Novena to Saint Charbel
The novena to Saint Charbel is one of the most loved prayers in the Maronite Catholic tradition. Prayed over nine consecutive days, this 9-day novena has been associated with countless reported healings and favors at the Monastery of Saint Maron in Annaya, Lebanon. Saint Charbel Makhlouf, also written Saint Sharbel and known to many simply as St Charbel, is one of the most invoked intercessors in the world, and pilgrims from every continent travel to his tomb to pray these nine days.
On this page you will find the complete novena to Saint Charbel: the prayer for each of the nine days, day by day, along with how to pray it, when to pray it, and what to say. You can pray it here or print and save it to keep with you.
Prefer to pray on paper? Download the full novena as a free printable PDF. It contains the complete St Charbel novena prayer for all nine days in a clean print layout, ready to keep in your Bible or share with someone who needs it.
A novena is a devotion consisting of prayers repeated over nine consecutive days. The word comes from the Latin novem, meaning nine. The tradition goes back to the earliest days of the Church, when the apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary spent nine days in continuous prayer between Christ's Ascension into heaven and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. That original nine-day vigil became the model for all novenas that followed.
The novena to Saint Charbel draws on this ancient practice and channels it through the intercession of a saint whose life was defined by silence, sacrifice, and total surrender to God. Each of the nine days carries its own prayer, building in intensity as the devotion deepens.
How to Pray This Novena
Praying the novena to Saint Charbel requires no special preparation beyond a sincere heart and a willingness to persevere for nine days. Here is a simple guide:
- Choose your intention. Before you begin, clearly identify what you are asking for. It may be healing, guidance, reconciliation, or any need weighing on your heart.
- Find a quiet place. Saint Charbel spent 23 years in the silence of a hermitage. Honor his spirit by finding a still, undisturbed space for your prayer.
- Begin with the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
- State your intention. Speak it aloud or hold it silently in your heart.
- Pray the day's prayer. Each of the nine days has its own prayer text, provided below.
- Close with the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.
- Repeat for nine consecutive days. Consistency matters. Try to pray at the same time each day.
- If you miss a day, pray twice the following day to make up for it. Do not start over unless you wish to.
Approach each day with patience and trust. Saint Charbel's own life teaches us that God works in silence and in his own time.
If you would rather not keep count on paper, the Charbel app has a built-in novena tracker: start the novena once and it keeps your place through all nine days and reminds you each day.
The Nine Days
🖨️ Print or save this novena so you can keep all nine days with you.
Day 1, For a Miracle and Healing
O Miraculous Saint Charbel, from whose immaculate body, which overpowers corruption, radiates the scent of heaven, come to my rescue and grant me from God the petition(s) which I am in need of. O Saint Charbel pray for me. O God of complete benevolence, who honoured Saint Charbel by giving him the grace to perform miracles, have mercy on me and grant me what I ask from you through his intercession. O Saint Charbel, vase of perfume, intercede for me.
(State your intention.)
Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...
Day 2, For Patience and Hope
O Saint Charbel, the amiable, who shines like a bright star in the church sky, brighten my way and fortify my hope. From you I ask for the petitions. Ask for it from Jesus the crucified whom you perpetually worship. O Saint Charbel, the example of patience and silence, intercede for me. O Lord Jesus, who sanctified Saint Charbel and helped him to carry his cross, give me the courage to bear life's difficulties with patience and submission to your divine will through Saint Charbel's intercession, to you is gratefulness forever.
(State your intention.)
Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...
Day 3, For Growth in Virtue
O Father, Saint Charbel, the affectionate, I resort to you. My confidence in you fills my heart. With the power of your intercession with God, I am waiting for the petition(s) which I ask from you. Show me your affection once more. O Saint Charbel, garden of virtue, intercede for me. O God, you who granted Saint Charbel the grace of your resemblance, grant me the help to grow in the Christian virtues and have mercy on me to be able to praise you till the end.
(State your intention.)
Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...
Day 4, For Peace of Heart
O Saint Charbel, loved by God, enlighten me, help me and teach me how to please God. Hurry to my rescue. Oh affectionate Father, I beg of you to ask God for this petition(s). O Saint Charbel, friend of the crucified, intercede for me. O God hear my demand through Saint Charbel's intercession. Save my poor heart and give me peace. Calm the troubles of my soul. Glory to you till the end.
(State your intention.)
Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...
Day 5, For Strength in Distress
O Saint Charbel, crowned with glory, intercede for me. O Lord, you listened to Saint Charbel's prayers and you fulfilled the grace of unison with you, have mercy on me in my moment of distress. Save me from malice which I cannot bear. Glory and gratefulness be to you till the end.
(State your intention.)
Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...
Day 6, For Bearing the Cross
O Saint Charbel, the example of patience and silence, intercede for me. O Lord Jesus, who sanctified Saint Charbel and helped him to carry his cross, give me the courage to bear life's difficulties with patience and submission to your divine will through Saint Charbel's intercession.
(State your intention.)
Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...
Day 7, For Trust in God's Power
O Saint Charbel, joy of heaven and earth, intercede for me. O God, who chose Saint Charbel to defend us before your divine power, grant me through his intercession this petition(s) to glorify you with him till the end.
(State your intention.)
Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...
Day 8, For the Needy and the Suffering
O Saint Charbel, loved by everyone, helper of the needy, I have firm hope in your intercession before God. Fulfil this petition(s) for me.
(State your intention.)
Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...
Day 9, For Perseverance and Thanksgiving
O Father, Saint Charbel, here I am at the end of the Novena. My heart gets nourished when I speak to you. I have great hope that I will obtain from Jesus the petition(s) I asked for through your intercession. I repent, and I promise that I will never ever fall into sin. I ask you to fulfill my petition(s). Amen.
(State your intention.)
Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...
When to Pray the Saint Charbel Novena
The most traditional time to pray this novena is from July 15 to July 23, so that the nine days conclude on the eve of the feast of Saint Charbel, celebrated on the third Sunday of July (often near July 24). Praying during this period unites your intentions with those of countless faithful around the world who are honoring him at the same time.
That said, you can pray the novena at any time of year. There is no restriction on when to begin.
Many devotees also choose to pray the novena around the 22nd of each month. This date holds special significance because of Nohad El Shami, a Lebanese woman who was paralyzed and miraculously healed through Saint Charbel's intercession on January 22, 1993. She reported that Saint Charbel appeared to her and performed surgery on her spine while she slept. Doctors confirmed her sudden and medically inexplicable recovery. The 22nd has since become a day of particular devotion.
Another meaningful time is late December, around December 24, the anniversary of Saint Charbel's death in 1898. He suffered a stroke while celebrating Mass on December 16 and died on Christmas Eve, uniting his final suffering with the birth of Christ.
Miracles Associated with This Novena
The Monastery of Saint Maron in Annaya keeps a vast archive of reported favors and healings attributed to Saint Charbel's intercession, with tens of thousands of letters and testimonies gathered over more than a century. Many devotees prayed the novena, at his tomb or from afar, before the graces they describe. The Church weighs such reports carefully, and only a small number are ever formally recognized, but their sheer number is one reason his name is invoked across the world.
The best documented modern case is that of Nohad El Shami, a Maronite woman left partially paralyzed by a stroke. According to her account, she saw Saint Charbel in a dream on the night of January 22, 1993, and awoke healed, with two small scars on her neck that remain to this day. Her case, recorded at Annaya, is why many now pray the novena around the 22nd of each month. You can read more in our overview of the miracles of Saint Charbel and the list of documented cases.
Pilgrims who visit his tomb often leave behind crutches, braces, and letters of thanksgiving as testimony to the graces they believe they received. What the Church asks of us is not to chase wonders but to pray with trust. Saint Charbel's own hidden life points less to spectacle than to surrender: healing, when it comes, is understood as the work of God, sought through the prayers of his friend the saint, and never guaranteed in the form we ask.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pray the novena to Saint Charbel at any time?
Yes. While the traditional timing runs from July 15 to July 23, so that the nine days lead into the feast of Saint Charbel, you can pray the novena at any time of year. Many faithful also begin novenas on the 14th of each month to finish on the 22nd, honoring the date of Nohad El Shami's miraculous healing.
When should I pray the Saint Charbel novena?
The most traditional window is mid July, so that the nine days end at the feast of Saint Charbel, celebrated on the third Sunday of July. Many devotees also pray it to finish on the 22nd of the month, the monthly day of devotion to Saint Charbel. And you can begin on any day of the year: a novena prayed with a sincere heart is never out of season.
What if I miss a day of the novena?
If you miss a day, simply pray twice the following day to make up for it. The important thing is your sincerity and perseverance. God sees the intention of your heart. You do not need to start over from the beginning.
What is the difference between a novena and a regular prayer?
A novena is a structured devotion prayed over nine consecutive days for a specific intention. Unlike a single prayer, a novena requires sustained commitment and deepening trust in God's timing. The nine-day structure mirrors the apostles' prayer between the Ascension and Pentecost.
Why do Catholics pray novenas for 9 days?
The tradition traces back to the nine days the apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary spent in prayer between Christ's Ascension into heaven and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 1:14). The word novena comes from the Latin novem, meaning nine. This original nine-day vigil became the foundation for one of the Church's oldest devotional practices.
Can I pray the novena for someone else?
Absolutely. Praying a novena on behalf of another person is a beautiful act of intercessory prayer. Simply state the other person's name and needs as your intention at the beginning of each day's prayer. Many of the favors attributed to Saint Charbel came through family members praying on behalf of a loved one.
How many days is the novena to Saint Charbel?
The novena to Saint Charbel is nine days long, prayed on nine consecutive days. The word novena comes from the Latin novem, meaning nine. You pray the same short devotion each day, with that day's prayer and your own intention, from Day 1 through Day 9.
Is there a Saint Charbel novena PDF?
Yes. You can download the full novena as a free printable PDF. It contains the complete novena prayer for all nine days, exactly as written on this page and formatted for printing, so you can keep it with you or share it with someone who needs it.
Can I pray the Saint Charbel novena for healing or a specific miracle?
Yes. Many pray the novena to Saint Charbel for healing, for a difficult or seemingly impossible cause, or for a particular intention, simply naming it each day. For a single prayer rather than the full nine days, you can also use the Saint Charbel Prayer for Healing or the Saint Charbel Prayer for a Miracle.
More Saint Charbel prayers: the daily prayers to Saint Charbel, the prayer for healing, the prayer for a miracle, the chaplet, and the litany of Saint Charbel. See also the Novena to Saint Rafqa, the life of Saint Charbel, and the Maronite tradition that shaped his spirituality.