St. Elmo Novena
Contents
Show HideSt. Elmo was an Early Christian martyr. He lived during the 3rd century. He was a bishop in the area that is now Italy.
St. Elmo is venerated as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. You can use this novena to seek intercession from this powerful saint in many aspects of your life.
About St. Elmo
St. Elmo was also known as Erasmus of Formia. The exact date of his birth is unknown, but it was probably during the 200s. Nothing is known for certain about his early life.
Elmo was bishop of Formia in Italy during the reigns of Diocletian and Maximian Hercules. Both of these emperors carried out fierce persecution against Christians.
During this time of persecution, Elmo left his diocese. He found a hiding place on Mount Libanus and remained there for seven years. But an angel then appeared to him and told him that he should return to his diocese.
As Elmo traveled back to the city, some soldiers found him. They questioned him, and he admitted that he was a Christian. The soldiers took him to Antioch in order to try him before Emperor Diocletian for the crime of being a Christian.
Elmo was subjected to torture. His captors then bound him with chains and put him into prison. While in prison, an angel appeared to him again. This angel helped Elmo escape captivity.
After escaping, Elmo traveled to Lycia. There, he converted and baptized many people. The Western Roman emperor, Maximian Hercules, became aware of Elmo’s missionary work. Some historians hold that the persecution from Maximian was even fiercer than Diocletian’s. Maximian ordered Elmo’s arrest.
Elmo held fast to his faith and refused to renounce it. This greatly angered Maximian. Maximian ordered that Elmo be put into a barrel that was filled with spikes. This barrel was then rolled down a hill. Elmo miraculously survived this ordeal. It is thought that an angel protected him.
Legend says that he was thrown into prison to die of starvation. But Elmo escaped from this imprisonment. Legend holds that he then preached to pagans and converted many of them. It is believed that on one occasion, he continued preaching even when a bolt of lightning struck beside him. This incident is said to have inspired his patronage of sailors because sailors sought his prayers for protection in thunderstorms.
Elmo was eventually captured again in the Roman province of Illyricum. His captors tortured him brutally. The details of Elmo’s eventual death are not known for certain, but legend holds that he was disemboweled, with his stomach split open and his intestines put around a windlass.
The year of Elmo’s death is not known for certain, but it is thought that he died around the year 303.
St. Elmo’s Feast Day: June 2nd
Why Pray the St. Elmo Novena?
St. Elmo is the patron saint of sailors. You can pray the St. Elmo Novena if you are a sailor. Or you can use this novena to seek intercession from St. Elmo for someone you know who is a sailor.
St. Elmo is also the patron saint of intestinal ailments and diseases. You can pray the St. Elmo Novena if you suffer from intestinal ailments or diseases, or you can pray it for someone you know who suffers from intestinal ailments or diseases.
Additionally, St. Elmo is the patron saint of women in labor. You can pray the St. Elmo Novena if you are a woman preparing for labor, or you can pray the St. Elmo Novena for a woman you know who will be in labor soon.
You can pray the St. Elmo Novena for any intention!
St. Elmo Novena Prayers
St. Elmo 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. Elmo as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear all of the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Elmo, we know almost nothing about your early life. But we know that you must have answered God’s call to serve Him as a priest, since you eventually served Him as the bishop of Formia in Italy.
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 eager to answer God’s call to serve Him. Pray that we may submit ourselves more fully to God at every opportunity He gives us.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Elmo, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Elmo 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. Elmo as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear all of the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Elmo, you served the Church as bishop of Formia at a time of great persecution. Though you initially fled your diocese during the persecution, you obeyed the angel who appeared to you and told you to return to your diocese.
Please take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that all bishops may be holy servants of God and leaders of their flock.
Pray for us, that we may always faithfully carry out the duties of our vocation. Pray that we may serve God worthily in every circumstance in our lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Elmo, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Elmo 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. Elmo as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear all of the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Elmo, you lived in a society that was hostile to your Christian faith. The persecutions of Diocletian and Maximian Hercules brought great suffering to the Church. You were imprisoned and tortured for your faith. You eventually gave up your life in martyrdom.
Please take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may strengthen and help all Christians being persecuted for their faith.
Pray for us, that we may always put love of God above all else in our lives. Pray that we may advance in holiness at every opportunity God gives us.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Elmo, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Elmo 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. Elmo as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear all of the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Elmo, you returned to your diocese during a time of great persecution. You courageously admitted that you were a Christian, even though you knew you could be tortured or killed for it. Despite the imprisonment and torture you endured, you continued to practice your faith with great fortitude.
Please take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that we may always have the fortitude to do what is right.
Pray for us, that we may grow in every virtue we need for holiness. Pray that we may grow closer to God each day of our lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Elmo, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Elmo 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. Elmo as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear all of the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Elmo, you traveled to Lycia after an angel helped you escape from prison. In Lycia, you converted and baptized many people. Your missionary work was so successful that it was noticed by the Western Roman Emperor.
Please take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may bless and assist all missionaries in their holy work.
Pray for us, that we may always do all we can to help bring souls to God. Pray that we may strive to glorify God in all that we do each day.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Elmo, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Elmo 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. Elmo as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear all of the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Elmo, you were tortured and imprisoned because of your faith. After you escaped from prison, you persevered in serving God faithfully. When you were recaptured and tortured severely, you did not let any sufferings deter you from remaining faithful.
Please take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that we may grow in the perseverance we need for holiness.
Pray for us, that we may grow in every virtue we need for holiness. Pray that we may never allow any sufferings we face to deter us from serving God faithfully.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Elmo, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Elmo 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. Elmo as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear all of the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Elmo, you worked to convert and baptize many non-Christians in Lycia. Legend holds that you later preached to pagans and converted them and that you did not stop your preaching even when a bolt of lightning struck near you.
Please take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may grant the grace of conversion to all non-Christians.
Pray for us, that we may always do all we can to spread the Gospel to others. Pray that we may serve God more faithfully each day of our lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Elmo, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Elmo 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. Elmo as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear all of the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Elmo, you are honored as the patron saint of sailors. Legend says that sailors began to seek your intercession for protection during thunderstorms because you once continued preaching as a bolt of lightning struck the ground beside you.
Please take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may bless and protect all sailors.
Pray for us, that we may offer to God all that we do each day of our lives. Pray that we may always place our relationship with God above all else.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Elmo, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Elmo Novena - Day 9
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. Elmo as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear all of the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Elmo, you served God and His Church as a bishop. Though you lived in a time of great suffering and persecution, you refused to renounce your faith. You persevered in your faith to the point of death.
Please take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that the Church may be strong and her members holy.
Pray for us, that we may always serve God and His Church in whatever ways He calls us to. Pray that we may truly strive to live saintly lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Elmo, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.