St. Kieran Novena
Contents
Show HideSt. Kieran was an Irish monk who lived in the 500s. He was an abbot. He was also known as one of the “Twelve Apostles of Ireland.”
St. Kieran did a lot of holy work during his brief life. You can use this novena to seek intercession from this holy monk in many aspects of your life.
About St. Kieran
St. Kieran was born around the year 516 in Connacht, Ireland. He is known by many different names, including Ceran, Queran, Queranus, and Ciaran. His father was a carpenter and chariot maker named Beoit. Little is known for certain about Kieran’s childhood, except that he herded cattle as a boy.
Kieran eventually became a student of St. Finnian’s at a monastery in Clonard. One legend holds that when Finnian tested Kieran on the Gospel of Matthew in front of the whole class, Kieran knew only the first half. The other students laughed at Kieran and called him “Kieran half-Matthew.” But Finnian rebuked them, saying that he shouldn’t be called “Kieran half-Matthew” but “Kieran half-Ireland” because he would one day have half the country.
After completing his studies, Kieran became a teacher there himself. One of his students was the daughter of the king of Cuala.
Kieran came to be considered the most learned monk at the Clonard monastery. St. Columba of Iona was acquainted with Kieran during this time. He said of Kieran, “He was a lamp, blazing with light and wisdom.”
Around the year 534, Kieran left the Clonard monastery. He traveled to Inishmore. There, he studied under St. Enda of Aran for several years. St Enda ordained Kieran to the priesthood. He also told Kieran to build a monastery and church in the center of Ireland.
Kieran soon traveled to a monastery in the middle of Ireland called Isel. The other monks there eventually forced him to leave because they considered his charity to be too excessive.
After leaving, he traveled to Hare Island with eight companions. From there, he traveled to a spot on the Shannon River. He built a monastery there called Clonmacnoise, which eventually became a famous center of Irish learning. He served as its abbot for a short time. As abbot, he helped build the monastery’s first buildings. Kieran died after only seven months when he contracted the plague.
Legend says that Kieran instructed his followers to leave his bones on the hillside when he died, so that his spirit would be preserved instead of his relics.
Kieran’s Clonmacnoise monastery went on to become a very important center for religious life in Ireland. It survived raids from Vikings and plunderings from the Anglo-Norman wars. It was destroyed in 1552 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, but the ruins still exist today. They remain important to religious activity in Ireland.
St. Kieran’s Feast Day: September 9th
Why Pray the St. Kieran Novena?
St. Kieran does not have an official patronage, but he is a great saint to seek intercession from in many circumstances.
You can pray the St. Kieran Novena for the Church in Ireland, since he lived in Ireland and did a lot for the Church in Ireland through his monastic work.
Additionally, you can pray the St. Kieran Novena if you live in Ireland or are planning to travel to Ireland. Or you can pray this novena to seek St. Kieran’s intercession for someone you know who lives in Ireland or who is planning to travel to Ireland.
You can pray the St. Kieran Novena for any intention!
St. Kieran Novena Prayers
St. Kieran 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. Kieran as an example of holiness. Please hear the petitions he brings before You on our behalf.
St. Kieran, during your youth, you were a student of St. Finnian’s at a monastery. One legend holds that you had trouble studying the Gospel but that St. Finnian defended you from your classmates’ mockery.
We ask you to bring all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that all students may grow in holiness and glorify God through their work.
Pray for us, that we may always do all things out of love for God each day. Pray that we may advance in holiness and virtue at every opportunity God gives us.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Kieran, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Kieran 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. Kieran as an example of holiness. Please hear the petitions he brings before You on our behalf.
St. Kieran, you followed the example of your holy teacher by becoming a teacher yourself at the monastery school in Clonard. You came to be considered the most learned monk at the Clonard monastery. St. Columba said you were “a lamp, blazing with light and wisdom.”
We ask you to bring all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that all teachers may help form their students in virtue and holiness.
Pray for us, that we may grow closer to God each day of our lives. Pray that we may do all we can to serve God faithfully.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Kieran, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Kieran 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. Kieran as an example of holiness. Please hear the petitions he brings before You on our behalf.
St. Kieran, you followed God’s call to serve Him as a monk. You eventually followed His call to the priesthood as well. You served God as a monk and as a priest for the rest of your life, faithfully carrying out the duties of your vocation.
We ask you to bring 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 serve God in whatever ways He calls us to. Pray that we may do all we can to carry out God’s will in our lives each day.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Kieran, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Kieran 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. Kieran as an example of holiness. Please hear the petitions he brings before You on our behalf.
St. Kieran, you were taught by holy St. Finnian in your youth. As you grew older, you were acquainted with both St. Columba of Iona and St. Enda of Aran. God provided you with several holy men to help you along the path of holiness.
We ask you to bring all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may provide holy examples in the lives of all people.
Pray for us, that we may grow in holiness and virtue at every opportunity God gives us. Pray that we may grow in friendship with Jesus each day of our lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Kieran, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Kieran 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. Kieran as an example of holiness. Please hear the petitions he brings before You on our behalf.
St. Kieran, you were educated by monks in a monastery school during your youth. When you grew up, you chose to serve God as a monk yourself. You helped build another monastery so that more men could serve God as monks.
We ask you to bring all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that all monks may be holy servants of God.
Pray for us, that we may always do all we can to carry out the duties of our vocations faithfully each day. Pray that we may do all we can to live saintly lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Kieran, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Kieran 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. Kieran as an example of holiness. Please hear the petitions he brings before You on our behalf.
St. Kieran, you studied under St. Enda of Aran for several years. St. Enda eventually ordained you to the priesthood. You served God faithfully as a priest for the rest of your life.
We ask you to bring all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that all priests may be holy servants of God.
Pray for us, that we may always be eager to serve God in whatever ways He calls us to each day. Pray that we may do all we can to advance in holiness and virtue in every circumstance.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Kieran, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Kieran 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. Kieran as an example of holiness. Please hear the petitions he brings before You on our behalf.
St. Kieran, you lived a life of great virtue as a monk and a priest. During your time at the monastery in Isel, you practiced the virtue of charity. The other monks eventually forced you to leave because they considered your charity to be too excessive.
We ask you to bring all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that we and all people may grow in true charity.
Pray for us, that we may advance in every virtue we need for holiness. Pray that we may do all we can to live saintly lives each day.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Kieran, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Kieran 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. Kieran as an example of holiness. Please hear the petitions he brings before You on our behalf.
St. Kieran, you helped establish the Clonmacnoise monastery on the Shannon River. This monastery later became an important center for religious life in Ireland. You became abbot of this monastery for a short time. As abbot, you helped build the monastery’s first buildings.
We ask you to bring all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that all religious superiors may be holy servants of God.
Pray for us, that we may always offer all that we do to God for the good of souls. 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. Kieran, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Kieran 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. Kieran as an example of holiness. Please hear the petitions he brings before You on our behalf.
St. Kieran, you became known as one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. You did a lot of holy work for the Church in Ireland. For many years, you served God and His Church faithfully as a priest and as a monk.
We ask you to bring all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that the Church in Ireland and in the whole world may be strong and vibrant.
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 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. Kieran, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.