St. Robert Bellarmine Novena
Contents
Show HideSt. Robert Bellarmine was a Italian priest who lived in the 1500s-1600s. He was a Jesuit, and he eventually became a cardinal. He was named a Doctor of the Church. He was also a significant figure in the Church’s Counter-Reformation.
You can use this novena to seek intercession from this holy priest in your life!
About St. Robert Bellarmine
St. Robert Bellarmine was born in 1452. He had nine siblings. His parents were members of the nobility but were very poor. His mother was a relative of the Pope, and she was a very pious woman.
During his childhood and adolescence, Robert learned Italian and Latin. He wrote several poems in both languages, as well as a hymn that is still included in the Breviary.
In 1560, Robert entered the Jesuit religious order. He studied Greek, theology, and philosophy. After he was ordained a priest, he became well-known for his preaching. He began to teach at the University of Leuven, the first Jesuit to do so.
After teaching for seven years at the university, he began to suffer from poor health. In 1576, he traveled to Italy. Pope Gregory XIII commissioned him to lecture on polemical theology at the Roman College. Robert remained in this position until 1589, when Pope Sixtus V sent him with a party of men on a diplomatic mission to France.
When Pope Sixtus V died in 1590, Robert was considered by worldly leaders to be unsuitable as the next Pope because he was so holy and concerned solely with the good of the Church.
After Pope Clement VIII was elected, he said that Robert was the most learned man in the Church. He appointed Robert rector of the Roman College, examiner of bishops, cardinal, and a cardinal inquisitor.
In 1602, Robert became archbishop of Capua. In this role, he worked to enforce the reforms of the Council of Trent. He also defended the Church against the anticlerical sentiment that was becoming prevalent, and against the political attacks of King James I of England.
During Robert’s lifetime, there were several heresies gaining prominence in the Church. He worked to defend true Church teaching against these heresies, writing an exhaustive work of apologetics against these false teachings.
Robert was also the teacher and spiritual father of St. Aloysius Gonzaga. Outliving Aloysius Gonzaga, Robert eventually promoted Aloysius Gonzaga’s cause for beatification. Additionally, Robert helped St. Francis de Sales gain formal approval for the forming of the Visitation religious order.
Robert was also connected to the controversy between the Church and Galileo over Galileo’s teaching that the earth revolves around the sun. Robert prudentially opposed severe action against Galileo on the Church’s part.
Throughout Robert Bellarmine’s life, he wrote many significant writings on both instruction and devotion. He died in 1621 when he was seventy-eight years old.
St. Robert Bellarmine’s Feast Day: September 17th
Why Pray the St. Robert Bellarmine Novena?
St. Robert Bellarmine is the patron saint of catechists. You can ask him to pray for you if you are a catechist or are training to become a catechist. You can also ask him to pray for a catechist whom you know.
St. Robert Bellarmine is also the patron saint of catechumens. You can seek his intercession if you are a catechumen, or you can ask him to pray for a catechumen whom you know.
Additionally, St. Robert Bellarmine is the patron saint of canon lawyers. You can definitely ask him to pray for a specific canon lawyer.
You can pray the St. Robert Bellarmine Novena for any intention!
St. Robert Bellarmine Novena Prayers
St. Robert Bellarmine 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. Robert Bellarmine as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed from the time he was a young student.
St. Robert Bellarmine, you were a diligent student during your childhood and adolescence. As you grew in knowledge, you began on the path to holiness and serving God.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom served!
When you were a young man, you wrote a hymn that is still included in the Breviary today. You were eager to serve God to the best of your ability even before you reached adulthood.
Pray for me, that I may always be as eager a servant of God as you were. Pray that I may grow in love for God and devotion to Him each day.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Robert Bellarmine, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Robert Bellarmine 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. Robert Bellarmine as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You he showed by choosing to serve You as a priest.
St. Robert Bellarmine, you answered God’s call to the priesthood as a young man. You entered the Jesuit religious order, and you continued to serve Him as a Jesuit priest for the rest of your life.
Please continue to bring my petitions before the throne of God!
You later answered God’s call to serve His Church as an archbishop and a cardinal. You devoted your life to serving God’s Church for many years.
Pray for me, that I may be eager to answer God’s call in my life. Pray that I may do my best to serve God in whatever ways He calls me to.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Robert Bellarmine, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Robert Bellarmine 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. Robert Bellarmine as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue he showed in his many years of service to Your Church in the Jesuit religious order.
St. Robert Bellarmine, you were eager to serve God as a young man. You followed God’s call to enter the Jesuit religious order, and you serve Him faithfully as a Jesuit for the rest of your life.
Please bring my petitions before God with such faithfulness!
You served the Church in many capacities throughout your life, and you did a lot to help the Church through a tumultuous time.
Pray for me, that I may always seek to serve the Church as faithfully as you did. Pray that I may be more eager to devote my life to God each day.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Robert Bellarmine, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Robert Bellarmine 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. Robert Bellarmine as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in his holy work as a preacher.
St. Robert Bellarmine, you entered the Jesuit religious order when you were a young man. You persevered in faithful service to God and His Church for many years.
Please persevere in bringing my petitions before the throne of God!
You became well-known for your preaching as a young priest. You spent many years of your life teaching and helping to lead others closer to God.
Pray for me, that I may always do all I can to proclaim the Gospel to those around me. Pray that I may never weary of seeking to do all I can to serve God and His Church.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Robert Bellarmine, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Robert Bellarmine 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. Robert Bellarmine as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You he showed in his years of faithful service to You and Your Church as a priest.
St. Robert Bellarmine, you followed God’s call to the priesthood when you were a young man. You entered the Jesuit religious order, and you served God with devotion for the rest of your life.
Please bring my petitions before the throne of God with such devotion!
You became well-known as a preacher and a teacher. You later served the Church as an archbishop and a cardinal, doing a lot of good for the Church during the Counter-Reformation.
Pray for me, that I may always follow God’s call in my life. Pray that I may serve God as eagerly as you did.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Robert Bellarmine, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Robert Bellarmine 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. Robert Bellarmine as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in devoting a lot of time and effort to writing about You.
St. Robert Bellarmine, you lived in a time when many heresies were gaining traction in the Church. You wrote an exhaustive work defending true Church teaching against these heresies, out of love for God.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you loved so dearly!
You wrote many significant works of both instruction and devotion. You were eventually named a Doctor of the Church because of all the influential works you wrote.
Pray for me, that I may always be eager to help others grow closer to God. Pray that I may always do all I can to serve God worthily.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Robert Bellarmine, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Robert Bellarmine 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. Robert Bellarmine as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue he showed in doing all he could to help bring about much-needed reform within the Church.
St. Robert Bellarmine, you lived in a time when there were many areas of the Church that were in need of reform. You did all you could to help the Church through this tumultuous time.
Please do all you can to bring my petitions before the throne of God!
Your work was very important to the Church during the time of the Counter-Reformation. You defended the true teachings of the Church and fought against abuses within the Church.
Pray for me, that I may do all I can to help the Church today. Pray that I may always be eager to serve God and His Church in whatever ways He calls me to.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Robert Bellarmine, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Robert Bellarmine 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. Robert Bellarmine as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in working to defend the true teachings of Your Church against heresy.
St. Robert Bellarmine, there were many heresies gaining prominence in the Church during your lifetime. You persevered in defending the truth against these false teachings, out of love for God.
Please persevere in bringing my petitions before the throne of God!
You wrote an exhaustive work of apologetics, in order to defend the true teachings of the Church against these heresies. You worked diligently to help defend the truth.
Pray for me, that I may always do all I can to defend and promote the true teachings of the Church. Pray that I may grow in love and appreciation for the Church’s teachings.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Robert Bellarmine, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Robert Bellarmine 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. Robert Bellarmine as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You he showed in his lifetime of service to Your Church.
St. Robert Bellarmine, you chose to follow God’s call to the priesthood and the Jesuit religious order as a young man. Then, you continued to serve Him faithfully for the rest of your life.
Please continue to bring my petitions before the throne of God with such faithfulness!
You went on to serve the Church in many important roles during your life. Your work contributed greatly to the flourishing of the Church during the Counter-Reformation.
Pray for me, that I may always be eager to put my gifts to use serving the Church. Pray that I may grow in love for God and His Church each day.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Robert Bellarmine, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.