St. Augustine of Canterbury Novena
Contents
Show HideSt. Augustine of Canterbury was a monk who lived in the 500s. He was also an archbishop. He preached in the area that is now England.
St. Augustine of Canterbury’s work of evangelization bore great fruit for the Church. You can use this novena to seek intercession from this great saint in many aspects of your life.
About St. Augustine of Canterbury
St. Augustine of Canterbury was most likely born in the early 500s in Italy. Little is known for certain about his early life.
In the late 500s, Augustine was prior of his Benedictine monastery in Rome. In 595, Pope Gregory the Great chose Augustine to lead an evangelical mission to Kent in Britain. It is not known why Pope Gregory chose Augustine to lead the mission, but the pope did refer in a letter to Augustine’s biblical knowledge.
Augustine traveled to Britain with about forty companions. Not long after setting out from Rome, the group of missionaries felt overcome by misgivings about their large task of evangelization. Augustine returned to Rome, asking Pope Gregory to allow them to return and abandon their mission. But Pope Gregory refused and insisted they carry out their mission. Gregory also gave Augustine letters of encouragement to take back to the other missionaries.
In 597, Augustine’s group of missionaries arrived in Kent. Their early efforts at evangelization were promising, as they were allowed to preach in the capital of Canterbury. The king of the region, who was married to a Christian, soon converted to Christianity as well.
Augustine established an episcopal see in Canterbury. Many sources hold that he had already been consecrated as a bishop before traveling to Britain. He also established the Benedictine monastery of Sts. Peter and Paul. This monastery later came to be called St. Augustine’s Monastery.
Though there may have also been some Christians who had remained in Britain since the end of the Roman Empire, large numbers of people converted in response to the evangelization work of Augustine and his missionaries. Some estimates hold that more than ten thousand people were baptized.
After these successes, Augustine sent one of his companions back to Rome to carry news. Augustine also sought advice from Pope Gregory on several Church issues.
In 601, more missionaries arrived to assist Augustine. They took with them a letter from Pope Gregory that instructed Augustine to consecrate several more bishops.
In 604, Augustine established two more bishoprics in Britain. Through the work of Augustine, a more active missionary style was established for evangelizing the area. His holy example led to further evangelization efforts in the area.
Before Augustine’s death in 604, he arranged for St. Lawrence of Canterbury to be consecrated as his successor. St. Augustine is known as the “Apostle to the English” because of his work in converting the people of Britain.
St. Augustine of Canterbury’s Feast Day: May 27th
Why Pray the St. Augustine of Canterbury Novena?
St. Augustine of Canterbury is the patron saint of England. You can pray the St. Augustine of Canterbury Novena if you live in England or are planning to travel to England. You can also use this novena to seek St. Augustine of Canterbury’s intercession for someone you know who lives in England or is traveling to England.
Additionally, you can pray the St. Augustine of Canterbury Novena if you work in evangelization or for someone you know who works in evangelization, since he did a lot of important evangelization work in England.
You can pray the St. Augustine of Canterbury Novena for any intention!
St. Augustine of Canterbury Novena Prayers
St. Augustine of Canterbury 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. Augustine of Canterbury as an example of holiness. Please hear the petitions he brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. Augustine of Canterbury, we know nothing of your early life. But we know that you followed God’s call to serve Him in the religious life. Then you spent the rest of your life serving Him as a monk and a bishop.
We ask you to bring all of our prayers 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 respond generously to God’s call in our life. Pray that we may serve Him faithfully at every opportunity.
And we especially pray in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Augustine of Canterbury, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Augustine of Canterbury 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. Augustine of Canterbury as an example of holiness. Please hear the petitions he brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. Augustine of Canterbury, you answered God’s call to serve Him in the religious life. You faithfully led your monastery as its prior. When you were sent to evangelize in Britain, you worked to establish a monastery there so that more men could serve God as monks.
We ask you to bring all of our prayers before God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that all monks may be holy servants of God.
Pray for us, that we may always do all we can to carry out God’s will in our lives. Pray that we may devote ourselves more fully to God each day of our lives.
And we especially pray in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Augustine of Canterbury, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Augustine of Canterbury 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. Augustine of Canterbury as an example of holiness. Please hear the petitions he brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. Augustine of Canterbury, you were chosen by Pope Gregory the Great to lead a mission of evangelization to Britain. You submitted yourself to Church authority and agreed to lead this mission. When your companions began to waver in courage and asked to return, you again submitted yourself to the pope’s authority and continued your mission.
We ask you to bring all of our prayers before God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that we and all people may be submissive to Church authority.
Pray for us, that we may grow in all virtues we need for holiness. Pray that we may do all we can to grow closer to God each day.
And we especially pray in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Augustine of Canterbury, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Augustine of Canterbury 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. Augustine of Canterbury as an example of holiness. Please hear the petitions he brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. Augustine of Canterbury, you willingly obeyed Pope Gregory the Great’s command to serve as a missionary to Britain. You faced many difficulties in your work as a missionary in a foreign land, but you successfully brought many people to conversion.
We ask you to bring all of our prayers before God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that all missionaries 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 serve God more wholeheartedly each day of our lives.
And we especially pray in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Augustine of Canterbury, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Augustine of Canterbury 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. Augustine of Canterbury as an example of holiness. Please hear the petitions he brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. Augustine of Canterbury, you set out with around forty companions to evangelize Britain. But many of your companions were overcome with misgivings about their mission. Despite these difficulties, you and your companions successfully evangelized Britain and brought many souls to God.
We ask you to bring all of our prayers before God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God will help all who struggle with fear.
Pray for us, that we may always be courageous in all that we do. Pray that we may do all we can to answer God’s call generously in our lives each day.
And we especially pray in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Augustine of Canterbury, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Augustine of Canterbury 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. Augustine of Canterbury as an example of holiness. Please hear the petitions he brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. Augustine of Canterbury, you carried out the difficult work of preaching the Gospel in a foreign land. But your work was made less difficult by the cooperation of the British king, who soon converted to Christianity himself.
We ask you to bring all of our prayers before God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God will help all worldly leaders to be just and virtuous as they rule.
Pray for us, that we may do all we can to serve God faithfully in every part of our lives. Pray that we may grow closer to God each day of our lives.
And we especially pray in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Augustine of Canterbury, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Augustine of Canterbury 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. Augustine of Canterbury as an example of holiness. Please hear the petitions he brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. Augustine of Canterbury, you were sent by Pope Gregory the Great to preach the Gospel in Britain. Though you faced many difficulties in your holy work, your preaching helped bring thousands of souls to the Church.
We ask you to bring all of our prayers before God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that all preachers may be effective in their holy work.
Pray for us, that we may never hesitate to do all we can to bring souls to God. Pray that we may seek to bring souls to conversion at every opportunity we encounter.
And we especially pray in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Augustine of Canterbury, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Augustine of Canterbury 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. Augustine of Canterbury as an example of holiness. Please hear the petitions he brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. Augustine of Canterbury, we know very little about your ordination as a bishop. But we know that you served faithfully and effectively as the first bishop of Canterbury. Your work as bishop helped bring many souls to God.
We ask you to bring all of our prayers before God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that all bishops may be holy leaders of their flocks.
Pray for us, that we may never hesitate to answer God’s call to serve Him in our lives. Pray that we may strive to grow closer to God each day of our lives.
And we especially pray in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Augustine of Canterbury, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Augustine of Canterbury 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. Augustine of Canterbury as an example of holiness. Please hear the petitions he brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. Augustine of Canterbury, you were a faithful servant of God and His Church throughout your whole life. You served God as a monk, a missionary, and a bishop. Through your holy efforts, many souls came to God and His Church.
We ask you to bring all of our prayers before God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that the Church in England and in the whole world may be holy and vibrant.
Pray for us, that we may do all we can to serve God and His Church each day. Pray that we may respond generously to God’s call to serve Him at every opportunity.
And we especially pray in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Augustine of Canterbury, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.