A Novena to St. Paul the Apostle for Spiritual Conversion

Have you ever had a "lightning bolt" moment in your spiritual life?

This "lightning moment" might be exactly like it sounds: a striking, unmistakable moment of enlightenment.

Conversion of St. Augustine

It could be a line from a book that strikes you to the core and becomes imprinted on your heart, as happened with St. Augustine.

It could be an encounter with a friend or stranger that shakes your understanding of the world and your place in it.

It could be an interior voice from God inviting you to drastically change your lifestyle.

Lightning moments aren't always loud. For Elijah, it came through the sound of sheer silence (1 Kings 19:12).

Elijah recognizes the Lord in the "still, small voice."

This enlightenment can also happen through a series of tiny moments that add up over time, or a subtle moment that turns your eyes just enough so that, from then on, your path shifts in a new direction.

Regardless of the details, the moment is an invitation to change something—an invitation to convert your heart.

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Saintly Inspiration

A number of saints illustrate the journey of conversion with particular vividness. St. Augustine, St. Mary Magdalene, and St. Dismas (the Good Thief) come to mind. But perhaps the most well known and well-beloved of conversion saints is St. Paul the Apostle, who, in an instant, changed from "Christian-killer" to "Christ-proclaimer."

Chances are, if you're reading this blog, you're most likely not actively persecuting Christians and in need of a complete 180-degree change in regards to your lifestyle.

However, regardless of our current circumstances, or how well-off we believe we are humanly and spiritually, we ALL need times of intentional conversion in our lives. We all need conversion because no one is perfect. Everyone who has the joy of knowing God should continuously strive to build (or rebuild) God's kingdom in his or her heart.

Our Response

The feast of the Conversion of St. Paul falls on January 25th. With that in mind, we invite you to join us in a Novena for Conversion.

Even if the conversion you seek right now seems small or unimportant (to grow in a specific virtue or leave behind a particular weakness that leads you to sin, for example) it's still important to ask for St. Paul's intercession and guidance.

You can also take this opportunity to pray for a family member who has fallen away from the Church, or a friend who is on a destructive path and hasn't yet encountered the love of Christ.

Along with your own personal intentions, we will pray for a particular intention, or for a specific group of people that they might experience greater conversion of heart.

Please join us January 16-24 as we pray together for conversion of heart and life!

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St. Paul Novena for Conversion of Heart and Life

Day 1 - January 16th

Petition: Today we pray for our own deeper conversion. May we be tireless apostles for the Gospel and emulate St. Paul’s profound love of Christ.

Invocation: O God, you have instructed many nations through the preaching of the blessed apostle Paul. Let the power of his intercession with you help us who venerate his memory this day. St. Paul, the Apostle, preacher of truth and Doctor of the Gentiles, intercede for us to God, who chose you. Amen.

Our Father - Hail Mary - Glory Be

Day 2 - January 17th

Petition: Today we pray for the conversion of all who have fallen away from the Church. Particularly, we ask through the powerful intercession of St. Paul that our family members and friends will return to the Sacraments.

Invocation: O God, you have instructed many nations through the preaching of the blessed apostle Paul. Let the power of his intercession with you help us who venerate his memory this day. St. Paul, the Apostle, preacher of truth and Doctor of the Gentiles, intercede for us to God, who chose you. Amen.

Our Father - Hail Mary - Glory Be

Day 3 - January 18th

Petition: Today we pray for the deeper conversion of all priests and deacons who are entrusted with proclaiming the Word of God, that they may be renewed in their love of Scripture and inspired by the Holy Spirit to communicate that love to all the faithful.

Invocation: O God, you have instructed many nations through the preaching of the blessed apostle Paul. Let the power of his intercession with you help us who venerate his memory this day. St. Paul, the Apostle, preacher of truth and Doctor of the Gentiles, intercede for us to God, who chose you. Amen.

Our Father - Hail Mary - Glory Be

Day 4 - January 19th

Petition: Today we pray for the conversion of non-Christians. May the intercession of St. Paul guide all peoples to the saving message of Jesus Christ.

Invocation: O God, you have instructed many nations through the preaching of the blessed apostle Paul. Let the power of his intercession with you help us who venerate his memory this day. St. Paul, the Apostle, preacher of truth and Doctor of the Gentiles, intercede for us to God, who chose you. Amen.

Our Father - Hail Mary - Glory Be

Day 5 - January 20th

Petition: Today we pray for all missionaries, that they, like St. Paul, may endure all hardships for the sake of God’s glory and never cease to trust in His providence.

Invocation: O God, you have instructed many nations through the preaching of the blessed apostle Paul. Let the power of his intercession with you help us who venerate his memory this day. St. Paul, the Apostle, preacher of truth and Doctor of the Gentiles, intercede for us to God, who chose you. Amen.

Our Father - Hail Mary - Glory Be

Day 6 - January 21st

Petition: Today we pray for the conversion of all who violate the dignity of the unborn, that through the intercession of St. Paul, they may mercifully recognize the sanctity of all human life.

Invocation: O God, you have instructed many nations through the preaching of the blessed apostle Paul. Let the power of his intercession with you help us who venerate his memory this day. St. Paul, the Apostle, preacher of truth and Doctor of the Gentiles, intercede for us to God, who chose you. Amen.

Our Father - Hail Mary - Glory Be

Day 7 - January 22nd

Petition: Today we pray for the deeper conversion of all who study and teach Scripture, that their encounter with the Living Word will bear fruit in the lives of countless others.

Invocation: O God, you have instructed many nations through the preaching of the blessed apostle Paul. Let the power of his intercession with you help us who venerate his memory this day. St. Paul, the Apostle, preacher of truth and Doctor of the Gentiles, intercede for us to God, who chose you. Amen.

Our Father - Hail Mary - Glory Be

Day 8 - January 23th

Petition: Today we pray for the conversion of all who persecute Christians, that like St. Paul, they may experience the unmistakable person of Christ and repent.

Invocation: O God, you have instructed many nations through the preaching of the blessed apostle Paul. Let the power of his intercession with you help us who venerate his memory this day. St. Paul, the Apostle, preacher of truth and Doctor of the Gentiles, intercede for us to God, who chose you. Amen.

Our Father - Hail Mary - Glory Be

Day 9 - January 24th

Petition: Today we pray for the youth of this generation, that they will embrace the beauty of the Catholic faith, grow into strong, authentic apostles, and continue to spread the Gospel to those who come after them.

Invocation: O God, you have instructed many nations through the preaching of the blessed apostle Paul. Let the power of his intercession with you help us who venerate his memory this day. St. Paul, the Apostle, preacher of truth and Doctor of the Gentiles, intercede for us to God, who chose you. Amen.

Our Father - Hail Mary - Glory Be

Novena text taken from The St. Paul Center - Novena to St. Paul.

Share your intentions in the comments below!