This nine-day “Novena to St. John Vianney” honors St. John Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests, confessors, and priests in general. The novena focuses on different aspects of his virtuous life each day, including his deep faith, trust in God, love for others, hatred of sin, and purity. Each day includes a reflection, personal intentions, and traditional Catholic prayers, emphasizing St. John Vianney’s exemplary priesthood and seeking his aid in spiritual growth and overcoming life’s challenges.
Born in 1786 in France, St. John Vianney was known for his devotion to God and his parishioners, particularly through hearing confessions for long hours.
Novena: July 26 – August 3 (or anytime of the year)
Feast Day: August 4
Get the scoop → St. John Vianney: A Model of Priestly Devotion
Novena to St. John Vianney
DAY 1: ARDENT FAITH — Novena Video for Day 1
St. John Marie Baptist Vianney, you were born of a deeply religious mother; from her you received the Holy Faith. You learned to love God and to pray. At a young age, you were seen kneeling in the front of a statue of Mary.
Your soul was supernaturally carried toward the things on High. Despite the high cost, you answered your vocation.
Against many obstacles and contradictions, you had to fight and suffer to become the perfect priest, which you were; but your deep spirit of faith supported you in all these battles.
O Great Saint, you know the desire of my soul. I would like to serve God better. Obtain for me more courage and especially the depth of faith.
Many of my thoughts, words, and actions are useless for my sanctification and for my salvation, because this supernatural spirit does not stir up my life. Help me to be better in the future.
Holy Priest of Ars, I have confidence in your intercession. Pray for me during this novena, especially for …
(Mention your intentions now)
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
O St, John Vianney, Patron of Priests, pray for us and for all priests!
DAY 2: COMPLETE TRUST IN GOD — Novena Video for Day 2
St. John Marie Baptist Vianney, what confidence the people had in your prayers! You could not leave your old rectory or your humble church without being surrounded by imploring souls, who appealed to you as they would have appealed to Jesus Himself during His earthly life.
Obtain for me a deep trust in His Providence. Give me courage and help me to always obey the Commandments of God.
Holy Priest of Ars, I have confidence in your intercession. Pray for me during this novena, especially for …
(Mention your intentions now)
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
O St, John Vianney, Patron of Priests, pray for us and for all priests!
DAY 3: TRUE LOVE OF NEIGHBOR — Novena Video for Day 3
St. John Marie Baptist Vianney, because of your love of God, you showed great charity towards your neighbor. You could not preach on the Love of God without burning tears of love. It seemed as though you could not talk about anything else or live for anything else. Thus, you sacrificed yourself to your neighbor by consoling, absolving and sanctifying them to the limits of your strength.
Your charity inspires me to greater love of God, a love which is shown more by acts then by words. Help me to love my neighbor generously, as Christ loves them.
Holy Priest of Ars, I have confidence in your intercession. Pray for me during this novena, especially for …
(Mention your intentions now)
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
O St. John Vianney, Patron of Priests, pray for us and for all priests!
DAY 4: HORROR OF SIN — Novena Video for Day 4
St. John Marie Baptist Vianney, you were so adamant against sin, yet so sympathetic and so ready to welcome the sinner. I come to you today as if you were still alive, as if I were kneeling at your feet and you could hear me. Bend towards me, listen to the repentant confidence for the weaknesses and miserable deeds of mine.
Priest of the Lord, inexhaustible Confessor, obtain for me the horror of sin. Help me today to examine my conscience, and make the resolution to break bad habits and to avoid the dangerous occasions of sin.
Holy Priest of Ars, I have confidence in your intercession. Pray for me during this novena, especially for …
(Mention your intentions now)
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
O St. John Vianney, Patron of Priests, pray for us and for all priests!
DAY 5: CONFESSOR OF SOULS — Novena Video for Day 5
O Holy Priest of Ars, you knew how important was a good confession for the Christian life. It was to procure the happy fruits of millions of souls that you agreed to be in an uncomfortable confessional, which was like a prison, up to 15 to 16 hours on certain days.
I will try to develop the habit of frequent confession, to prepare properly each time, and to have always regret for my sins, so that the grace of final perseverance, and also the sanctification of my soul, will be assured. Ask this grace for me.
Holy Priest of Ars, I have confidence in your intercession. Pray for me during this novena, especially for …
(Mention your intentions now)
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
O St. John Vianney, Patron of Priests, pray for us and for all priests!
DAY 6: REAL PRESENCE — Novena Video for Day 6
O Holy Priest of Ars, whose only comfort in this world was the real presence of Jesus in the tabernacle. Was it not your great joy to distribute the Eucharist to the pilgrims who visited you? You refused Communion to the souls who refused to reform; but to souls of goodwill, you opened wide the doors of the Eucharistic Feast.
You, who each day at Holy Mass received Holy Communion with great love, give me some of your fervor. With freedom from mortal sin, obtain for me a sincere desire to profit from receiving Holy Communion.
Holy Priest of Ars, I have confidence in your intercession. Pray for me during this novena, especially for …
(Mention your intentions now)
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
O St. John Vianney, Patron of Priests, pray for us and for all priests!
DAY 7: DISPELLER OF SATAN — Novena Video for Day 7
O Holy Priest of Ars, the infamous attacks of the devil which you had to suffer, and the trials which disheartened you by fatigue, would not make you give up the sublime task of converting souls. The devil came to you for many years to disturb your short rest; but you won because of mortification and prayers.
Powerful protector, you know the temptor’s desire to harm my baptized and believing soul. He would have me sin by rejecting the Holy Sacraments and the life of virtue. O good Saint of Ars, dispel from me the traces of the enemy.
Holy Priest of Ars, I have confidence in your intercession. Pray for me during this novena, especially for …
(Mention your intentions now)
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
O St. John Vianney, Patron of Priests, pray for us and for all priests!
DAY 8: EXQUISITE PURITY — Novena Video for Day 8
O Holy Priest of Ars, a witness of your life made this magnificent praise of you: ‘We would have taken him for an angel in a mortal body.”
You so edified others: the modesty and the exquisite purity radiated from your body. With such charm and with such enthusiasm you preached to others about these beautiful virtues, which you said resembled the perfume of a vineyard in bloom.
Please, I beg you to join your entreaties to those of Mary Immaculate and Saint Philomena, in order that I guard always, as God asks me, the purity of my heart. You, who have directed so many souls towards the heights of virtue, defend me in temptations, and obtain for me the strength to conquer them.
Holy Priest of Ars, I have confidence in your intercession. Pray for me during this novena, especially for …
(Mention your intentions now)
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
O St. John Vianney, Patron of Priests, pray for us and for all priests!
DAY 9: DESIRE FOR HEAVEN — Novena Video for Day 9
O Holy Priest of Ars, during the time you were on earth, you used to repeat in your dejected hours, “one will rest in the other life.” It is done, you are in eternal peace and eternal happiness.
I desire to follow you one day. Until then, I hear you saying to me:
“You should work and fight as long as you are in the world.”
Teach me then to work for the salvation of my soul, to spread the good news and good example, and to do good towards those around me, in order that I will receive the happiness of the Elect with you.
Holy Priest of Ars, I have confidence in your intercession. Pray for me during this novena, especially for …
(Mention your intentions now)
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
O St. John Vianney, Patron of Priests, pray for us and for all priests!