St. Thorlak Novena
Contents
Show HideSt. Thorlak is one of the few canonized saints from Iceland! He was a priest and bishop who lived in the 1100s. Though he was fond of monastic life, he agreed to become a bishop in order to work for Church reform in Iceland. He spent a lot of his time working on reforming the laxity of clerical celibacy and the general level of morality in his society.
Many Catholics in Iceland pray to St. Thorlak. Even if you’re not from Iceland, you can use this novena to ask for intercession from this Icelandic saint!
About St. Thorlak
Thorlak was born in 1133 in southern Iceland. His parents were poor farmers, and they recognized that their son was gifted from an early age. They arranged for him to receive religious instruction from their priest.
Before Thorlak was fifteen years old, he was ordained a deacon. He was ordained a priest at age eighteen.
After he was ordained, Thorlak left Iceland to study theology in France and England. While he was abroad, Thorlak began following the monastic rule of St. Augustine (a brief rule of common life for lay Christians, written by St. Augustine).
When Thorlak returned to Iceland, he was pressured to marry a rich widow. But Thorlak remained firm in his commitment to celibacy and refused.
Shortly after, Thorlak founded a monastery that followed the Augustinian rule. This monastery became a well-known place of prayer.
Eventually, the Norwegian archbishop, who was also an Augustinian, called on Thorlak to become bishop of the diocese of Skalholt in Iceland. Thorlak was fond of his monastic life, but he saw that the need for reform and guidance in this diocese was great, so he accepted the position.
As a bishop, Thorlak worked to implement the reforms that Pope Gregory VII had started in the past century. Thorlak focused on reforming the laxity of clerical celibacy in his diocese. He also worked to remove secular intrusion from Church matters.
Another reform Thorlak focused on was the morality of the public. Iceland’s most powerful and popular chieftain was reported to have had an extramarital affair with the bishop’s sister, and Thorlak boldly confronted the chieftain about the matter.
After he had served as bishop for fifteen years, Thorlak decided to resign and return to his beloved monastic life. But before he could do so, he died.
Details of St. Thorlak’s life and his miracles are written in the Icelandic saga The Saga of St. Thorlak. The Assembly of Iceland declared Thorlak a saint just five years after his death. He was officially canonized by Pope St. John Paul II in 1984.
Thorlak is the only canonized saint who was born in Iceland. During Iceland’s time as a Catholic country, over fifty churches dedicated to him were established.
Though Iceland is not a predominantly Catholic country today, celebration of St. Thorlak’s feast day on December 23rd has remained a popular national custom. Many people gather on his feast to eat cured fish and to prepare for the upcoming feast of Christmas.
St. Thorlak’s Feast Day: December 23rd
Why Pray the St. Thorlak Novena?
St. Thorlak is the patron saint of Iceland and of Catholics in Scandinavia. You can seek his intercession if you live in Iceland or Scandinavia, or for anyone you know who lives there.
Many people also turn to St. Thorlak for help in difficulties related to autism and autism spectrum disabilities.
St. Thorlak is also a great saint to turn to for intercession on behalf of the Church, since he was instrumental in bringing about Church reform in his own time.
You can also ask St. Thorlak for prayers for your bishop, since he spent many years of his life as a holy bishop.
You can pray the St. Thorlak Novena for any intention!
St. Thorlak Novena Prayers
St. Thorlak 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. Thorlak as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the openness to Your will that he showed in responding generously to Your call to serve You in the priesthood.
St. Thorlak, you were inclined toward serving God from a very young age. You followed your parents’ direction to begin instruction in the Faith as a child. You were ordained as a deacon before age fifteen, and as a priest in God’s service when you were just eighteen.
Please bring my intentions before God Whom you served so generously!
You willingly chose to devote your life to serving God. You faithfully carried out the duties of your vocation as a priest, and later as a bishop.
Pray for me, that I may serve God as wholeheartedly in my vocation as you did. Pray that I can discern and hear God’s voice with clarity. Pray that I can move forward with my vocation in confidence.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Thorlak, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Thorlak 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. Thorlak as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the holiness he showed in entering monastic life and in practicing it worthily.
St. Thorlak, you were attracted to monastic life shortly after becoming a priest. While you studied theology, you chose to begin following the monastic rule of St. Augustine to serve God in an even more wholehearted manner.
Please pray for my needs, as you’ve prayed for so many others!
You established an Augustinian monastery in your home country, in order that others might practice this way of life along with you. Even when you had to leave your monastery to serve God as a bishop, you continued on in the practice of holiness that you began in monastic life.
Pray for me, that I may persevere in holiness my whole life, as you did. Pray that I can find peace in my days and in my work, and that I will make time for prayer each week.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Thorlak, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Thorlak 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. Thorlak as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the holiness he showed in remaining faithful to his priestly vocation, despite the corruption around him.
St. Thorlak, you were ordained as a priest when you were very young. But you knew from this young age of the devotion and holiness necessary to carry out your priestly vocation.
Please bring my intentions faithfully before the throne of God!
You withstood pressures from those around you to abandon your vow of celibacy. You saw that the Church in your society was in need of reform. You worked to bring your fellow clergymen out of their laxity and abuse, and back to devout service of God.
Pray for me, that I may be as dedicated to serving God worthily as you were. Pray that I will remain faithful and that I will allow my faith to shape how I live each day.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Thorlak, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Thorlak 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. Thorlak as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the holiness he showed in faithfully carrying out the duties entrusted to him as a bishop, despite the many obstacles he faced in leading his diocese to holiness.
St. Thorlak, you were fond of your life in a monastery and were reluctant to leave it. But seeing that the diocese you could lead was in need of deep reform, you accepted the role of bishop and dedicated yourself to serving God in this role.
Please bring my intentions before God Whom you served so faithfully!
You had a great amount of work to do in reforming the Church in your diocese. You worked tirelessly to bring about this reform and to lead your flock to holiness.
Pray for me, that I may never miss the opportunity to bring others in my life to holiness.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Thorlak, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Thorlak 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. Thorlak as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the holiness he showed in choosing to enter monastic life under the rule of St. Augustine and in founding an Augustinian monastery.
St. Thorlak, you were drawn to the practice of monasticism early on in your time as a priest. You chose to follow the rule of St. Augustine to serve God in a more radical way.
Please pray for my intentions, as you’ve prayed for the needs of many others!
When you returned to your home country of Iceland, you founded a monastery based on the rule of St. Augustine, so that others might serve God in the monastic vocation as well. This monastery became well-known as a place of prayer in Iceland.
Pray for me, that I may always turn to prayer in my life. Pray that I may remember God’s presence as I go about my days. Pray that I will remember that I’m never alone and that I am always loved by Him.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Thorlak, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Thorlak 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. Thorlak as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the holiness he showed in seeking to reform Your Church and in trying to bring the leaders of the Church around him to holiness.
St. Thorlak, you served God worthily as a priest and a bishop. You persevered in virtue in your own life, and you sought to bring your fellow clergymen back to devout service of God.
Just as you worked to bring others to God, please bring my intentions before the throne of God!
There were many problems and deep corruption within the Church in your day. You worked zealously to bring about true reform in the Church, knowing that much help was needed.
Pray for me, that I may serve God worthily in my own life. Pray that I can discern how I may work to bring about true reform in the Church. Pray that I will follow God’s will faithfully.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Thorlak, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Thorlak 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. Thorlak as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the holiness he showed in seeking to improve the spiritual problems he saw among his fellow clergymen within the Church.
St. Thorlak, there were many problems and imperfections among the clergy in your society. There were problems with secular powers intruding into Church matters, and many clergy members had become lax.
Please come to my aid, as you sought to aid the Church!
Knowing that the Pope had already begun working to implement reform, you sought to continue his work in your country. You worked to improve the laxity in clerical celibacy, and you sought to help the laity strengthen their morality as well.
Pray for me, that I may always seek every opportunity to become holier and to lead others to holiness.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Thorlak, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Thorlak 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. Thorlak as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the holiness he showed in working to bring the Church in his country back to a holy practice of the Faith.
St. Thorlak, you knew that much was lacking in the practice of the Faith in your country. You saw the great laxity and corruption around you. Knowing that true reform and guidance were needed, you accepted the task of becoming a bishop.
Please assist me in my need, as you desired to assist the Church in your country!
You did a lot of work to bring about true reform in Iceland. You truly desired to bring your countrymen back to holy practice of the Faith.
Pray for me, that I may always seek to bring those around me to deeper practice of the Faith. Pray that I will remain committed to my own prayer life so that I can encourage others in theirs. Pray that my faith will grow stronger each week, even in the face of the trials and sufferings that exist in my life.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Thorlak, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Thorlak 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. Thorlak as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the holiness he showed in speaking up against the immorality and laxity present in the Church and society around him.
St. Thorlak, you knew that there was a lot of work to be done for reform, both within the Church hierarchy of your time and among the laity. You agreed to become bishop because you wished to work for this good.
Help me in my needs, as you worked to help the needs of the Church!
You were not timid or fearful in your work of reform. You chose to boldly confront a powerful chieftain about his extramarital affair. You thought little of your own safety or security, thinking instead of the chance to bring others back to God.
Pray for me, that I may never fear to speak up against evil when necessary. Pray that I will allow the Holy Spirit to work and speak through me. Pray that I will be open to being moved by God’s hand in my life, so that I can do His will.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Thorlak, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.