St. Rosalia Novena
Contents
Show HideSt. Rosalia was a holy woman who lived in Sicily during the 1100s. She lived as a hermit. During her lifetime, she achieved great holiness.
St. Rosalia’s intercession is invoked by many, especially in times of sickness. You can use this novena to seek intercession from this holy woman in many aspects of your life.
About St. Rosalia
St. Rosalia was born in 1130 in Palermo, Sicily. Her parents were members of the nobility, and her mother was a descendent of Charlemagne. Little is known about Rosalia’s childhood, but it is said that she converted from worldly living to religiousness in her youth.
As a young woman, Rosalia was very pious. It is also believed that she was very beautiful. Rosalia chose to devote herself wholly to God by living away from the world as a hermit. She began living in a cave. According to tradition, two angels led Rosalia to this cave. Historical accounts differ on whether she initially lived in a cave on Mount Pellegrino or if she moved to a cave on Mount Pellegrino near her place of birth after first living in a different cave.
On the walls of her hermitage cave, Rosalia wrote, “I, Rosalia, daughter of Sinibald, Lord of Roses, and Quisquina, have taken the resolution to live in this cave for the love of my Lord Jesus Christ.”
While living as a hermit in this cave, Rosalia cut herself off completely from the rest of the world. She lived in deep communion with God, and she took upon herself the practice of many mortifications.
In 1160, Rosalia died alone in her cave when she was thirty-six years old. Her body was not discovered until the 1600s.
It is believed that in 1624 Rosalia appeared to a sick woman as a plague ravaged Palermo. After this apparition, the sick woman was miraculously healed. Rosalia then appeared to a hunter and told him that her remains were in the cave where she had died on Mount Pellegrino. She also told him to bring her remains to Palermo and have them carried through the city in a procession.
The hunter did as Rosalia asked. He climbed Mt. Pellegrino and found her bones in the cave, as she had told him. He then had her bones carried through the city in a procession. After he had her bones carried through the city three times, the plague ended. Because of this miracle, a shrine was built in the cave where the hunter had found her bones.
The feast of St. Rosalia is celebrated as a large event in Palermo. Many Catholics in the Palermo area also continue a tradition of walking barefoot to the sanctuary in Rosalia’s hermitage cave on September 4th each year.
St. Rosalia’s Feast Day: July 14th
Why Pray the St. Rosalia Novena?
St. Rosalia is the patron saint of several areas, including Palermo, Anzoategul in Venezuela, El Hatilla in Venezuela, El Playon in Venezuela, and Santa Rosalia de Camargo in Mexico. You can pray the St. Rosalia Novena to seek her intercession if you live in one of these areas or are traveling to one of the areas. You can also pray this novena to seek her intercession for someone you know who lives in one of these areas or who is traveling to one of these areas.
Additionally, St. Rosalia is a great saint to seek intercession from in times of widespread sickness, since her intercession brought about the end of a plague in Palermo.
You can pray the St. Rosalia Novena for any intention!
St. Rosalia Novena Prayers
St. Rosalia 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. Rosalia as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers she brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. Rosalia, we know very little about your childhood. But it is said that you converted from worldly living to religiousness during your youth. From then on, you devoted your life wholly to God. You served Him faithfully for the rest of your life.
Please bring all of our petitions before God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that all children may receive the love and formation they need.
Pray for us, that we may devote ourselves wholly to God each day of our lives. Pray that we may grow to a deeper conversion in our lives at every opportunity God gives us.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Rosalia, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Rosalia 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. Rosalia as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers she brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. Rosalia, you chose to devote your life wholly to God when you were a young woman. You followed His call to serve Him in the solitary life of a hermit. You served Him faithfully in this vocation for the rest of your life.
Please bring all of our petitions before 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 love for God each day of our lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Rosalia, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Rosalia 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. Rosalia as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers she brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. Rosalia, when you were a young woman you chose to live in a cave as a hermit. You longed to devote yourself wholly to God by cutting yourself off from the world and living a life of penance.
Please bring all of our petitions before God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that all who serve God as hermits may be holy and steadfast in their vocation.
Pray for us, that we may always persevere in faithful service to God. Pray that we may do all we can to advance in holiness and virtue each day of our lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Rosalia, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Rosalia 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. Rosalia as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers she brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. Rosalia, when you were a young woman you chose to devote yourself to a life of prayer and penance. As a hermit, you lived a life of deep communion with God and took upon yourself the practice of many mortifications.
Please bring all of our petitions before God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that we may grow in a holy spirit of penance in our lives.
Pray for us, that we may always make use of all the helps God gives us for our salvation. Pray that we may make growth in holiness our top priority in life.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Rosalia, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Rosalia 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. Rosalia as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers she brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. Rosalia, you chose to lead a life of deep devotion to God as a hermit. Cut off from the rest of the world, you lived in deep communion with God. You served Him faithfully as a hermit for the rest of your life.
Please bring all of our petitions before God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that we may grow to a deeper friendship with Jesus.
Pray for us, that we may do all we can to advance in holiness at every opportunity God gives us. Pray that we may truly strive to become saints.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Rosalia, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Rosalia 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. Rosalia as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers she brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. Rosalia, your intercession is credited with bringing about the end of the terrible plague that ravaged Palermo in 1624. You appeared to a sick woman who was then miraculously cured. The people of the city were spared from the plague after they processed with your bones, as you asked them to.
Please bring all of our petitions before God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may grant healing and strength to all who are sick.
Pray for us, that we may do all we can to minister to those in need out of love for God. Pray that we may strive to serve God in all that we do.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Rosalia, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Rosalia 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. Rosalia as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers she brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. Rosalia, you lived a life of great faith during your time here on earth. After your death, you appeared to people in Palermo to help bring about healing from the plague. Through your intercession and apparitions, the people of Palermo grew in faith.
Please bring all of our petitions before God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that we and all people may grow in true faith.
Pray for us, that we may grow in every virtue we need for holiness. Pray that we may always do all that is necessary to achieve holiness in our lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Rosalia, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Rosalia 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. Rosalia as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers she brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. Rosalia, you were very pious as a young woman. You served God faithfully for the rest of your life here on earth. After your death, your apparitions and the miracles brought about by your intercession inspired many people to pious practices honoring you.
Please bring all of our petitions before God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that we and all people may grow to a deeper piety.
Pray for us, that we may grow closer to God at every opportunity He 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. Rosalia, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Rosalia 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. Rosalia as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers she brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. Rosalia, you chose to devote your life wholly to God and to live as a hermit when you were a young woman. You lived a life of great love and mortification. After your death, pious practices commemorating your holy life began to flourish in the Church.
Please bring all of our petitions before God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that the Church today may be strong and vibrant.
Pray for us, that we may always be eager to serve God and His Church. Pray that we may do all we can to strive to be saints each day of our lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Rosalia, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.