St. Benedict Joseph Labre Novena
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Show HideSt. Benedict Joseph Labre was a French saint. He lived in the 1700s. He was a member of the Third Order of St. Francis.
St. Benedict Joseph Labre lived a life of great virtue. You can use this novena to seek intercession from this holy Franciscan Tertiary in many aspects of your life.
About St. Benedict Joseph Labre
St. Benedict Joseph Labre was born in 1748 in northern France. His father was a shopkeeper. Benedict was the oldest child, and he had fourteen younger siblings.
During Benedict’s childhood, he had an uncle who was a parish priest. His uncle agreed to educate Benedict and prepare him for the priesthood.
When Benedict was sixteen years old, he told his uncle that he wanted to become a Trappist monk. Benedict’s parents objected to this and told him he must wait until he was older.
Two years later, an epidemic spread throughout their city. While his uncle cared for the sick and dying, Benedict worked to tend the cattle of those who had fallen ill. Near the end of the epidemic, Benedict’s uncle died.
After the death of his uncle, Benedict traveled to a Trappist monastery. But he was not allowed to enter the order, as he was too young and seemed too delicate. Benedict attempted to enter the Carthusians, but a postulancy period of about six weeks showed the superiors that he was not called to a vocation there.
Benedict next attempted to enter the Cistercians, but he began to have serious health problems. It became clear that Cistercian life was not his vocation either.
As Benedict attempted to discern his true vocation, he turned to the examples of St. Alexius of Rome and St. Roch. He felt God calling him to live penitentially and devoutly. He joined the Third Order of St. Francis and began a life of pilgrimage and poverty.
Benedict’s first pilgrimage was to Rome. He lived on only the food he could get through begging. He then made pilgrimages to most of the major shrines throughout Europe. He traveled barefoot and often slept outside. HIs clothes were ragged. He often shared the little he received from begging with others who were in need.
Benedict was known to quietly accept any abuse he received. He had a deep prayer life, with a particular devotion to Eucharistic Adoration. He would often swoon while meditating on the Crowning with Thorns. He sometimes levitated and bilocated. It is also believed that God worked through him to heal some of the homeless people he met and to multiply food for them.
Benedict lived the last years of his life in Rome. He became known as the saint of the Forty Hours because of his devotion to Eucharistic Adoration.
In Holy Week of 1783, Benedict died of exhaustion and malnutrition.
St. Benedict Joseph Labre’s Feast Day: April 16th
Why Pray the St. Benedict Joseph Labre Novena?
St. Benedict Joseph Labre is the patron saint of homeless people. You can pray the St. Benedict Joseph Labre Novena if you are homeless, or you can pray it for a homeless person you know. You can also pray the St. Benedict Joseph Labre Novena if you work ministering to homeless people, or you can pray it to seek his intercession for a group of homeless people.
St. Benedict Joseph Labre is also the patron saint of those suffering from mental illness. You can pray this novena to seek St. Benedict Joseph Labre’s intercession if you are suffering from a mental illness, or you can pray it for someone you know who is suffering from a mental illness.
You can pray the St. Benedict Joseph Labre Novena for any intention!
St. Benedict Joseph Labre Novena Prayers
St. Benedict Joseph Labre Novena - Day 1
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You and praise You for giving us St. Benedict Joseph Labre as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Benedict, you grew up in a large Catholic family. Your uncle helped educate you and prepared you for your future vocation. Because of your family, you began on the path to holiness. You continued to serve God for the rest of your life.
Please take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that all families may be full of holiness and love.
Pray for us, that we may do all we can to serve God faithfully each day. Pray that we may always strive to grow closer to God in every circumstance.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Benedict Joseph Labre, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Benedict Joseph Labre Novena - Day 2
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You and praise You for giving us St. Benedict Joseph Labre as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Benedict, as a child you began to prepare for a life of serving God. You studied and prepared for your future vocation under the guidance of your priest uncle. You spent the rest of your life on the path to holiness.
Please take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that all children may receive the love and formation they need.
Pray for us, that we may grow in virtue and holiness at every opportunity. Pray that we may truly strive to live saintly lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Benedict Joseph Labre, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Benedict Joseph Labre Novena - Day 3
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You and praise You for giving us St. Benedict Joseph Labre as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Benedict, from the time you were young, you desired to serve God as a priest. Though it eventually became clear that the priesthood was not your vocation, you persevered in serving God faithfully.
Please take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may inspire more men and women to serve Him in the religious and priestly vocations.
Pray for us, that we may always be open to serving God in whatever ways He calls us to. Pray that we may always put our relationship with God above all else.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Benedict Joseph Labre, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Benedict Joseph Labre Novena - Day 4
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You and praise You for giving us St. Benedict Joseph Labre as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Benedict, you wanted to become a Trappist monk when you were sixteen years old. But you were refused entry to the Trappists, the Carthusians, and the Cistercians. You discerned further and eventually joined the Third Order of St. Francis.
Please take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God will assist and bless all who are struggling to discern their vocations.
Pray for us, that we may always be open to doing God’s will. Pray that we may do all we can to serve God faithfully, even in the midst of difficulties.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Benedict Joseph Labre, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Benedict Joseph Labre Novena - Day 5
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You and praise You for giving us St. Benedict Joseph Labre as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Benedict, you desired to devote your life to God in the monastic life. But when it became clear that this was not your vocation, you became a Franciscan Tertiary. You served God faithfully as a Franciscan Tertiary for the rest of your life.
Please take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God will bless all Franciscan Tertiaries.
Pray for us, that we may always offer all that we do to God each day. Pray that we may grow closer to God in every opportunity He gives us.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Benedict Joseph Labre, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Benedict Joseph Labre Novena - Day 6
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You and praise You for giving us St. Benedict Joseph Labre as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Benedict, you felt God calling you to live penitentially and devoutly. You became a Franciscan Tertiary and devoted yourself to a life of poverty. You served God in poverty for the rest of your life.
Please take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that we may grow in a holy spirit of poverty.
Pray for us, that we may grow in every virtue we need for holiness. Pray that we may do all we can to grow closer to God each day of our lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Benedict Joseph Labre, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Benedict Joseph Labre Novena - Day 7
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You and praise You for giving us St. Benedict Joseph Labre as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Benedict, you felt God calling you to serve Him as a pilgrim. After joining the Third Order of St. Francis, you began a life of pilgrimage. You served God in poverty, as a pilgrim, for the rest of your life.
Please take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God will bless and assist all pilgrims.
Pray for us, that we may always be eager to serve God in whatever ways He calls us to. Pray that we may serve God faithfully in every circumstance.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Benedict Joseph Labre, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Benedict Joseph Labre Novena - Day 8
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You and praise You for giving us St. Benedict Joseph Labre as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Benedict, you had a deep love for our Eucharistic Lord. During your time as a Franciscan Tertiary, you were very devoted to Eucharistic Adoration. You were eventually known as the saint of the Forty Hours because of your devotion to the Eucharist.
Please take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that we and all people will grow in devotion to the Eucharist.
Pray for us, that we may always make use of all the helps God gives us for our salvation. Pray that we may put our relationship with God above all else in life.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Benedict Joseph Labre, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.