St. Peter Claver Novena
Contents
Show HideSt. Peter Claver was a Spanish priest who lived in the 1500s-1600s. He was a member of the Jesuit religious order. He also became a missionary in Columbia.
St. Peter Claver did a lot of important work ministering to slaves. You can use this novena to seek intercession from this holy missionary priest in many aspects of your life.
About St. Peter Claver
St. Peter Claver was born in Spain in 1580. His parents were farmers and were moderately wealthy. They were also very devout in their faith.
As a young man, Peter studied at the University of Barcelona. During this time, he grew in piety and decided that he wanted to dedicate his life to God.
When he was twenty years old, Peter entered the Society of Jesus. After finishing his novitiate in the Jesuits, Peter became acquainted with St. Alphonsus Rodriguez. St. Alphonsus Rodriguez had the gift of prophecy, and he told Peter that God wanted Peter to become a missionary to the Spanish colonies in South America.
Peter soon volunteered to travel to the Spanish colonies. In 1610, he arrived in Cartagena, Columbia. He then spent six years studying for the priesthood. While studying, he observed the treatment that the slaves received when they were brought to the country from Africa.
Cartagena was a hub of the slave trade, with about ten thousand slaves arriving from Africa each year. Despite multiple popes condemning slavery, it continued to flourish. The slaves suffered from deplorable conditions. Before Peter began his mission to these slaves, a Jesuit priest named Alonso de Sandoval devoted himself to ministering to them.
In 1662, Peter made his solemn vows and chose to devote the rest of his life to serving the slaves. His usual method of ministry was to meet the ships bringing slaves and immediately minister to them on the ship. The people on the ships were suffering physically and emotionally.
When the people’s captors took them off the ships to be sold, Peter took the slaves food and medicine. He spoke with them through pictures and interpreters in order to give them instruction.
After slaves were baptized, Peter treated them as Christian people and exhorted them to treat one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. When new slaves weren’t arriving, Peter traveled to minister to those he had already baptized. He also worked to gain civil rights for the slaves.
Peter worked for forty years in Columbia, baptizing around 300,000 slaves. He also preached to sailors, traders, and criminals condemned to death. When he visited plantations, he always chose to stay with slaves rather than with the owners.
Peter eventually fell gravely ill. He suffered greatly for four years. Though he was mistreated by the man hired to care for him, he never complained but instead accepted his suffering. He died in 1654.
St. Peter Claver’s Feast Day: September 9th
Why Pray the St. Peter Claver Novena?
St. Peter Claver is the patron saint of seafarers. You can use this novena to seek his intercession if you are a seafarer. Or you can pray the St. Peter Claver Novena for someone you know who is a seafarer.
St. Peter Claver is also the patron saint of ministry to African Americans. You can pray the St. Peter Claver Novena if you work in ministry to African Americans. Or you can pray this novena for someone you know who works in ministry to African Americans.
Additionally, St. Peter Claver is the patron saint of Columbia. You can use this novena to seek his intercession if you live in Columbia or are planning to travel to Columbia.
You can pray the St. Peter Claver Novena for any intention!
St. Peter Claver Novena Prayers
St. Peter Claver 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. Peter Claver as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Peter Claver, your parents were very devout in the practice of their Catholic faith. Though we know little else about your early family life, we know that you went on to live a life of holiness and service to God.
Please bring all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that all families may be full of holiness and love.
Pray for us, that we may do all we can to serve God worthily each day of our lives. Pray that we may always be eager to carry out God’s will.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Peter Claver, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Peter Claver 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. Peter Claver as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Peter Claver, you decided to dedicate your life to God during your time studying as a young man. You entered the Jesuit religious order when you were twenty years old, and you were eventually ordained as a priest.
Please 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 grow in holiness and virtue each day of our lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Peter Claver, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Peter Claver 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. Peter Claver as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Peter Claver, you entered the Society of Jesus when you were twenty years old. You became a Jesuit priest and missionary. You served God faithfully as a member of the Jesuits for the rest of your life.
Please bring all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that all members of the Society of Jesus may be holy servants of God.
Pray for us, that we may do all we can to carry out the duties of our vocation faithfully each day. Pray that we may grow in friendship with Our Lord each day of our lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Peter Claver, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Peter Claver 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. Peter Claver as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Peter Claver, you chose to serve as a missionary in Columbia when you were a young Jesuit. You saw the great needs of the enslaved people there. You devoted the rest of your life to missionary work among them.
Please bring all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that all missionaries may be successful in their important work.
Pray for us, that we may always do all we can to bring souls to God. Pray that we may always be eager to serve those around us out of love for God.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Peter Claver, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Peter Claver 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. Peter Claver as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Peter Claver, you devoted your life to the work of ministering to the needs of the slaves in Columbia. You were moved to treat these people with great charity, even though others treated them in a very cruel and inhumane way.
Please 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 charity.
Pray for us, that we may always care for the needs of those around us out of love for God. Pray that we may grow in every virtue we need for holiness.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Peter Claver, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Peter Claver 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. Peter Claver as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Peter Claver, you witnessed firsthand how cruelly people sometimes treat each other. Though we do not always see the kinds of atrocities you saw in our world today, we know that there are many people suffering in similar ways in our own society.
Please bring all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may bring freedom and assistance to all people who are enslaved in our modern world.
Pray for us, that we may never ignore the needs of those who are suffering. Pray that we may do all things out of love for God.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Peter Claver, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Peter Claver 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. Peter Claver as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Peter Claver, you devoted your life to serving slaves in Columbia. You did not choose to spend your time among the rich or prominent members of society. You even chose to stay with slaves when you visited plantations, taking a lowly and humble place for yourself.
Please 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 humility.
Pray for us, that we may make growth in virtue and holiness our top priority in life. Pray that we may do all we can to serve God faithfully each day.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Peter Claver, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Peter Claver 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. Peter Claver as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Peter Claver, you saw firsthand how cruelly the slaves were treated in Columbia. You did all you could to bring them comfort, and you worked to ensure better treatment for them. You devoted many years of your life to this important work, out of love for God.
Please bring all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that God may bring to conversion all who treat other people in an inhumane way.
Pray for us, that we may always treat others as our brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray that we may follow God’s laws in all things.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Peter Claver, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Peter Claver 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. Peter Claver as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings to You on our behalf.
St. Peter Claver, you chose to serve as a missionary in Columbia. You devoted your life to serving the Church in Columbia and to bringing souls to God through your work there.
Please bring all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that the Church in Columbia 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. Peter Claver, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.