A Novena to Saint Expeditus (for Urgent Cases)

Expeditus was a Roman centurion in Armenia who was martyred on April 19, 303, for converting to Christianity. When Expeditus decided to convert, the Devil took the form of a raven and tried to convince him to hold off until the next day. Expeditus declared, "I'll be a Christian today!" and stomped on the raven. For that reason, Saint Expeditus has long been considered the patron saint of, among others, procrastinators!

Icons of Saint Expeditus picture him with a cross with the word "Hodie" ("Today") in his right hand, while under his right foot, a raven says, "Cras" ("Tomorrow").

In this novena, we ask Saint Expeditus to intercede for us for all the graces that we need in our life, from the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity, to the gift of final perseverance (to continue to believe and to hope through the moment of our death).

It is common, though not strictly necessary, to begin each day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus with the Act of Contrition.

 First Day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus

Detail of Saint Expeditus. Oil painting by a painter of Palermo, 19th century.

Wellcome Library, London/Wellcome Images

On the first day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus, we pray for the gift of faith.

Prayers for the First Day

Glorious Martyr, Saint Expeditus, through the lively faith which was granted you by God, I ask you to awaken the same faith in my heart, that I may also believe wholeheartedly that there is God, but most particularly that I may be saved from sinning against Him.

• Three Our Fathers in honor of the Most Holy Trinity
• Memorare to the Blessed Virgin Mary
• One Hail Mary in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows

Second Day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus

Detail of Saint Expeditus. Oil painting by a painter of Palermo, 19th century.

Wellcome Library, London/Wellcome Images 

On the second day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus, we pray for the gift of hope for ourselves and for those who have trouble believing.

Prayers for the Second Day

O Glorious Martyr, Saint Expeditus, through the enviable hope given you by God, pray that those of little belief may be penetrated by some rays of hope so that they also receive eternal things; please pray that ardent hope in God be also given me and hold me steadfast in the midst of sufferings.

• Three Our Fathers in honor of the Most Holy Trinity
• Memorare to the Blessed Virgin Mary
• One Hail Mary in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows

Third Day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus

Detail of Saint Expeditus. Oil painting by a painter of Palermo, 19th century.

Wellcome Library, London/Wellcome Images

On the third day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus, we pray that we might be freed from worldly cares so that we can love God more fully.

Prayers for the Third Day

O Glorious Martyr, Saint Expeditus, through the endless love which Our Lord planted in your heart, please remove from mine all the shackles tied by worldliness, that without them I may love only God in all eternity.

• Three Our Fathers in honor of the Most Holy Trinity
• Memorare to the Blessed Virgin Mary
• One Hail Mary in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows

Fourth Day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus

Detail of Saint Expeditus. Oil painting by a painter of Palermo, 19th century.

Wellcome Library, London/Wellcome Images 

On the fourth day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus, we pray for the strength to carry the cross of our passions.

Prayers for the Fourth Day

O Glorious Martyr, Saint Expeditus, who knew full well the teaching of the Divine Teacher to carry the cross and follow Him, ask Him for the graces I need that I may fight my own passions.

• Three Our Fathers in honor of the Most Holy Trinity
• Memorare to the Blessed Virgin Mary
• One Hail Mary in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows

Fifth Day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus

Detail of Saint Expeditus. Oil painting by a painter of Palermo, 19th century.

Wellcome Library, London/Wellcome Images 

On the fifth day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus, we pray for the grace of detachment.

Prayers for the Fifth Day

O Glorious Martyr, Saint Expeditus, through the bountiful graces you received from Heaven that you may conserve all your virtues, grant also that I may get rid of all the feelings that block my way to Heaven.

• Three Our Fathers in honor of the Most Holy Trinity
• Memorare to the Blessed Virgin Mary
• One Hail Mary in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows

Sixth Day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus

Detail of Saint Expeditus. Oil painting by a painter of Palermo, 19th century.

Wellcome Library, London/Wellcome Images 

On the sixth day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus, we pray for freedom from anger.

Prayers for the Sixth Day

O Glorious Martyr, Saint Expeditus, through the sufferings and humiliations which you received for the love of God, grant me also this grace which is very pleasing to God and free me from anger and hardness of heart which is the stumbling block of my soul.

• Three Our Fathers in honor of the Most Holy Trinity
• Memorare to the Blessed Virgin Mary
• One Hail Mary in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows

Seventh Day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus

Detail of Saint Expeditus. Oil painting by a painter of Palermo, 19th century.

Wellcome Library, London/Wellcome Images

On the seventh day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus, we pray for the grace to pray well.

Prayers for the Seventh Day

O Glorious Martyr, Saint Expeditus, you know that prayer is the golden key that will open the Kingdom of Heaven, teach me to pray in a manner which is desirable to Our Lord and to His Heart, that I may live only for Him, that I may die only for Him, and that I may pray only to Him in all eternity.

• Three Our Fathers in honor of the Most Holy Trinity
• Memorare to the Blessed Virgin Mary
• One Hail Mary in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows

Eighth Day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus

 Detail of Saint Expeditus. Oil painting by a painter of Palermo, 19th century.

Wellcome Library, London/Wellcome Images 

On the eighth day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus, we pray for purity of heart.

Prayers for the Eighth Day

O Glorious Martyr, Saint Expeditus, through the clean desires that reigned in all your feelings, words, and actions, please let them guide me also in my endless search for the glory of God and the good of my fellow men.

• Three Our Fathers in honor of the Most Holy Trinity
• Memorare to the Blessed Virgin Mary
• One Hail Mary in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows

Ninth Day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus

 Detail of Saint Expeditus. Oil painting by a painter of Palermo, 19th century.

Wellcome Library, London/Wellcome Images

On the ninth day of the Novena to Saint Expeditus, we pray for the grace of final perseverance.

Prayers for the Ninth Day

O Glorious Martyr, Saint Expeditus, who was so much loved by the Queen of Heaven, that to you nothing was denied, ask her, please my advocate, that through the sufferings of her Divine Son and her own sorrows, I may receive this day the grace I ask of you; but above all the grace to die first before I commit any mortal sin.

• Three Our Fathers in honor of the Most Holy Trinity
• Memorare to the Blessed Virgin Mary
• One Hail Mary in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows