St. William of Rochester Novena
Contents
Show HideSt. William of Rochester was a holy layman who lived during the 1200s. He was from Scotland. He is often considered a martyr because he was killed while on a pilgrimage.
St. William of Rochester lived a very holy life. You can use this novena to seek intercession from this holy man in many aspects of your life.
About St. William of Rochester
The year of St. William of Rochester’s birth is not known for certain, but he is believed to have been born during the 12th century. Little information is known about him for sure.
Most of what is known about St. William of Rochester comes from a book called Nova Legenda Angliae, written by an English hagiographer named John Capgrave. According to the information chronicled in this book, William was somewhat wild during his childhood and adolescence. When he reached adulthood, he chose to devote himself to God.
William became a baker, and he chose to give every tenth loaf of bread he made to the poor. It is believed that he was financially well-off.
William went to Mass every day. One day when he was entering the church for morning Mass, he found a small child abandoned on the church steps. William chose to adopt this child and raise him as his own son. The boy came to be called David, and William taught him the trade of baking.
At some later time, William vowed to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. With David now grown, William took him along on the journey.
It is believed that the two of them stayed in Rochester for three days, that they then traveled to Canterbury, and that William intended to travel from Canterbury to Jerusalem. But at some point along this journey, David plotted against William. He told William that they were taking a shortcut, but this was actually part of a robbery plot. David then hit William on the head and slit his throat.
William’s body was discovered by a woman who had a severe mental illness. She braided some flowers together into a garland and put it on the head of William’s body. Then, she put the garland on her own head. When she put the garland on her own head, her mental illness was miraculously cured.
Some monks from Rochester eventually took the body to their cathedral and buried him there. Because he died during a pilgrimage, he was considered a martyr.
In 1256, Pope Alexander IV canonized William of Rochester. The cathedral where William was buried soon began to attract many pilgrims. So many pilgrims visited his tomb that the steps of the cathedral were worn down by the many people’s feet. A chapel was also built at the site of his murder.
St. William of Rocheser’s Feast Day: May 23rd
Why Pray the St. William of Rochester Novena?
St. William of Rochester is the patron saint of adopted children. You can pray the St. William of Rochester Novena if you are an adopted child, or you can pray this novena for someone you know who is an adopted child.
St. William of Rochester is also a great saint to seek intercession from if you are hoping to adopt a child, are in the process of adopting a child, or are struggling with adoptive parenthood. Or you can pray the St. William of Rochester Novena for someone you know who is hoping to adopt a child, is in the process of adopting a child, or is struggling with adoptive parenthood.
You can pray the St. William of Rochester Novena for any intention!
St. William of Rochester Novena Prayers
St. William of Rochester 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. William of Rochester as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. William, we know few details about your childhood except that you led a wild life as a child and adolescent. Despite this, you chose to devote yourself to God when you reached adulthood. You served God faithfully for the rest of your life.
Please take all of our petitions to God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may bless and protect all children.
Pray for us, that we may always serve God worthily in every circumstance. Pray that we may grow closer to God each day of our lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. William of Rochester, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. William of Rochester 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. William of Rochester as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. William, we know little about your childhood and adolescence except that you were somewhat wild during that time. When you reached adulthood, you chose to put away your past life and devote yourself to God.
Please take all of our petitions to God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may bless and protect all who have recently chosen to devote their lives to Him.
Pray for us, that we may grow in devotion and love for God each day of our lives. Pray that we may do all we can to carry out God’s will every day.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. William of Rochester, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. William of Rochester 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. William of Rochester as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. William, you worked as a baker when you reached adulthood. You used the opportunity of your work to help supply for the needs of the poor. You eventually taught your trade to the son you adopted.
Please take all of our petitions to God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may bless and assist all who work as bakers.
Pray for us, that we may always offer to God all that we do each day of our lives. Pray that we may advance in holiness at every opportunity God gives us.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. William of Rochester, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. William of Rochester 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. William of Rochester as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. William, you made use of your work as a baker to assist those who were in need. You gave every tenth loaf of bread you made to the poor. You eventually took in a foundling child out of charity.
Please take all of our petitions to God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that we may grow in true charity.
Pray for us, that we may grow in every virtue we need for holiness. Pray that we may do all we can to advance in virtue and holiness each day of our lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. William of Rochester, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. William of Rochester 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. William of Rochester as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. William, you chose to devote your life to God when you reached adulthood. You chose to attend Mass daily. It was while you were on your way to Mass that you discovered the child whom you would adopt.
Please take all of our petitions to God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may bless all who worship Him daily at Mass.
Pray for us, that we may always make use of all the helps God gives us for our salvation. Pray that we may do everything we can to grow closer to God each day.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. William of Rochester, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. William of Rochester 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. William of Rochester as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. William, you discovered an abandoned child on the steps of a church when you were on your way to daily Mass. You chose to adopt this child and generously raised him as your son.
Please take all of our petitions to God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may bless all parents and children in adoptive families.
Pray for us, that we may always do all we can to carry out God’s will in our lives. Pray that we may serve God faithfully in every circumstance.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. William of Rochester, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. William of Rochester 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. William of Rochester as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. William, you found a child on the steps of the church as you were going to daily Mass. Because this child had been abandoned, you chose to adopt him and raise him as your own son.
Please take all of our petitions to God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may bless and assist all children who have been abandoned.
Pray for us, that we may always do all we can to respond to the promptings of God’s grace in our lives. Pray that we may grow in love for God each day.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. William of Rochester, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. William of Rochester 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. William of Rochester as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. William, you vowed to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. You took your grown son on the journey. Though you wished to visit the places Our Lord lived while on earth, it is believed that your son killed you before you could complete your journey.
Please take all of our petitions to God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may bless and assist all pilgrims.
Pray for us, that we may do all we can to grow in friendship with Our Lord each day. Pray that we may serve God worthily in every circumstance.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. William of Rochester, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. William of Rochester 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. William of Rochester as an example of holiness. We ask You to hear the prayers he brings before Your throne on our behalf.
St. William, your body was discovered by a woman who had a severe mental illness. After she placed a garland of flowers on your head and then on her own head, her mental illness was miraculously cured.
Please take all of our petitions to God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may bring help and healing to all who are mentally ill.
Pray for us, that we may never allow any sufferings to deter us from serving God. Pray that we may truly strive to live saintly lives each day.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. William of Rochester, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.