St. Nicholas Novena: Table of Contents
- Intro and Early Life
- St. Nicholas of Bari and St. Nicholas of Tolentino
- Early References to St. Nicholas Novena
- How to Pray the St. Nicholas Novena
- Related Novenas
Many children learn of St. Nicholas through the tradition of Santa Claus, but the bishop and saint has inspired the faith life of adult Christians for 2000 years, often through the St. Nicholas Novena.
St. Nicholas is the inspiration for the modern concept of Santa Claus. The name Santa Claus comes from the Dutch form of his name, “Sinterklaas.” As such, he’s an important part of the Advent season leading into Christmas.
It’s during this time that the novena to St. Nicholas is most popular.
St. Nicholas (sometimes called Nicholas of Bari or Nicholas of Myra) was born in 270 A.D. in modern-day Turkey.
Born in a Christian family, Nicholas was orphaned at a young age, but he used his inheritance to assist the poor.
He eventually became bishop of Myra before dying in 343 A.D., not before establishing an unmatched reputation for generosity and gift-giving, along with a bevy of miracles.
Nicholas of Bari and St. Nicholas of Tolentino
St. Nicholas has long been known as a patron saint of children and those facing fertility challenges.
St. Nicholas of Tolentino is named after St. Nicholas of Bari. The former’s parents struggled to have a child and offered the following up to God.
“If God, through your intercession, would grant us a son, we would be very pleased if he would want to become a religious; if however, it would be a girl, may she become a cloistered nun.”
Nine months after they made a pilgrimage to Bari, they gave birth to Nicholas.
History of St. Nicholas Novenas
Novenas, or nine days of prayer, often leading up to a feast day, have a long history in the Church. The St. Nicholas novena is no exception.
While novenas have been popular for centuries, we have written records of a St. Nicholas novena dating back to the mid-19th century.
In 1848, the Roman Advertiser referenced a Novena to St. Nicholas beginning on Monday, November 27–nine days before the feast of St. Nicholas on December 6.
The novena was scheduled to begin “two hours before the Ave Maria” at St. Nicholas dei Prefetti Church, a small church in Rome, still around today, that was rebuilt in 1729.
How to Pray the St. Nicholas Novena
Unlike prayers like the Our Father or Hail Mary, which contain a precise set of words that are prayed the same way, novena prayers can vary. The words in one version can differ from the words in another. Some novenas repeat the same prayer for nine straight days; others have slightly different words for each day.
St. Nicholas Novena – Day 1
Dear St. Nicholas, patron saint of sailors, I humbly beseech you to help guide me through your intercession. Pray for me that I can navigate the challenges in my life with love and kindness that are your hallmark. May your intercession help me overcome any choppy waters in my life. May your example help me to hallow and make holy my life.
I also lift up these special intentions today (list your intention for the novena.)
St. Nicholas, pray for me!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Day 2
St. Nicholas, you were known for your love of children. Pray that I may approach my day with a fraction of the generosity you showed. Pray that I may seek the wonder of God through eyes like those of children, eager to accept the love of my Father. May your example help me to hallow and make holy my life.
I also lift up these special intentions today (list your intention for the novena.)
St. Nicholas, pray for me!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Day 3
Dear St. Nicholas, you were orphaned as a child. Pray for me in moments I feel alone or abandoned. I ask for your intercession especially in times when I drift towards sin and poor decisions. Help me to remember that God is always by my side, a light in my life when I feel alone and when things seem dark and hopeless. May your example help me to hallow and make holy my life.
I also lift up these special intentions today (list your intention for the novena.)
St. Nicholas, pray for me!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Day 4
Most righteous St. Nicholas, whose reputation for generosity has inspired millions across centuries, I come to you today to ask for your prayers. Intercede on my behalf that I may seek to feed the hungry, whether it be those with a physical need or my brothers and sisters with mental, emotional, or spiritual hunger. Guide me to give not of my excess but from my most cherished treasures, should it help build God’s kingdom here on earth. May your example help me to hallow and make holy my life.
I also lift up these special intentions today (list your intention for the novena.)
St. Nicholas, pray for me!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Day 5
St. Nicholas, faithful servant of Christ, you went from bishop to prisoner, unflagging in your faith despite facing persecution because of God. In moments when I feel powerful, pray that I remain humble, remembering Jesus’s words. In moments when we feel weak or defeated, pray that I allow God’s love to uplift me, knowing the prize of heaven that I strive toward. May your example help me to hallow and make holy my life.
I also lift up these special intentions today (list your intention for the novena.)
St. Nicholas, pray for me!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Day 6
St. Nicholas, known for your miracles, inspire me today to see the small miracles in my day. The warmth of the sunrise. The beauty of your creation. The love of those who care for me. The most amazing miracle of Jesus’s presence in the the Eucharist at Mass each day. Through your intercession, may God bless me and open my eyes to the many miracles, big and small, that I sometimes take for granted. May your example help me to hallow and make holy my life.
I also lift up these special intentions today (list your intention for the novena.)
St. Nicholas, pray for me!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Day 7
St. Nicholas, as a boy, you made a journey to the holy land to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. Through your intercession, may I follow in Jesus’s path today and every day, demonstrating love, kindness, strength and sacrifice. May I look to you as an example. Pray that I have the courage to seek Jesus, to follow in His footsteps, and to pursue whatever path He lays out for my life. May your example help me to hallow and make holy my life.
I also lift up these special intentions today (list your intention for the novena.)
St. Nicholas, pray for me!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Day 8
St. Nicholas, your body continues to exude a special “manna” to this day. Your ability to heal is well-known. Pray for me, my health, and the health of my loved ones. Through your intercession, keep me free of disease and illness, both physical and non-physical. May your example help me to hallow and make holy my life.
I also lift up these special intentions today (list your intention for the novena.)
St. Nicholas, pray for me!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Day 9
Dear St. Nicholas, every December, you help point us toward the true meaning of Christmas, not the commercial interpretation we so often find surrounding us when the calendar turns to November. You help remind us of what Christmas means and how the world changed forever when Jesus entered it. Pray that we may be inspired by you to see the true “meaning” behind each day. Work, family, school. They can all be stressful and challenging. Pray that we find peace in Jesus, knowing He was born for us and saved us. Through your intercession, I ask for the peace that only Jesus offers as the Way, Truth, and Life. May your example help me to hallow and make holy my life.
I also lift up these special intentions today (list your intention for the novena.)
St. Nicholas, pray for me!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
More Novenas
For guided novenas, sign up for Hallow today:
Learn more about other novenas: