9 Day Novena to St. Expeditus

Novena to St. Expeditus

Advocate in Urgent Cases

As much as possible, recite this Novena before the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Saint Expeditus suffered a lot during the time of Diocletion. He is holding a cross in which is inscribed "Hodie" (Today) while he is stepping on a crow which is crying "Cras" (Tomorrow) in order to remind us not to doubt even for a single moment the great mercy of God, and not to postpone for tomorrow the devout and trusting prayer but to call on him always as our advocate by the side of our Blessed Virgin.

Act of Contrition
My LORD Jesus Christ, Father of endless charity, I am heartily sorry for my sins. Grant me, therefore, pardon of my sins and the grace I ask of You thru the merits of the sorrows of Your loving Mother and the virtues of Your martyr, Saint Expeditus.

Prayer to Saint Expeditus for Each Day
Oh Saint Expeditus, my protector, in you I place my hope that my petitions may be granted if they are for my own good. Please ask Our Lord, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, for the forgiveness of my sins, and the grace to change my life, particularly the grace ... (mention here the particular grace desired) and I promise to follow your examples and will propagate this devotion to you.

FIRST DAY
O 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 honour of the Most Holy Trinity then the concluding prayer.
Concluding Prayer for Each Day
Remember O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that any one who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, and sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my words but graciously hear and grant my prayer. Amen.
One Hail Mary in honour of Our Lady of Sorrows.

SECOND DAY
My Lord Jesus Christ ...
O Glorious Martyr, Saint Expedius, through the eviable 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 then the concluding prayer.

THIRD DAY
My Lord Jesus Christ ...
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. Amen.
Three Our Fathers then the concluding prayer.

FOURTH DAY
My Lord Jesus Christ ...
O Glorious Martyr, Saint Expeditus, who knew fully 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 then the concluding prayer.

FIFTH DAY
My Lord Jesus Christ ...
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 then the concluding prayer.

SIXTH DAY
My Lord Jesus Christ ...
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 then the concluding prayer.

SEVENTH DAY
My Lord Jesus Christ ...
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 then the concluding prayer.

EIGHTH DAY
My Lord Jesus Christ ...
O Glorious Martyr, Saint Expeditus, through the clean desire that reigned in all your feelings, word and actions, please let them guide me also in my endless search for the glory of God and the good of my fellowmen.
Three Our Fathers then the concluding prayer.

NINTH DAY
My Lord Jesus Christ ...
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. Amen.
Three Our Fathers then the concluding prayer.

Financial Problem Prayer

The following is a prayer to St. Expeditus for people going through a financial crisis or money emergency.

They say that the traditional way to petition Saint Expeditus is to take a white and a green candle. Carve your name on them lengthwise. Light the candles and continue lighting the candles and praying to him until you receive his answer. Have faith and do not doubt his power or willingness to help you.

Pray to Saint Expeditus

I call forth the Power and the presence of St. Expeditus in my time of financial trouble. I offer my body, heart, mind and soul upon your altar of light.

I have faith and trust and complete confidence that you will be my strength in this time of need. Quickly come to my assistance.

Bring to me ____________ (Clearly express what you want, and ask him to find a way to get it to you.)

My financial need is urgent. Be my Light and Guide in this situation so that I may live with peace, love, prosperity and abundance and in the Praise of God.

Amen.

(Now promise to give Saint Expeditus a specific offering if your desire is granted. You may also post your thanks below if your wish has been granted)

Legend of St. Expeditus

According to legend, St. Expeditus was a Roman Centurion in Armenia. However, it is widely questioned whether or not he actually existed. Expeditus apparently became a Christian and was beheaded during the Diocletian Persecution in the year 303.


The most widely held legend was that on the day he decided to become a Christian, the Devil took the form of a crow who told him to defer his conversion on the next day. Legend has it that Expeditus stomped on the bird and killed it, declaring, "I'll be a Christian today!"

Stories also circulated about the saint's origin, saying this began when a package marked expedite arrived with unidentified relics or statues. The recipients assumed that the relics belonged to a Saint Expeditus, and so veneration began.

The nuns assumed that "Expedite" was the name of a martyr, prayed for his intercession, and when their prayers were answered, veneration spread rapidly through France and on to other Catholic countries.

Another version of the story was in New Orleans. It was said that the chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe received a large shipment of various saint statues. One of the cases did not have an identifying label but bore the words Expedite or Expédit in French. The residents assumed that must be the saint's name. Today, St. Expédit still figures prominently and is revered through amulets, flowers, candles and intercession prayers.

Facts about St. Expeditus

Born     unknown
Died     303
Melitene, Turkey
Feast Day - April 19
  
Depicted as a Roman soldier, holding a palm leaf in his left hand, and raising a cross with the word "hodie" (today) on it. His right foot is stepping on a crow, which is speaking the word "cras" (tomorrow).

St. Expeditus, patron for prompt solutions

St. Expeditus is invoked in urgent causes and for prompt solutions, especially in the settlement of business and legal proceedings.

Many people Saint Expeditus is a big help to those who wish to overcome obstacles that are in the way of their financial success.

Saint Expeditus is the unofficial Patron Saint of

• examinees
• shopkeepers
• emergencies
• everyone who needs a quick solution for their problems