St. Margaret Clitherow Novena
Contents
Show HideSt. Margaret Clitherow was an English laywoman who lived in the 1500s. She was a convert to the Catholic Faith. During Margaret’s lifetime, English Catholics were being persecuted under the rule of Queen Elizabeth I. Margaret was eventually martyred for her Catholic Faith.
You can use this novena to seek intercession from this courageous martyr in your life!
About St. Margaret Clitherow
St. Margaret Clitherow was born in 1556 in York, England. She had four siblings, and her parents were Protestants. Her father died when she was fourteen years old.
In 1571, Margaret married a well-to-do butcher named John Clitherow. John was an Anglican, but his brother was a Catholic priest. Margaret decided to convert to Catholicism in 1574.
Margaret was fined for not attending Anglican church services. Then, in 1577, she was imprisoned for her lack of attendance at Anglican services. She was also arrested two more times for this charge. She gave birth to her third child while she was in prison.
In 1584, the government declared harboring priests to be a capital offense. But Margaret was not deterred by threat of death. Though her house was being watched by authorities, she allowed priests to hide and celebrate Mass in her home. She also rented another house to hide priests in and to have them say Mass in.
Margaret eventually sent her oldest son to the seminary to study for the priesthood. The seminary had relocated from England to Reims because of the persecution in England.
Because their son was abroad, authorities summoned Margaret’s husband to explain the cause of their son’s departure. Authorities then had the Clitherow home searched, and a scared child showed the authorities where the priest hole was.
Margaret was arrested for the crime of harboring Catholic priests. She was brought before the court but refused to plead. She refused so that she could not be brought to trial, because she knew her children would be questioned and probably tortured if she were tried. Authorities attempted to make her renounce her Faith, but Margaret held fast.
Despite her refusal to plead, Margaret was killed anyway. On Good Friday 1586, she was executed by being crushed to death under her own door, which was laden with extremely heavy weights. Sharp rocks were also placed on her back in order to break her back.
This punishment was ordered in an attempt to force Margaret to make a plea, but instead she held fast to her refusal and died within fifteen minutes of the start of her crushing. She was pregnant with her fourth child at the time. Her body was left under the weight for six hours.
St. Margaret Clitherow was canonized in 1970 with many others who died during the English persecution of Catholics. These martyrs were known as the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.
St. Margaret Clitherow’s Feast Day: August 30th
Why Pray the St. Margaret Clitherow Novena?
St. Margaret Clitherow is the patron saint of businesswomen. You can ask her to pray for you if you are a businesswoman, or you can ask her to pray for a businesswoman you know.
St. Margaret Clitherow is also the patron saint of converts. You can seek her intercession if you are a convert or if you are in the process of converting to the Catholic Faith. You can also ask her to pray for someone you know who is a convert or who is in the process of converting to the Catholic Faith.
You can pray the St. Margaret Clitherow Novena for any intention!
St. Margaret Clitherow Novena Prayers
St. Margaret Clitherow 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. Margaret Clitherow as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You she showed in living out her vocation as a wife and mother.
St. Margaret Clitherow, you were a loving wife and mother to your husband and your children. Though you faced many tribulations because of your new Catholic Faith, you carried out the duties of your vocation faithfully.
Please bring my petitions before God with such faithfulness!
Even as the possibility of your own death neared, you were careful to ensure the welfare of your own children by refusing to make a plea for yourself.
Pray for me, that I may carry out the duties of my own vocation faithfully. Pray that I may be a holy servant of God in my life.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Margaret Clitherow, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Margaret Clitherow 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. Margaret Clitherow as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You she showed in choosing to convert to the Catholic Faith despite government persecution.
St. Margaret Clitherow, you were raised as a Protestant and married a Protestant. But your love for God led you to convert to His Catholic Church.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you loved so dearly!
Catholics were being persecuted on account of their religion in your country, but you boldly chose to become a Catholic anyway. You followed God’s call despite the threat of death and torture for your Faith.
Pray for me, that I may be as courageous a servant of God as you were. Pray that I may grow in devotion to God and His Church each day.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Margaret Clitherow, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Margaret Clitherow 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. Margaret Clitherow as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue she showed as she faced persecution for her new Catholic Faith.
St. Margaret Clitherow, you must have known that choosing to become a Catholic could be a very difficult path for you. But you decided to become a Catholic anyway, and you persevered in your new Faith.
Please persevere in bringing my petitions before the throne of God!
Catholics in your country were being brutally tortured and killed for their Faith. But you were not deterred, and you held fast to your Faith to the point of death.
Pray for me, that I may be courageous in my practice of the Faith. Pray that I may never allow suffering to deter me from serving God.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Margaret Clitherow, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Margaret Clitherow 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. Margaret Clitherow as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You she showed throughout the many trials of persecution on account of her Faith.
St. Margaret Clitherow, you lived in a time when being a Catholic was a punishable offense. Though the conditions in your country made it so that you did not always have consistent access to the sacraments of the Church, you continued to serve God faithfully.
Please continue to bring my petitions before God with such faithfulness!
You eagerly worked to assist priests in carrying out their holy duties, even though you knew of the dangers involved. You did not allow the threat of death or torture to deter you from heroically serving God.
Pray for me, that I may never be discouraged by trials in my life. Pray that I may persevere in serving God, no matter the cost.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Margaret Clitherow, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Margaret Clitherow 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. Margaret Clitherow as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue she showed in choosing to do what was right, no matter the cost.
St. Margaret Clitherow, you converted to Catholicism even though Catholics were being persecuted in your country. Then, you did all you could to serve God faithfully despite the threat of suffering.
Please do all you can to bring my petitions before the throne of God!
Even though practicing your Catholic Faith and assisting priests was a punishable offense, you boldly chose to hide priests and to help other Catholics through your work.
Pray for me, that I may always have the fortitude to do what is right in my life, no matter the cost. Pray that I may never allow sufferings to deter me from serving God faithfully.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Margaret Clitherow, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Margaret Clitherow 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. Margaret Clitherow as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You she showed in courageously practicing her Faith amidst persecution.
St. Margaret Clitherow, you boldly chose to assist and hide priests as they fled from the persecution of the government. Though you knew you could be punished severely for this, you continued to serve God courageously.
Please continue to bring my petitions before the throne of God!
After you were arrested on account of your Faith, you courageously resisted the authorities’ attempts to make you renounce your Faith. You ultimately chose to die for your Catholic Faith.
Pray for me, that I may always practice my Faith courageously. 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. Margaret Clitherow, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Margaret Clitherow 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. Margaret Clitherow as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You she showed in choosing to assist Your priests amidst persecution.
St. Margaret Clitherow, you lived in a society that persecuted Catholics and especially priests. You knew how important priests are to God’s Church, so you faithfully worked to assist and protect priests.
Please bring my petitions before God with such faithfulness!
You provided hiding places for many priests and made it possible for them to say Mass. Because of your holy work, many Catholics benefitted from the continued ministry of the priests you assisted.
Pray for me, that I may never allow the threat of suffering to deter me from serving God. Pray that I may serve God worthily in whatever ways He calls me to.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Margaret Clitherow, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Margaret Clitherow 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. Margaret Clitherow as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue she showed by persevering in her Faith to the point of torture and death.
St. Margaret Clitherow, you knew that you could be tortured and killed for your work assisting priests. But you persevered in your Faith and in your holy work, out of love for God.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you loved so devotedly!
When you were arrested for your Faith, you refused to make a plea in order that your children might be spared. Though authorities tried to make you renounce your Faith and tried to force you to make a plea, you persevered through torture and gave your life for the Faith.
Pray for me, that I may always persevere in virtue and in my Faith. Pray that I may hold fast to my Faith no matter what sufferings I might endure.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Margaret Clitherow, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Margaret Clitherow 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. Margaret Clitherow as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You she showed in her courageous service to You and Your Church.
St. Margaret Clitherow, you chose to enter the Catholic Church at a time when Catholics were being persecuted in your country. You persevered in serving God’s Church courageously despite the threat of torture and death.
Please persevere in bringing my petitions before God!
You worked courageously to hide and assist priests as they fled from the government. Because of your holy efforts, many Catholics were able to spiritually benefit from these priests’ ministry.
Pray for me, that I may always be eager to do all I can to serve God and His Church. Pray that I may never allow difficulties to deter me from serving God.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Margaret Clitherow, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.