Novena to Saint Charbel
The novena to Saint Charbel is one of the most powerful prayers in the Maronite Catholic tradition. Prayed over nine consecutive days, it has been associated with extraordinary healings and miracles at the Monastery of Saint Maron in Annaya, Lebanon. Pilgrims from every continent travel to his tomb to pray this novena, and thousands have testified to receiving graces through his intercession.
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.
The Nine Days
Day 1
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 has documented more than 33,000 miracles attributed to Saint Charbel's intercession. Many of these were preceded by novenas prayed at his tomb or from afar. Here are a few that have been widely reported.
The Cancer That Vanished
A man in his fifties was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer. His family, deeply devoted to Saint Charbel, immediately began praying the novena. They applied holy oil from Annaya to his body each night. When the man returned for a follow-up scan after the nine days, his doctors found no trace of the cancer. The medical team confirmed the findings with a second scan. They had no explanation.
The Healing of a French Infant
In France, a young couple brought their critically ill infant to a Maronite parish where a relic of Saint Charbel was kept. The child had been given days to live. The parish priest anointed the baby with oil from Annaya and the parents prayed the novena together, day and night, for the full nine days. The child recovered completely. Physicians who had treated the infant described the recovery as beyond medical explanation.
The Ongoing Witness at Annaya
Pilgrims who visit the tomb of Saint Charbel at Annaya often leave behind crutches, wheelchairs, and medical braces as testimony to the healings they have received. The walls near his hermitage are lined with handwritten letters of thanksgiving from people in Lebanon, Brazil, Australia, Mexico, the United States, and dozens of other countries. The flow of pilgrims has not slowed since his body was first exhumed in 1899 and found incorrupt, exuding a mysterious oil-like substance with the scent of flowers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pray the novena to Saint Charbel at any time?
Yes. While the traditional timing begins on July 15 to end on the feast of Saint Charbel on July 24, you can pray the novena at any time of year. Many faithful also begin novenas on the 13th of each month to finish on the 22nd, honoring the date of Nohad El Shami's miraculous healing.
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 miracles attributed to Saint Charbel came through family members praying on behalf of a loved one.
See also: Prayer to Saint Charbel for Healing, the life and miracles of Saint Charbel, and the Maronite tradition that shaped his spirituality.