St. Anastasia Novena

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St. Anastasia was a martyr who lived in the late second century and early third century. She died during the Christian persecution under Diocletian. She is one of the few women saints mentioned in the Canon of the Mass!

Though not a lot of information is reliably known about St. Anastasia, we know that she died courageously for her Faith. 

You can use this novena to seek intercession from this holy martyr in your life!

About St. Anastasia 

According to legend, Anastasia was born to a pagan father, who was of noble birth. Her mother was St. Fausta of Sirmium. 

Anastasia’s Christian mother ensured that Anastasia was baptized as a child. Though their society was hostile to the Christian Faith, Anastasia was secretly educated in Christian values during her childhood.

When Anastasia was a young woman, her mother died. Then her father arranged for her to marry a pagan man named Publius. Despite being forced to marry, Anastasia remained a virgin.

When the emperor Diocletian began persecuting Christians, Anastasia visited prisons to care for the persecuted Christians there. She brought them food, cared for their physical injuries, and ransomed some of the prisoners.

Anastasia’s servant reported her charitable activity to her husband, so her husband beat her and imprisoned her. 

Anastasia was able to begin a secret correspondence with her advisor, St. Chrysogonus. St. Chrysogonus advised her to accept God’s will, and to be brave and patient. 

Then Anastasia’s husband died, so Anastasia distributed her property to the poor and went to join St. Chrysogonus. 

St. Chrysogonus was soon martyred. After his death, he appeared to a laywoman and instructed her to send Anastasia to three women who were about to be tortured and killed for their Faith. Anastasia arrived just in time to encourage them before they faced torture. She buried their bodies after their deaths.

Anastasia then devoted her time to caring for Christian prisoners. She became known for healing people from the ill-effects of potions and poisons.

Finally, Anastasia was arrested herself for her Christian Faith. The prefect tried to convince her to abandon her Faith, but even threats of torture did nothing to sway her. 

She was sent to a pagan priest in Rome, who gave her the choice between torture or riches and luxury. She chose to stay true to her Faith and accepted torture. 

The pagan priest gave her three days to reconsider, and he decided to force himself upon her. But he was struck blind and afflicted with severe head pain when he tried to touch her.

Anastasia was sentenced to death by starvation. But even though she was starved for sixty days, she was not harmed. Then she was sentenced to death by drowning, but St. Theodota appeared and steered the leaky boat to safety. 

Anastasia was finally killed by being burned to death, while she was staked to the ground with her arms and legs stretched out.

St. Anastasia’s Feast Day: December 25th

Why Pray the St. Anastasia Novena?

St. Anastasia is the patron saint of those suffering from poison. You can ask for her prayers if you are suffering from the effects of some kind of poison in your system. Or you can seek her intercession on behalf of someone you know who is suffering from poison.

St. Anastasia is also the patron saint of weavers. You can certainly turn to her for intercession if you work in the cloth industry, or for someone you know who works in the cloth industry.

In addition, St. Anastasia is the patron saint of widows, so you can ask her for prayers if you have been widowed or for a widow you know.

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

St. Anastasia Novena Prayers

St. Anastasia 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. Anastasia as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You she showed from her time as a young child learning the Faith in secret, until her martyrdom.

St. Anastasia, you were born in a society that was hostile to the Christian Faith. Though Christians were often persecuted, your mother ensured that you were raised in the Faith that she loved. You were raised to be faithful to God.

Please be faithful in bringing my petitions before God!

The education in the Faith you received as a child laid the foundation for your virtuous, holy life that eventually ended in martyrdom.

Pray for me, that my love and gratitude for the Faith may never waver. Pray that I may live a life of faithfulness, as you did.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. Anastasia, pray for us!

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

Amen.

St. Anastasia 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. Anastasia as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue she showed in remaining faithful to You throughout familial loss and discord.

St. Anastasia, you lost your mother when you were a young woman. Despite the pain and sorrow you must have felt, you never wavered in your commitment to virtue or your love of God.

Please bring my petitions before God Whom you loved so dearly!

You experienced great discord and suffering in your marriage to Publius. When he learned of your charitable activity toward persecuted Christians, he beat you and imprisoned you. Amidst this suffering, you remained faithful and virtuous.

Pray for me, that I may never allow suffering to deter me from being faithful to God. Pray that I may always seek to serve Him in my life, no matter the cost.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. Anastasia, pray for us!

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

Amen.

St. Anastasia 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. Anastasia as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue she showed in her care for the poor and suffering around her.

St. Anastasia, you were moved with compassion for your suffering brothers and sisters in Christ. You brought the imprisoned Christians food, cared for their physical injuries, and even ransomed some of the prisoners.

Please bring my petitions before God Whom you served in your brothers and sisters!

Your care for these suffering people enraged your husband. But as soon as you were able to, you resumed your work of charity toward the suffering. 

Pray for me, that I may always be ready and willing to help care for the suffering around me in my life. Pray that I may lovingly serve those whom God places before me, for the love of Him.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. Anastasia, pray for us!

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

Amen.

St. Anastasia 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. Anastasia as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You she showed in remaining faithful amidst suffering and abuse at the hands of her husband.

St. Anastasia, you sought to serve God through charity towards persecuted Christians. This good work of yours enraged your pagan husband. Though he imprisoned you and beat you, you remained steadfast in hope and faith in God.

Please be steadfast in bringing my petitions before God!

St. Chrysogonus advised you to be brave, patient, and accepting of God’s will. You strove to carry out this counsel, and you continued to serve God throughout your trials.

Pray for me, that I may never allow suffering to deter me from serving God. Pray that I may be steadfast in my faith, no matter what trials I might face.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. Chrysogonus, pray for us!

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

Amen.

St. Anastasia 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. Anastasia as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue she showed in holding steadfast to her Faith amidst the trial of imprisonment.

St. Anastasia, you were imprisoned for no just reason, when your husband became enraged at your charitable activity toward persecuted Christians. Despite the suffering you endured in this treatment, you persevered in holiness.

Please persevere in bringing my petitions before God!

When your husband died, you resumed your charitable works and distributed your property to the poor. You continued to live your life in holiness, until you finally gave up your life for your Faith.

Pray for me, that I may persevere in holiness despite any sufferings I might face. Pray that I may always seek to serve God, no matter the cost.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. Anastasia, pray for us!

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

Amen.

St. Anastasia 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. Anastasia as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue she showed in seeking advice from the holy St. Chrysogonus during her time of trial.

St. Anastasia, you were unjustly imprisoned by your pagan husband because of your charitable works toward persecuted Christians. Alone in your imprisonment, you sought counsel from holy St. Chrysogonus, in order to understand how you might best serve God during your suffering.

Please bring my petitions before God Whom you longed to serve!

You accepted St. Chrysogonus’ advice and sought to be brave, patient, and accept God’s will. When your husband died, you joined St. Chrysogonus and continued your holy works.

Pray for me, that I may always seek to understand God’s will for me in the midst of trials. Pray that I may never allow suffering to deter me from doing God’s will.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. Anastasia, pray for us!

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

Amen.

St. Anastasia 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. Anastasia as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You she showed in encouraging other persecuted Christians in their sufferings.

St. Anastasia, you did a lot of charitable deeds among persecuted Christians. After your adviser St. Chrysogonus was martyred, he appeared and instructed that you be sent to encourage three Christian women who were going to be martyred.

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

You eagerly set off to encourage the Christian women, as St. Chrysogonus had requested. You arrived just before they faced torture and did your best to encourage them. After their deaths, you buried their bodies.

Pray for me, that I may always seek to encourage others in the Faith. Pray that I may take every opportunity be a holy encouragement to others in my life.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. Anastasia, pray for us!

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

Amen.

St. Anastasia 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. Anastasia as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue she showed in holding fast to her faith courageously, to the point of death.

St. Anastasia, you were brought before a pagan priest to be tried for the crime of being a Christian. He gave you the choice between torture if you held fast to your faith, or riches and luxury if you denounced it. You courageously chose to be tortured for your Christian faith.

Please bring my petitions before God Whom you loved so dearly!

You were then sentenced to death by starvation. When God protected you from death in this way, you faced further suffering and torture. But you never wavered in your courage or your love of God.

Pray for me, that I may be courageous in practicing my Faith. Pray that I may hold fast to my Faith even to the point of death if necessary.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. Anastasia, pray for us!

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

Amen.

St. Anastasia 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. Anastasia as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You she showed in refusing to renounce her Faith amidst persecution and torture.

St. Anastasia, you lived in a society that was hostile to the Christian Faith. Despite the knowledge that you could be tortured and killed for your Faith, you wholeheartedly worked to serve God in your life.

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

You did all you could to encourage other Christians who were being persecuted. You yourself faced the pains of starvation, drowning, and being burned to death. But despite these tortures, you never wavered in your Faith.

Pray for me, that I may be as steadfast in my Faith as you were. Pray that I may never waver in my commitment to God, no matter what suffering I might face.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. Anastasia, pray for us!

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

Amen.