St. Gregory Nazianzen Novena
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Show HideSt. Gregory Nazianzen was a theologian in the Early Church. He lived in the 300s. He was also a bishop for some time.
St. Gregory Nazianzen did a lot of important work for the Early Church. You can use this novena to seek intercession from this holy theologian in many aspects of your life.
About St. Gregory Nazianzen
St. Gregory Nazianzen was born around 325 in Nazianzus in Cappadocia. Little is known for certain about his early life.
When Gregory was thirty years old, he was baptized. He then went to Caesarea with his brother to study. During this time, Gregory became acquainted with St. Basil. Basil was also studying in Caesarea. The two of them became good friends and theologians.
In 361, Gregory returned home to Nazianzus. Though Gregory felt called to the monastic life, his father wished him to become a priest to assist in ministering to local Christians. Gregory also discovered that his father had fallen into heresy.
Gregory was able to convince his father to abandon his heretical beliefs. But the two of them were not able to agree on what type of life Gregory should live. Gregory soon left home, meeting Basil so that the two of them could live the ascetic life together. Basil eventually convinced Gregory to return home to help his father.
Throughout the next decade, Gregory assisted Basil many times, especially in the fight against the Arian heresy.
When Basil was made the bishop of Caesarea and the Metropolitan of Cappadocia, the emperor purposefully split the area into two provinces so that Basil would have less power. In response to this, Basil established the Sea of Sasima. Though Gregory did not want to be a bishop, Basil insisted that he become bishop of Sasima. Gregory was consecrated as bishop in 372.
Before long, Gregory saw that he was not well suited to be bishop of Sasima. Because of this, Gregory returned home to assist his father when his father was dying. By 374, Gregory’s sister and both of his parents had died. Despite his grief, Gregory continued serving the Church. He also gave a large portion of his inheritance to the poor.
When the Arian emperor died, there was greater opportunity to combat the Arian heresy in the Church. In 379, Gregory went to Constantinople to preach about the doctrine of the Trinity. His sermons eventually became very well known and important in the Church.
In 381, the Council of Constantinople was called. Gregory was initially invited to the Council, but he chose to decline the role when disputes about his position arose. Despite this, the Council relied on many of Gregory’s teachings.
Gregory returned home to Nazianzus. He spent the rest of his life writing, including several small and large works of poetry. He died around 389.
St. Gregory Nazianzen’s Feast Day: January 3rd
Why Pray the St. Gregory Nazianzen Novena?
St. Gregory Nazianzen is the patron saint of theologians. You can pray the St. Gregory Nazianzen Novena if you are a theologian or are studying to be a theologian. Or you can use this novena to seek St. Gregory Nazianzen’s intercession for someone you know who is a theologian or is studying to be a theologian.
St. Gregory Nazianzen is also the patron saint of preachers. You can pray the St. Gregory Nazianzen Novena if you are a preacher, or you can pray this novena for someone you know who is a preacher.
You can pray the St. Gregory Nazianzen Novena for any intention!
St. Gregory Nazianzen Novena Prayers
St. Gregory Nazianzen 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. Gregory Nazianzen as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Gregory, you became acquainted with St. Basil while you were studying in Caesarea. The two of you became good friends. You later assisted Basil many times, especially in the fight against the Arian heresy.
Please take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may grant us holy friendships with others in our lives.
Pray for us, that we may always make use of all the helps God gives us for holiness. Pray that we may do all we can to grow in holiness at every opportunity.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Gregory Nazianzen, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Gregory Nazianzen 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. Gregory Nazianzen as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Gregory, you studied to become a theologian when you were a young man. Your theological work was later very important to the Church in the fight against the Arian heresy and at the Council of Constantinople.
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 theologians in their important work.
Pray for us, that we may strive to serve God faithfully in all that we do. Pray that each day we may grow to a deeper love of God and His teachings.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Gregory Nazianzen, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Gregory Nazianzen 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. Gregory Nazianzen as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Gregory, you felt God calling you to serve Him in the monastic life when you were a young man. Though you eventually found the need to serve the Church actively as a priest, you did all you could to serve God with devotion throughout your whole life.
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 God’s will in our lives. Pray that we may serve God faithfully in every circumstance.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Gregory Nazianzen, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Gregory Nazianzen 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. Gregory Nazianzen as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Gregory, when you were a young man you wished to serve God in the penitential life of monasticism. For a time, you lived an ascetic life with St. Basil, though you eventually returned home to serve God as an active priest.
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 penance.
Pray for us, that we may grow in every virtue we need for holiness. Pray that we may truly strive to live saintly lives each day.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Gregory Nazianzen, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Gregory Nazianzen 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. Gregory Nazianzen as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Gregory, you did a lot of important work for the Church in a time when heresy was becoming common. You helped St. Basil in the fight against the Arian heresy. Your theological work assisted the Church in combating heretical teachings at the Council of Constantinople.
Please take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may bring about the triumph of true Church teaching in our world.
Pray for us, that we may always do all we can to spread the truth. Pray that we may serve God and His Church worthily each day of our lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Gregory Nazianzen, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Gregory Nazianzen 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. Gregory Nazianzen as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Gregory, you did not think you were well suited to become a bishop. But when St. Basil insisted that you become bishop of Sasima, you agreed. Though you soon saw that you were not well equipped for this role in the Church, you did all you could to serve God faithfully.
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 leaders of their flock.
Pray for us, that we may always be eager to serve God and His Church in whatever ways He calls us to. Pray that we may be submissive to God’s will in all things in our lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Gregory Nazianzen, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Gregory Nazianzen 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. Gregory Nazianzen as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Gregory, many members of your family died over a very short time. Despite the grief you must have felt over the loss of your parents and sister, you continued serving the Church faithfully.
Please take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may strengthen and assist all who are grieving the loss of a loved one.
Pray for us, that we may never allow any sufferings to deter us from serving God. Pray that we may make use of every opportunity God gives us to advance in holiness.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Gregory Nazianzen, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Gregory Nazianzen 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. Gregory Nazianzen as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Gregory, your parents and your sister died very close together. Despite your grief, you continued serving God. In your charity, you chose to give a large portion of the money you inherited to the poor.
Please take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that we may grow in true charity.
Pray for us, that we may do all we can to grow in every virtue we need for holiness. Pray that we may do all things in our lives out of love for God.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Gregory Nazianzen, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Gregory Nazianzen 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. Gregory Nazianzen as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Gregory, you did a lot of important work for the Church. In order to fight against the spread of the Arian heresy, you preached in Constantinople about the doctrine of the Trinity.
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 who preach.
Pray for us, that we may always do all we can to spread the Gospel to others. 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. Gregory Nazianzen, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.