St. Theodora Guerin Novena
Contents
Show HideSt. Theodora Guerin was an American saint from France who lived in the 1700s-1800s. She was a religious sister. She was also the founder of a religious order.
St. Theodora Guerin did a lot of holy work throughout her life. You can use this novena to seek intercession from this holy sister in many aspects of your life.
About St. Theodora Guerin
St. Theodora Guerin was born in 1798 in France as Anne-Therese Guerin. She was one of four children, but her two brothers died in childhood.
As a child, Anne-Therese was very devout. From a young age, she felt called to a religious vocation. She gained permission to receive her First Communion when she was ten years old, which was two years earlier than usual for that time. On her First Communion day, she told the priest that she wanted to enter religious life when she was older.
When Anne-Therese was fifteen years old, her father was killed. Anne-Therese then became the caretaker for her sister and her mother, who was deeply depressed. Anne-Therese also cared for their home and their garden.
When Anne-Therese was twenty years old, she sought her mother’s permission to leave home and enter a convent. But her mother refused to grant permission. After waiting for five more years to pursue her vocation, Anne-Therese finally gained her mother’s permission.
Anne-Therese entered a religious order called the Sisters of Providence of Ruille-sur-Loir. Her religious name became Sister St. Theodore. She began to teach. During this time, she contracted an illness. Though she recovered, the illness damaged her digestive system and forced her to eat only bland food for the rest of her life.
In 1840, the bishop of Vincennes, Indiana, asked that some sisters from Sister St. Theodore’s convent come to his diocese to minister there. With five other sisters, Sister St. Theodore traveled to Indiana.
During the trip, the sisters were robbed of their money. Despite many difficulties during travel, Sister St. Theodore was most concerned with the question of where she would find students for the school she and her sisters were to establish. When they arrived at their destination, Sister St. Theodore established a new branch of their religious order called the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods.
Mother Theodore’s school soon began to flourish. For more than a decade, it was the only Catholic boarding school for girls in Indiana. Before long, she obtained the first charter for women’s higher education in Indiana. She also established several parish schools and two orphanages.
After enduring poor health for the majority of her adult life, Mother Theodore contracted a final illness in 1856. She died about two months later at the age of fifty-seven. By the time of her death, her congregation had grown to sixty-seven members. She was canonized in 2006 as St. Theodora Guerin.
St. Theodora Guerin’s Feast Day: October 3rd
Why Pray the St. Theodora Guerin Novena?
St. Theodora Guerin is the patron saint of the state of Indiana, of Indianapolis, and of the diocese of Lafayette in Indiana. You can pray the St. Theodora Guerin Novena to seek her intercession if you live in one of these areas. Or you can pray the St. Theodora Guerin Novena for someone you know who lives in one of these areas.
You can also pray the St. Theodora Guerin Novena if you are discerning a vocation to the Sisters of Providence, since she established a new branch of the Sisters of Providence. Or you can pray this novena to seek St. Theodora Guerin’s intercession for a Sister of Providence whom you know.
You can pray the St. Theodora Guerin Novena for any intention!
St. Theodora Guerin Novena Prayers
St. Theodora Guerin 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. Theodora Guerin as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers she brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. Theodora, you were very devout as a child. You felt called to devote your life to God as a religious sister from the time you were young. You continued to serve God with great devotion throughout the rest of your life.
Please bring all of our petitions to God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that all children will receive the love and formation they need.
Pray for us, that we may always do all we can to grow closer to God each day. 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. Theodora Guerin, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Theodora Guerin 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. Theodora Guerin as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers she brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. Theodora, your early family life provided you the formation you needed to become devoted to God as a young child. When you grew older, your family life became very difficult with the death of your father. But you remained steadfast in your faith.
Please bring all of our petitions to God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that all families may be full of love and holiness.
Pray for us, that we may always carry out the duties of our vocation faithfully each day of our lives. Pray that we will grow closer to God even in the midst of difficulties.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Theodora Guerin, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Theodora Guerin 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. Theodora Guerin as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers she brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. Theodora, from the time you were a young child, you felt that God was calling you to serve Him in the religious life. You followed God’s call and served Him faithfully as a religious sister for many years.
Please bring 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 be open to serving God in whatever ways He calls us to.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Theodora Guerin, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Theodora Guerin 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. Theodora Guerin as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers she brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. Theodora, when you were a young woman, you longed to serve God in the religious life. But your mother refused to grant you permission because of her dependence on you. You patiently waited until your mother was ready to let you go.
Please bring all of our petitions to God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that we may grow in the patience we need for holiness.
Pray for us, that we will grow in every virtue we need for holiness. Pray that we may do all we can to grow in holiness at every opportunity God gives us.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Theodora Guerin, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Theodora Guerin 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. Theodora Guerin as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers she brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. Theodora, you persevered through many difficulties as you pursued your vocation as a religious sister. While you traveled to America, you endured many trials. Despite the many sufferings you faced during your life, you persevered in serving God faithfully.
Please bring all of our petitions to God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that we may grow in the perseverance we need for holiness.
Pray for us, that we may do all we can to advance in holiness and virtue. Pray that we may never allow any sufferings we might face to deter us from serving God.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Theodora Guerin, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Theodora Guerin 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. Theodora Guerin as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers she brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. Theodora, you entered the Sisters of Providence when you were a young woman. When you traveled to America to minister there, you established a new branch of the Sisters of Providence. You continued serving God in this religious order for the rest of your life.
Please bring all of our petitions to God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that all members of the Sisters of Providence religious order may be holy servants of God.
Pray for us, that we may always do all we can to carry out the duties of our vocation faithfully. Pray that we will grow in our relationship with God each day of our lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Theodora Guerin, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Theodora Guerin 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. Theodora Guerin as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers she brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. Theodora, you served God faithfully as a Sister of Providence for many years. You did a lot of important work for Catholic education in America. You established the first Catholic boarding school for girls in Indiana, and you established many parish schools.
Please bring all of our petitions to God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that all Catholic schools may be successful in their holy work.
Pray for us, that we may always do all we can to bring souls to God. 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. Theodora Guerin, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Theodora Guerin 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. Theodora Guerin as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers she brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. Theodora, you contracted an illness that damaged your digestive system. Though you were forced to eat only bland food for the rest of your life, you did not allow your suffering to deter you from serving God faithfully.
Please bring all of our petitions to God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may strengthen and assist all who suffer from chronic illness.
Pray for us, that we may always offer any sufferings we endure in union with Christ’s. Pray that we may take every opportunity God gives us to grow in holiness.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Theodora Guerin, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Theodora Guerin 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. Theodora Guerin as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers she brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. Theodora, you served God faithfully as a Sister of Providence for many years. You did a lot of important work for the Church in America, and your religious order continues to serve the Church in America today.
Please bring all of our petitions to God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that the Church in America and in the whole world will be strong and vibrant.
Pray for us, that we may always be eager to serve God and His Church in every way we can. Pray that we may be eager to carry out God’s will each day.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Theodora Guerin, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.