the Church. He went on to establish several other monasteries.
In 360, Basil attended the Council of Constantinople, which addressed some heresies that were rising within the Church. Soon, Basil was ordained to the priesthood and began combating the Arian heresy with his friend St. Gregory of Nazianzus.
Basil and Gregory challenged Arian theologians to a series of public debates. Basil and Gregory won these debates. Basil made great contributions to the triumph of Christianity over the Arian heresy in the East.
In 370, Basil became the bishop of Caesarea. As bishop, he became known for charitable work among the poor. He worked to convert thieves and prostitutes, and he excommunicated those who were involved in traffic of prostitution in Cappadocia.
As a bishop, Basil also encouraged the clergy to work for personal holiness. He personally ensured that candidates for the priesthood were worthy of the office.
In addition, he built a poorhouse, hospital, and hospice in a complex near the city. This institute became a monument to his care for the poor.
He also preached every morning and evening in his own church. He became known as one of the great orators of the early Church. He was a prolific theological writer as well, and he contributed to the writing of many liturgical prayers. He was named a Doctor of the Church.
St. Basil the Great’s Feast Day: January 2nd
Why Pray the St. Basil the Great Novena?
St. Basil the Great is the patron saint of hospital administrators. You can ask for his prayers if you work in hospital administration.
He is also the patron saint of monks and liturgists. You can seek his prayers if you are a monk or a liturgist, or for someone you know who is a monk or a liturgist.
St. Basil the Great is also a patron saint of exorcism. You ask for his intercession if you or someone you know is undergoing an exorcism, or for an exorcist you know.
You can pray the St. Basil the Great Novena for any intention!
St. Basil the Great Novena Prayers
St. Basil the Great 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 St. Basil the Great as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You that marked his whole life, beginning from his childhood among his pious family members.
St. Basil, you began your path to sainthood in a pious family. You were a descendent of a martyr, and your siblings went on to live saintly lives as well.
Please bring my petitions before the throne of God!
You continued on the path to holiness that began in your childhood. You went on to become a monk, a priest, and a bishop. You made great contributions to the Church throughout the rest of your life.
Pray for me, that I may remain on the path to holiness throughout my life, as you did. Pray that I may be eager to give my life to serving God.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Basil the Great, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Basil the Great 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 St. Basil the Great as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed throughout his work with St. Gregory in service of the Church.
St. Basil, you became acquainted with St. Gregory of Nazianzus during your school years in Caesarea. Your friendship with this saint would remain strong throughout your years of faithful service to God.
Please be faithful in bringing my petitions before God Whom you served!
Along with St. Gregory, you challenged Arian theologians to public debate, and the two of you bested these Arian heretics in debate. You continued to fight against this heresy for the good of the Church.
Pray for me, that I may always recognize the gift of holy friends You put into my life. Pray that I may also work for the holiness of those around me.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Basil the Great, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Basil the Great 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 St. Basil the Great as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You he showed in choosing to serve You as a monk, priest, and bishop.
St. Basil, you felt called to devote your life to God from the time you were a young man. You chose to leave behind your career in order to serve God in a more wholehearted way.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you served so wholeheartedly!
You established monasteries and wrote a monastic rule. Then, you were ordained a priest and eventually a bishop. You continually worked to serve God in the ways He put before you.
Pray for me, that I may be as eager to serve God in my life as you were. Pray that I may always be open to doing whatever He might call me to do.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Basil the Great, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Basil the Great 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 St. Basil the Great as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue he showed in his deep charity toward the poor.
St. Basil, you were eager to leave behind your life in the world, in order to follow God more devotedly. As you began pursuing your religious vocation, you gave away your belongings and your money to the poor, out of love for God.
Please bring my petitions before the throne of God!
When you became a bishop, you continued your charitable work toward the poor. You even built a complex devoted to care for the poor, and you were well-known for your charity by all.
Pray for me, that I may always be ready to care for the poor around me in my life. Pray that I may be eager to practice charity, for the love of God.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Basil the Great, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Basil the Great 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 St. Basil the Great as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in his practice of monastic life.
St. Basil, you left behind your worldly career in order to devote your life to serving God. You studied monasticism and established a monastic community, striving to serve God and answer His call faithfully.
Please bring my petitions before God with such faithfulness!
You wrote a monastic rule that contributed greatly to the formation of monastic life within the Church. You also established several other monasteries, so that others might be able to serve God in this way.
Pray for me, that I may be faithful to the path God calls me to follow in my life. Pray that I may always be open to serving Him in new and radical ways.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Basil the Great, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Basil the Great 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 St. Basil the Great as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You he showed in choosing to serve You in the priesthood.
St. Basil, you were ordained to the priesthood in a time when there were many enemies of the Church’s true doctrine. But you were ready and willing to do all you could to combat heresy and serve God by bringing souls back to Him.
Please continue to bring my petitions before God Whom you served!
Together with your friend, St. Gregory of Nazianzus, you worked to restore unity within the Church. You combated the Arian heresy in every way you could, for the love of God.
Pray for me, that I may always seek to serve God and His Church in my life. Pray that I may respond to His call to combat the evil around me.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Basil the Great, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Basil the Great 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 St. Basil the Great as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed throughout his years of holy service as a bishop.
St. Basil, you became bishop of Caesarea after contributing a lot to the Church’s triumph over the Arian heresy. As a bishop, you continued serving the Church in every way you could.
Please continue to bring my petitions before God!
You worked to bring thieves and prostitutes to conversion, and you had no tolerance for evil or corruption among your flock. You encouraged your clergy to be holy, and you were tireless in your work for the poor among your people.
Pray for me, that I may carry out the duties of my state in life as faithfully as you did. Pray that I may always be eager to serve God in the ways He calls me to serve Him.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Basil the Great, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Basil the Great 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 St. Basil the Great as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You he showed in his great work of preaching.
St. Basil, you preached every morning and evening in your own church when you were a bishop. Despite many other duties and demands for your time, you persisted in the holy work of preaching to your flock.
Please persist in bringing my petitions before God!
You became known as one of the great orators of the early Church. Today, you are known as one of the Doctors of the Church because of the great work you did through your preaching and writings.
Pray for me, that I may always seek to preach the Gospel to others in my life. Pray that I may never tire of working to bring others to God.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Basil the Great, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Basil the Great 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 St. Basil the Great as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in his tireless service to Your Church.
St. Basil, you spent most of your life serving the Church as a monk, priest, and bishop. Your steadfastness in fighting heresy helped preserve Church unity and bring souls to God.
Please bring my petitions before God with such steadfastness!
As a bishop, you worked for reform in your diocese, and you encouraged your flock to strive for greater holiness. The many theological writings you contributed to the Church are still read even today.
Pray for me, that I may always be eager to serve the Church. Pray that I may never miss the opportunity to answer God’s call to service.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Basil the Great, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.