St. Adalbert Novena

New here? Join us in Prayer! Click here to get novena reminders by email!

St. Adalbert was a bishop who lived in Prague in the 900s. He was a missionary and a martyr. His work to bring Baltic Prussians to Christianity led to his eventual martyrdom.

St. Adalbert was known for his missionary work among the Hungarians, the Poles, and the Prussians. You can use this novena to ask for intercession from this holy missionary martyr!

About St. Adalbert 

St. Adalbert was born in the mid 900’s in one of the most powerful families in Bohemia. He was originally named Vojtěch. Adalbert’s father was a duke, and Adalbert had five brothers.

When Adalbert was a child, he contracted a grave illness. After he recovered, Adalbert’s parents chose to dedicate him to God’s service. His parents then sent him to study in Magdeberg.

Adelbert studied in Magdeberg for ten years, under the tutelage of St. Adelbert of Magdeberg. When Adalbert was baptized, he took the name of his teacher.

St. Adelbert of Madeberg died in 981, and young Adalbert returned to his home land. He hoped to carry out missionary work and reform among the clergy. The bishop of Prague ordained Adelbert to the priesthood. When this bishop died a year later, Adalbert was chosen as the new bishop of Prague. 

As bishop, Adalbert avoided luxury and excess. He was known for his charity and his spirit of austerity. He made little progress in evangelizing his people during his first six years as bishop. Despite his prayer and preaching, the people of Prague continued in pagan practices.

Adalbert’s people were participating in polygamy and idolatry. Adalbert opposed these practices. He also preached against his people’s participation in the slave trade. But his reforms were opposed by both secular rulers and clergy. 

After Adalbert’s family refused to support an unsuccessful war, Adalbert was no longer welcome in the country and was forced to go into exile.

Adalbert lived as a hermit in a monastery for five years, until the Pope sent him back to his homeland. When he arrived back in Prague as bishop, his people seemed joyful. Around this time, Adalbert founded the first monastery in Czech territory.

During a war between rival clans, many of Adalbert’s family members were killed. Then, he came into conflict with enemies of his family when he excommunicated the murderers of a noblewoman. When it became clear that Adalbert could not stay in the area safely any longer, he requested a brief from his episcopal office to work as a missionary.

As a missionary, Adalbert traveled to Hungary and then to Poland. In Poland, he was installed as the bishop of the diocese of Gniezno. But he later relinquished this diocese as well, so he could set out to preach as a missionary in Prussia.

When Adalbert’s preaching against paganism irritated some of the Prussians he encountered, some pagan priests instigated his murder. 

St. Adalbert’s Feast Day: April 23rd

Why Pray the St. Adalbert Novena?

St. Adalbert is the patron saint of Poland and of Bohemia. You can ask for his prayers if you live in Poland or Bohemia, or for someone you know who lives there. 

St. Adalbert is also a great saint to seek prayers from if you are working as a missionary, since he spent much of his life devoted to mission work.

You can also ask St. Adalbert to pray for you if you are being persecuted for your Faith, since he suffered and eventually was killed because of his Faith.

You can pray the St. Adalbert Novena for any intention!

St. Adalbert Novena Prayers

St. Adalbert 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 Your servant, St. Adalbert, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the dedication to Your service that he showed from the time of his recovery from illness as a young child.

St. Adalbert, your path to holiness began when your parents chose to dedicate you to God’s service, after you recovered from a grave illness as a child. You then spent the rest of your life devoted to God.

Please bring my petitions before God Whom you served!

You continued on to be ordained as a priest. Later you became a bishop, a missionary, and a martyr for the Faith you had devoted your life to.

Pray for me, that I may be as faithful in my life as you were. Pray that I may eagerly spend my entire life serving God.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. Adalbert, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

St. Adalbert 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 Your servant, St. Adalbert, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue with which he studied before entering Your Church and becoming a priest.

St. Adalbert, you studied under the tutelage of St. Adelbert of Magdeberg for ten years. This pursuit of religious knowledge led you to baptism and priestly ordination.

Please bring my petitions before the throne of God Whom you studied so diligently!

You continued on in the path of holiness as you became a priest, a bishop, and a missionary. You eventually came to give up your life for the Faith you loved so dearly.

Pray for me, that I may serve God faithfully in whatever ways He calls me to. Pray that I may remain faithful throughout my whole life, as you did.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here). 

St. Adalbert, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

St. Adalbert 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 Your servant, St. Adalbert, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in choosing to answer Your call to the priesthood. 

St. Adalbert, your years of study under St. Adalbert of Magdeberg led you to baptism in the Catholic Church, and then to priestly ordination. As a priest, you strove to carry out the duties of your vocation with faithfulness.

Please continue to bring my petition before God with such faithfulness!

You longed to work as a missionary and to carry out reform among your fellow clergy. When you were ordained as a bishop, you did all you could to work for the conversion and holiness of your people.

Pray for me, that I may be faithful to the duties of my vocation. Pray that I may work to serve God wholeheartedly at every opportunity. 

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. Adalbert, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

St. Adalbert 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 Your servant, St. Adalbert, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You he showed in working to faithfully shepherd Your people as a bishop.

St. Adalbert, you were ordained as bishop of Prague early on in your life. You immediately set out to do all you could to bring your people to conversion and holiness.

Please continue to bring my petitions before God Whom you served so wholeheartedly!

You preached to your people against pagan practices, polygamy, and slavery. This preaching brought you a lot of opposition from secular and religious rulers. Ultimately, you died because of your devotion to the Faith and its teachings.

Pray for me, that I may be zealous in preaching the Gospel, as you were. Pray that I may always seek to do all I can to lead others to holiness.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here). 

St. Adalbert, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

St. Adalbert 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 Your servant, St. Adalbert, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You he showed in working as a missionary throughout most of his life.

St. Adalbert, you desired to work as a missionary from early on in your life. During your time as a bishop, you persevered in doing all you could to bring your people to conversion. 

Please persevere in bringing my petitions before God!

When you were unable to safely continue on in your duties as a bishop, you traveled as a missionary to Hungary, Poland, and Prussia. Your preaching against sin and your devotion to the truth ultimately brought about your martyrdom. 

Pray for me, that I may work as diligently for the conversion of souls as you did. Pray that I may never allow opposition of others to deter me from preaching the Gospel. 

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. Adalbert, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

St. Adalbert 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 Your servant, St. Adalbert, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in preaching against the sinful practices of his people.

St. Adalbert, you were ordained as bishop of Prague at a time when pagan practices were common among your people. Despite little outward success, you continued to faithfully preach the truth to your people.

Please continue to faithfully bring my petitions before God!

Your opposition to pagan practices was unwavering, as you traveled to Hungary, Poland, and Prussia to work as a missionary. It was ultimately your preaching against these sins that led to your martyrdom. 

Pray for me, that I may be as courageous as you were in proclaiming the truth. Pray that I may never waver in my commitment to the truth, no matter what opposition I may face.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. Adalbert, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

St. Adalbert 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 Your servant, St. Adalbert, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You he showed in holding fast to his Faith amidst opposition and trials.

St. Adalbert, you began your work as a missionary, a priest, and a bishop in a society that was often hostile to your Faith. Despite the opposition you faced from secular and even religious leaders, you continued to hold fast to your Faith.

Please continue to bring my petitions before the throne of God!

You were forced into exile, and later you were later murdered, because of your commitment to God. 

Pray for me, that I may never waver in my commitment to my Faith. Pray that I may persevere amidst all difficulties, even to the point of death if necessary. 

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. Adalbert, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

St. Adalbert 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 Your servant, St. Adalbert, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in continuing his missionary work and preaching amidst all opposition.

St. Adalbert, you dedicated yourself to preaching against pagan practices, from early on in your time as a bishop. You were met with great opposition from secular and religious rulers, but you continued to be faithful to your mission.

Please continue to be faithful in bringing my petitions before God!

Even when your life was in danger from those who did not want to hear your preaching against sin, you did not waver in your commitment to proclaiming the Gospel.

Pray for me, that I may always do what is right, even when I encounter opposition. Pray that I may be faithful to the Truth, even to the point of death if necessary.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. Adalbert, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

St. Adalbert 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 Your servant, St. Adalbert, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You that he showed throughout his life of service in Your Church.

St. Adalbert, you spent many years of your life serving the Church as a bishop and working to preach against pagan practices. Despite the opposition you faced, you persevered in your preaching and your work of reform.

Please persevere in bringing my petitions before God!

When you could no longer carry out your episcopal duties safely, you continued working in service to the Church as a missionary. You ultimately died because of your faithful service to God.

Pray for me, that I may be faithful throughout my whole life, as you were. Pray that I may never weary of serving God.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. Adalbert, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.