St. David Novena
Contents
Show HideSt. David was a Welsh monk, abbot, and bishop. He lived in the 6th century. St. David has been a very popular saint in Wales, with more than fifty churches dedicated to him in South Wales alone before the Protestant Reformation.
St. David is credited with helping to spread Christianity throughout Europe. You can use this novena to seek intercession from this holy bishop in your life!
About St. David
Few details about the life of St. David are known for certain. He is believed to have been born on the southwest coast of Wales, near the city known as St. David’s today. His birth year is unknown. Historians estimate that he was born between 462 and 515.
Most of the biographical material about St. David that is now in existence is from the eleventh century and is mixed with inspirational embellishments.
It is said that David was born into a family that was part of the aristocracy. Legend says that an angel appeared to St. Patrick and foretold the birth of St. David thirty years before it happened.
St. David is believed to be the son of St. Non and the grandson of a Welsh king. David is said to have been baptized by St. Elvis of Munster. Legend says that a blind monk named Movi was cured when water splashed into his eyes as he held the infant David.
As David grew older, he received his education in a monastery. St. Paulinus of Wales was his instructor. It is said that when David made the Sign of the Cross over him, his tutor was cured of blindness. St. Paulinus then sent David to work as a missionary among pagans in Britain.
David was ordained to the priesthood as a young man. He ministered in Wales, and later in England and Brittany. He is also believed to have traveled to Jerusalem and to Rome.
Around this time, he founded twelve monasteries. Life in his monasteries was simple. The monks awakened at dawn to pray. Then, they did field work around the monastery. They did not have animals to pull machinery and had to put in great effort themselves. The monks prayed as they performed this work each day.
The monks also practiced silence, ate only bread and vegetables, and drank only milk and water. David’s charisma helped unite the monks in his monasteries. But at one monastery, the rigorous ascetic practices were so unpopular that the monks tried to poison David.
David did a lot to help spread Christianity throughout Europe. He worked to help combat the Pelagian heresy. In 550, he established a monastery in the Welsh city that is now named after him.
It is said that David lived for more than one hundred years. He died in 589 and was buried at the monastery he established in St. David’s.
St. David’s Feast Day:March 1st
Why Pray the St. David Novena?
St. David is the patron saint of Wales. You can ask for his prayers if you live in Wales, for someone you know who lives in Wales, or for the welfare of the country of Wales. You could also ask him to pray for you if you are traveling to the country of Wales, or for someone you know who is traveling to Wales.
Additionally, St. David is the patron saint of poets. You can seek his intercession if you are a poet, or for someone you know who is a poet.
You can pray the St. David Novena for any intention!
St. David Novena Prayers
St. David 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 Your servant, St. David, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in his many years serving You throughout his home country of Wales.
St. David, we know little for certain about your life, but we do know that you were a holy man who served God during a lot of your life in Wales.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you spent your life serving!
You served God for many years as a priest, a monk, an abbot, and a bishop. You established several monasteries so that others might serve God devotedly.
Pray for me, that I may do all I can to serve You in my life. Pray that I may never miss the opportunity to answer God’s call to serve Him.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. David, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. David 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 Your servant, St. David, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You he showed in choosing to serve You in the consecrated life.
St. David, you were ordained to the priesthood as a young man. You ministered eagerly in your home country, and you traveled to serve as a priest in other areas.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you served so eagerly!
You answered God’s call not only to the priesthood, but also to the monastic life and to the bishopric. You were continually open to serving God in new ways.
Pray for me, that I may be open to serving God in whatever way He might call me to serve Him. Pray that I may respond generously to His call in my life.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. David, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. David 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 Your servant, St. David, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed by becoming a monk and establishing many monasteries.
St. David, you chose to serve God as a priest early on in your life. Later, God called you to serve Him in the monastic life as well, and you responded generously to this call.
Please bring my petitions before the throne of God!
As a monk, you established many monasteries so that others might serve God in a wholehearted way. You practiced great asceticism and self-denial in your life as a monk, out of love for God.
Pray for me, that I may serve God as wholeheartedly as you did. Pray that I may never weary of denying myself for the love of God.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. David, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. David 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 Your servant, St. David, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You he showed through the many penitential practices he instituted in his monasteries and carried out in his own life.
St. David, you established several monasteries. In your monasteries, you instituted a simple lifestyle that was filled with many penances for you and your monks, out of love for God.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you served so wholeheartedly!
The monks in your monasteries practiced silence, fasted, and did manual labor. Your life was full of ascetic practices and suffering, which you bore willingly for God’s sake.
Pray for me, that I may grow in a spirit of penance in my life. Pray that I may offer all sufferings and penances in my life to God with joy.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. David, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. David 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 Your servant, St. David, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in his service to You as a bishop.
St. David, you were a young man when you were ordained to the priesthood. Though little is known about your ordination as a bishop, we know that you remained a holy servant of God throughout your life.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you served so devotedly!
You ministered in Wales and later helped spread Christianity throughout Europe. Throughout your long life, you never wavered in your devotion to God or your service to His people.
Pray for me, that I may never waver in my devotion to God. Pray that I may live my life happily serving God and His people, as you did.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. David, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. David 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 Your servant, St. David, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue he showed in holding fast to his love of You as he faced opposition for the holy practices in his monasteries.
St. David, you established many monasteries. The way of life you instituted in your monasteries was difficult because of the ascetic practices you instituted. Though you faced opposition, you persevered out of love for God.
Please persevere in bringing my petitions before God!
Because of your holiness and your determination to lead others to holiness, some others began to plot against you. Some of your monks even went so far as to make an attempt to kill you.
Pray for me, that I may be as steadfast in my Faith amidst opposition as you were. Pray that I may never weary of striving for holiness in my life.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. David, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. David 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 Your servant, St. David, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You he showed in working to spread the Christian Faith throughout the continent.
St. David, you did a lot of good work for the Church in Wales early on in your life. As you began following God’s call to live the vocation of a monk, you established many monasteries in other areas of Europe.
Please continue to bring my petitions before the throne of God!
Though we don’t know many details of your life for certain, you are credited with helping to spread Christianity throughout the continent of Europe.
Pray for me, that I may be eager to spread the Faith to others in my life. Pray that I may never miss the opportunity to preach the Good News.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. David, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. David 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 Your servant, St. David, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in working to fight against heresy during his life.
St. David, we know few details for certain about your life. But you are credited with working to combat the heresy of Pelagianism.
Please bring my petitions before God Whose teachings you proclaimed!
You lived in a time when many heresies were attempting to gain prominence. You must have known how important adherence to true teaching was for the Church, and you fought valiantly for these teachings out of love for God.
Pray for me, that I may always be eager to defend the teachings of the Church. Pray that I may never miss the opportunity to fight for the truth.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. David, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. David 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 Your servant, St. David, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You he showed in spending many years of his long life in service to Your Church.
St. David, you were ordained to the priesthood as a young man. You were eventually ordained a bishop as well, and you spent many years serving God’s Church.
Please bring my petitions before the throne of God Whom you served so devotedly!
As a monk, you established many monasteries. Through your devoted service to God and His Church, Christianity grew and spread throughout the continent of Europe.
Pray for me, that I may serve the Church as devotedly as you did. Pray that I may be eager to serve God in whatever ways He calls me to serve Him.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. David, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.