St. John of Damascus Novena
Contents
Show HideSt. John of Damascus was a monk and priest who lived in the 600s-700s. He lived in the Holy Land. He wrote many hymns and theological works.
St. John of Damascus was named a Doctor of the Church because of his many important contributions to the Church. You can use this novena to seek intercession from this holy saint in many aspects of your life.
About St. John of Damascus
St. John of Damascus was born around the year 675 in Damascus. His parents were Christians, but they lived in an Islam society. His parents had John baptized immediately after he was born.
During John’s childhood and adolescence, his father wanted to ensure that John did not fall into bad habits stemming from war, as many of the youths in their society did. So he made sure that John devoted himself to the pursuit of knowledge instead.
John’s father was able to get a Christian monk to be John’s tutor. Before long, John reached such a level of learning that the monk had no more to teach him. In Arab society, John’s accomplishments were viewed so highly that leaders insisted John take an office of high dignity.
Around this time, the controversy of iconoclasm became violent. In 730, emperor Leo the Isuarian made a decree against religious images. John then wrote the first of three treatises on the veneration that is due to religious images.
Though some biographical accounts of this period of John’s life disagree with one another, it is believed that he was ordained a priest before writing his second treatise on the veneration due to religious images. In his third treatise, he summarized the arguments in the first two treatises. His three treatises were read and utilized throughout the Church.
Some accounts hold that John chose to become a monk around this time, in thanksgiving for a miraculous restoration of his hand that was cut off. But other accounts hold that he had chosen to devote himself to the monastic life before the Iconoclasm Controversy began.
In 743, a persecution of Christians began under Kahlif Ahlid II. He had the tongue of Damascus’ Christian leader cut off, and he beheaded the bishop of Majuma. John wrote a eulogy of this bishop.
Legend holds that John began composing hymns and verse after a conflict with his abbot. A man who was grieving the death of his brother asked John to compose a hymn that would soothe his grief and could be sung at the funeral. When John’s abbot happened to hear John singing the song he composed, the abbot was very angry and expelled John from the monastery. The abbot later allowed John back into the monastery on the condition that John do the toughest cleaning jobs of the monastery.
But the abbot was soon rebuked in a vision, which told him that he was treating John poorly and wasting his gifts. The abbot then allowed John to devote himself to composing hymns and writing theological arguments against heresies.
John died sometime between 754 through 787.
St. John of Damascus’ Feast Day: December 4th
Why Pray the St. John of Damascus Novena?
St. John of Damascus is the patron saint of pharmacists. You can pray the St. John of Damascus Novena if you are a pharmacist. Or you can pray this novena for someone you know who works as a pharmacist.
St. John of Damascus is also the patron saint of theology students. You can pray the St. John of Damascus Novena if you are a theology student. Or you can use this novena to seek intercession from St. John of Damascus for someone you know who is a theology student.
You can pray the St. John of Damascus Novena for any intention!
St. John of Damascus Novena Prayers
St. John of Damascus 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. John of Damascus as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. John, your parents were Christians living in an Islam society. They had you baptized immediately after you were born. As you grew older, they obtained a Christian tutor for you and ensured that you received a strong formation in the faith.
Please take all of our petitions to God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may bless and assist all families.
Pray for us, that we may faithfully carry out all the duties of our vocation each day. Pray that we may grow in holiness at every opportunity God gives us.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. John of Damascus, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. John of Damascus 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. John of Damascus as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. John, your father wanted to ensure that you devoted yourself to the pursuit of knowledge during your youth. He arranged for a learned monk to be your tutor. Before long, you achieved such a high level of learning that the monk had no more to teach you.
Please take all of our petitions to God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may bless and assist all students.
Pray for us, that we may strive to offer to God all that we do each day. Pray that we may grow in holiness and virtue each day of our lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. John of Damascus, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. John of Damascus 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. John of Damascus as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. John, we know few details about your vocational journey to becoming a monk and a priest. But we know that you were ordained to the priesthood and that you devoted yourself to God through monastic living.
Please take all of our petitions to 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 carry out 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. John of Damascus, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. John of Damascus 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. John of Damascus as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. John, we know few details for certain about your vocational journey to becoming a priest. But we know that you were ordained to the priesthood and that you served God faithfully as a priest for many years.
Please take all of our petitions to God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that all priests may be holy servants of God.
Pray for us, that we may do all we can to serve God in whatever ways He calls us to. 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. John of Damascus, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. John of Damascus 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. John of Damascus as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. John of Damascus, it is not known for certain if you became a monk as a young man or later on in your life in thanksgiving for a miraculous healing. But we know that you devoted yourself to monastic living in order to serve God.
Please take all of our petitions to God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that all monks may be holy servants of God.
Pray for us, that we may do all we can serve God faithfully each day of 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. John of Damascus, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. John of Damascus 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. John of Damascus as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. John, you are honored as a Doctor of the Church because of the many theological contributions you made to the Church. You wrote numerous hymns and treatises, and you combatted heresies in your writings.
Please take all of our petitions to God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may bless and assist all theologians in their holy work.
Pray for us, that we may grow in love for God and His Church each day of our lives. Pray that we may serve God faithfully at every opportunity He gives us.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. John of Damascus, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. John of Damascus 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. John of Damascus as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. John, you lived during a time of conflict over iconoclasm. When the emperor made a decree against religious imagery, you wrote treatises on the veneration that is due religious images. These treatises were read and utilized throughout the Church.
Please take all of our petitions to God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that we and all people may grow in proper respect for religious images.
Pray for us, that we may always make use of all the helps God gives us for our salvation. 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. John of Damascus, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. John of Damascus 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. John of Damascus as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. John of Damascus, you lived in a Muslim society that was not always friendly to Christianity. Christianity eventually came to be persecuted. Despite the death and torture of religious leaders, you continued to serve God faithfully.
Please take all of our petitions to God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may strengthen and assist all Christians who are being persecuted because of their faith.
Pray for us, that we may never allow any sufferings to deter us from serving God. Pray that we may serve God faithfully no matter what difficulties we might face.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. John of Damascus, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. John of Damascus 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. John of Damascus as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. John, you lived in the Holy Land when it was ruled by Muslims. Though the Church and her members faced many difficulties during this time, you served God faithfully as a priest and a monk.
Please take all of our petitions to God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may bless and strengthen the Church in the Holy Land and in the whole world.
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 devote ourselves more fully to God each day of our lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. John of Damascus, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.