St. Martin of Tours Novena
Contents
Show HideSt. Martin of Tours was a monk and hermit. He lived in France during the 300s. He was also a convert to Christianity. Later in his life, he became a holy bishop of Tours.
You can use this novena to seek intercession from this holy bishop in your life!
About St. Martin of Tours
St. Martin of Tours was born in either 316 or 336 in what is now Hungary. His father was a high-ranking soldier. Martin grew up in Northern Italy, where his father was assigned to serve.
Martin’s parents were both pagans, but he decided independently to convert to Christianity when he was ten years old.
When Martin was fifteen, he was required to begin serving in the military. It is believed that he traveled to Gaul, Milan, and Treves as a young soldier. During this time, he at one point came across a cold beggar. Martin cut his own cloak in half and gave half of it to the beggar. That night, Jesus appeared to Martin in a dream as the beggar.
When Martin was twenty years old, his conscience began to trouble him about fighting in battle. Before a large battle near modern-day Worms in Germany, he announced that he would not go into battle and turned down his pay.
He was accused of cowardice and would have been imprisoned, but he said instead that he would go into battle unarmed. His superiors agreed, but a truce was called before the battle took place.
Since Martin was then released from military service, he dedicated his life more fully to the Church. He began to study under St. Hilary of Poitiers in Tours.
After St. Hilary was forced into exile, Martin traveled to Italy. While traveling, Martin was held up by a robber but converted him. Around this time, Martin also had a vision that made him return to see his mother. He then convinced his mother to convert to Christianity. He also attempted to convert his father, but there is no evidence that his father converted.
Then, Martin began to combat the Arian heresy. The Arian leaders were enraged at his interference and he was forced to flee to an island. He lived there as a hermit for some time.
When St. Hilary returned to Tours, Martin traveled back there to study under him again. Soon, Martin established a monastery called the Liguge Abbey. He worked to evangelize people in the surrounding area and brought many people to the Faith.
When Tours needed a bishop in 371, Martin was asked to take the office. But he did not want to be a bishop, so he refused. He was soon tricked into coming to be ordained bishop, and he even tried to hide once he realized what was happening. But he was ordained and became a holy bishop.
During his time as bishop, he established a parish system in his diocese and visited each parish frequently. He also combatted paganism and heresy. He established another monastery in 372.
Martin died in Gaul in 397.
St. Martin of Tours’ Feast Day: November 11th
Why Pray the St. Martin of Tours Novena?
St. Martin of Tours is the patron saint of soldiers. You can seek his intercession if you are a soldier, or on behalf of someone you know who is a soldier.
St. Martin of Tours is also the patron saint of the poor. You can ask him to pray for you if you are struggling with poverty. You can also ask him to pray for someone you know who is poor, or for a group of poverty-stricken people in a certain area.
Additionally, St. Martin of Tours is the patron saint of tailors. You can ask him to pray for you if you work as a tailor, or you can ask him to pray for someone you know who is a tailor.
You can pray the St. Martin of Tours Novena for any intention!
St. Martin of Tours Novena Prayers
St. Martin of Tours 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 St. Martin of Tours as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed by choosing to convert from paganism to Christianity during his childhood.
St. Martin of Tours, your parents were both pagans. But when you were ten years old, you decided on your own to convert to Christianity and begin serving God.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you served!
Though we know few details about your childhood conversion, we know that you continued on the path to holiness throughout the rest of your life.
Pray for me, that I may be as devoted a servant of God as you were. Pray that I may never allow the opinions of those around me to hinder me from devoting my life to God.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Martin of Tours, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Martin of Tours 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 St. Martin of Tours as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue he showed during his time as a soldier.
St. Martin of Tours, you were required to begin serving in the military when you were fifteen years old. During this time, you began to grow in holiness and to consider whether this life was the best way for you to serve God.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you served so eagerly!
When you were twenty years old, your conscience would not allow you to kill in battle. You chose to do what was right, even though it was very difficult for you.
Pray for me, that I may always choose the path of righteousness, no matter how difficult it might be. Pray that I may always strive to do God’s will in my life.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Martin of Tours, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Martin of Tours 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 St. Martin of Tours as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in his charity towards the poor beggar he encountered.
St. Martin of Tours, you encountered a poor beggar during your early years as a soldier. Moved with pity for the man, you gave him half of your cloak out of love for God.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you loved!
In a dream that night, Jesus appeared to you as the beggar. You saw that your act of charity had pleased God greatly.
Pray for me, that I may always be conscious of the needs of the less fortunate around me. Pray that I may be eager to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ, out of love for God.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Martin of Tours, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Martin of Tours 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 St. Martin of Tours as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue he showed in the detachment from material possessions he exercised during his lifetime.
St. Martin of Tours, your conscience began to bother you about killing in battle when you were twenty years old. You decided to refuse your pay and to announce that you would not go into battle, out of love for God.
Please continue to bring my petitions before the throne of God!
Later in your life, you chose to live as a hermit and a monk. You willingly chose to live in poverty and to strive for heavenly riches rather than worldly ones.
Pray for me, that I may grow in a spirit of detachment from worldly things. Pray that I may grow in the desire for the true riches of Heaven.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Martin of Tours, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Martin of Tours 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 St. Martin of Tours as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in choosing to do what was right, no matter the cost.
St. Martin of Tours, you began to feel that it was wrong for you to kill in battle, as you grew in your Christian Faith. Even though you faced ridicule and lost your pay, you faithfully chose to refuse to kill others, out of love for God.
Please bring my petitions before God with such faithfulness!
Later in your life, you again showed great fortitude when you preached against the Arian heresy. You suffered a lot because of this preaching, but you never wavered in proclaiming the truth.
Pray for me, that I may have the strength to do what is right, no matter the cost. Pray that I may never allow sufferings to deter me from serving God.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Martin of Tours, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Martin of Tours 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 St. Martin of Tours as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You he showed in preaching the truth to others.
St. Martin of Tours, you converted to the Christian Faith as a child. During your adulthood, your devotion to God led you to preach the Gospel to your parents and to convert your mother to the Faith.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you served with such devotion!
As the leaders of the Arian heresy were later gaining traction in the Church, you boldly preached against this heresy and did all you could to proclaim the truth.
Pray for me, that I may never miss the opportunity to preach the Gospel to others. Pray that I may never allow difficulty or suffering to deter me from preaching the Good News.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Martin of Tours, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Martin of Tours 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 St. Martin of Tours as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in choosing to serve You as a monk and a bishop.
St. Martin of Tours, you began to live as a hermit after you were forced to flee for preaching against the Arian heresy. Then, you returned to Tours and established a monastery so that others could serve God in the monastic life.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you served so wholeheartedly!
You were later asked to become bishop of Tours. Though you did not want to be bishop, you were ordained and served as a holy bishop.
Pray for me, that I may always be open to God’s will in my life. Pray that I may always seek to serve God as He calls me to.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Martin of Tours, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Martin of Tours 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 St. Martin of Tours as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You he showed in living the monastic life and in establishing monasteries.
St. Martin of Tours, you lived as a hermit on an island after the angry Arian leaders forced you to flee. When you returned from the island, you continued seeking to serve God with devotion.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you served so devotedly!
You established a monastery called the Linuge Abbey. During your time as bishop, you later established another monastery so that others could serve God through monasticism.
Pray for me, that I may always seek to serve God wholeheartedly in my life. Pray that I may never weary of seeking to do God’s will.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Martin of Tours, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Martin of Tours 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 St. Martin of Tours as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in his life of service to Your Church.
St. Martin of Tours, you began to devote your life more fully to the Church after you were relieved of military duty. You continued to serve God and His Church for the rest of your life.
Please continue to bring my petitions before the throne of God!
You preached against Arianism, lived the monastic life, and established monasteries. Later, you served as a holy bishop, even though you were reluctant to take on the office.
Pray for me, that I may be as devoted a servant of God and His Church as you were. Pray that I may always be eager to put my gifts to use serving God.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Martin of Tours, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.