Two Novenas to St. Agnes

St. Agnes was a consecrated virgin who was martyred at the age of thirteen during the Diocletian persecutions in 304. She is invoked as the patron of young girls and serves as a excellent model of chastity.

Both novenas begin on January 12th and end on January 20th.

The first novena is for an unmarried couple:

St. Agnes, although you were only a child, you believed that Jesus was always with you; help us to remember that he is also with us and to remain true to his presence.

St Agnes, you refused to give up your faith, help us to be proud of our faith to love it, to be strong in it, and to give witness to it daily.

St. Agnes, patron saint of unmarried couples, watch over ________ and _______ keep them strong in their faith, committed to chastity and virginity until marriage. Be with them and always pray for them.

Amen.

The second novena is for anyone:

V. O God, (✠) come to my assistance.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
V. Glory be to the Father...
R. As it was in the beginning...
V. O singular example of virtue, glorious Saint Agnes,
R. By the living faith which animated thee from thy
tenderest years, and rendered thee so pleasing to
God that thou didst merit the martyr’s crown:
V. Obtain for us the grace:
R. To keep our holy faith inviolate within us, * and to
profess ourselves Christians sincerely * in word
and work; * may our open confession of Jesus (☨)
before men * cause Him to bear a favorable witness
to us before His eternal Father.
V. Our Father... R. Give us this day...
V. O invincible martyr, Saint Agnes most renowned,
R. By thy confidence in God’s help, when, * being
condemned by the impious Roman prefect * to see
the lily of thy purity stained and trampled in the
mire, * thou didst not despair, * still trusting firmly
in the God who giveth His angles charge over them
that trust in Him:
V. We beseech thee to obtain for us from Almighty God:
R. The forgiveness of our sins * and the sure
confidence that He will bestow upon us * life
everlasting and the means necessary to merit it. *
And in particular * by thy merits so pleasing to God
obtain for us:
V. [State the Novena’s Intentions]
V. Hail Mary... R. Holy Mary...
V. O courageous maiden, Saint Agnes, most pure,
R. By the burning love with which thy heart was on
fire, * and which preserved thee from harm * in
the midst of the flames of passion and of the
stake, * where the enemies of Jesus (☨) Christ
sought to destroy thee:
V. Obtain for us from Almighty God:
R. That every unclean flame may be extinguished
in us * and only that fire, * which Jesus Christ
came to enkindle upon the earth, * may burn
within us; * so that, after spending a blameless
life in the practice of this fair virtue, * we shall be
worthy to have a share in the glory thou didst
merit * by the purity of thy heart and by thy
martyrdom.
V. Glory Be... R. As it was...

V. In the Name (✠) of the Father... R. Amen.