Each Day of the Novena, you will receive: A Daily Reflection A Short Prayer Novena ThemesDay 1: Renewed Hope (Don Bosco&#039;s early life and dream at nine)Day 2: Over Hills and Valleys (Don Bosco childhood and adolescence) Day 3: Stepping Stones (Don Bosco&#039;s return home and entering the seminary)Day 4: Helping the “Outcasts” (Pre-Oratory)Day 5: Welcome to the Oratory (Beginning of the Oratory at Valdocco)Day 6: Trust All to Divine Providence (Working through money issues and with benefactors)Day 7: The Beginning of Beautiful Partnerships (Establishing the Salesian Society, Salesian Sisters [with St. Mary Mazzarello], and Salesian Cooperators)Day 8: Nothing by Ourselves (Don Bosco: “I have done nothing by myself. It is the Virgin Mary who has done everything.” / We can do all things to, for, and with God)Day 9: Let the Young Know They Are Loved (Don Bosco&#039;s final words and lasting legacy) Who are the Salesians of Don Bosco, SUE?The Salesians of Don Bosco (SDBs) are a family of men and women founded by an Italian Catholic priest, Fr. John Bosco. Fr. John Bosco was popularly known as “Don” Bosco, using the Italian word &#34;Don&#34; to mean &#34;Father&#34; Bosco.Our mission is to be in the Church signs and bearers of the love of God for young people, especially those who are poor (Salesian Constitution, 2).After the example of our founder, we animate and form collaborators to share in this mission of the Church.By our consecration, the Salesians of Don Bosco, Province of St. Philip the Apostle, are called to be signs and bearers of God&#039;s love for the young in the Eastern United States and Canada (SUE).

Become a Pilgrim of Hope with Don Bosco

Dear St. John Bosco, as we enter this Jubilee year as pilgrims of hope, help us be voices for those most needing them, especially the young and the poor. Give us the courage, strength, and fortitude to always speak up for the most vulnerable while simultaneously seeing God in everyone whom we encounter. May our young people learn how to do this and be not only “Good Christians and Honest Citizens,” but bearers of truth, light, love, faith, and hope, too.

O holy St. John Bosco, who taught us that everyone can be holy and a saint, especially the young, please pray for us and our intentions. (Pause for a moment of silence to offer private intentions for St. John Bosco's intercession) May we follow your advice to “Trust all things to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and to Mary Help of Christians” and “see what miracles are.” In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

(Recite an Our Father, a Haily Mary, and a Glory Be)

Mary Help of Christians, pray for us! St. John Bosco, pray for us!

For centuries, Christians have gone on pilgrimages to holy places, seeking grace and conversion. The Michaelmas Novena is such a pilgrimage — not measured in miles, but in prayer.Each day, Fr. Ambrose Criste and the entire abbey community will guide us as we ask God for a specific grace: to recognize the darkness, to turn back in conversion, to walk under angelic protection, to persevere with zeal, and to radiate Christ&#039;s light into the world.Our destination is the altar of God, where Christ&#039;s victory over sin and death is renewed in the Eucharist. The journey culminates on the Feast of St. Michael (Sept. 29), when Solemn Vespers fills the abbey church with chant, incense, and a glorious sign: the rose window&#039;s light falling directly upon the altar.This is the goal of our novena. This is our pilgrimage into the Light.

Michaelmas 2025 Novena: A Pilgrimage Toward the Light

Great Saint Michael, Prince of the Heavenly Host, your name is a question filled with awe: "Who is like God?" Your vocation is to reveal His power and His wisdom, and so your name teaches us that nothing can compare with His might and goodness.
 
What is there that we cannot hope to receive from God's hand through your intercession and care? We entrust to you the intentions we bring in this novena: for Holy Church in Her trials; for our homelands so much in need of healing and grace; for our families who are shielded by the angels who guard us on our way to heaven; for the sick; for sinners; for the dying; for our dear, departed loved ones; and for protection from all the forces of evil who oppose these intentions.
 
We expect great things and abundant blessings as we invoke you. Christ the Lord is your King and ours; we are safe under your shield and with your fiery sword of burning love for Him.
 
We thank you in advance for the gifts to be obtained in this novena and promise in our gratitude to make your name and devotion known as much as we are able.
 
Blessed be God, glorious in His fair hosts of angels led by you, Michael, the leader of the bodiless powers of heaven! Amen.

<h2>What Is This Novena?</h2>This novena is a way to prepare for Christmas with Saint Charbel, following the ancient prayer tradition of the Maronite Church, one of the oldest Catholic traditions in the world.Prayed during the final days of Advent, from December 16 to Christmas Eve morning, it follows the same Scripture readings used in the Maronite Mass and leads the soul step by step toward the Birth of Christ.It is not a sentimental Christmas devotion. It is an invitation to pray the mystery of the Incarnation deeply, through Scripture, ancient hymns, and silence.<hr /><h2>Why This Novena Is Different</h2>Rather than reflections or explanations, this novena lets the prayers of the Church themselves speak.It draws from:<ul><li>Daily Advent Scripture readings</li><li>Ancient Syriac Christian hymns, close in spirit to the writings of Saint Ephrem the Syrian</li><li>The living prayer of the Maronite Catholic Church</li></ul>Each day follows a simple rhythm:<ul><li>Scripture</li><li>A short hymn meditation</li><li>A prayer through Saint Charbel</li><li>Familiar concluding prayers</li></ul>It is designed for personal prayer, easily prayed at home, quietly or aloud.<hr /><h2>What This Novena Helps You Pray</h2>At its heart, this novena contemplates why Christ was born.It presents Jesus as:<ul><li>The eternal Word who became truly human</li><li>The Light that enters real darkness</li><li>The Savior who comes to free us from fear, sin, and death</li><li>The One who brings peace into concrete, ordinary lives</li></ul>Christmas is celebrated not only as a feast, but as a rescue and a gift.<hr /><h2>The Place of Saint Charbel</h2>Saint Charbel is not the focus of the novena, but its guide.A priest and monk known for holiness, miracles, and deep silence, Saint Charbel lived entirely centered on the Eucharist and the mystery of Christ.He died on Christmas Eve, offering his life back to God as the Church prepared to celebrate the Birth of Jesus. In this novena, he stands as a quiet companion, pointing always to Christ.<hr /><h2>Who This Novena Is For</h2>This novena is especially suited for:<ul><li>Catholics who love Saint Charbel and want to know his spiritual roots</li><li>Those seeking a deeper, quieter way to prepare for Christmas</li><li>Anyone drawn to ancient Christian prayer and biblical spirituality</li><li>Readers who want to move beyond surface-level Christmas devotions</li></ul>No knowledge of Eastern liturgy is required.<hr /><h2>In One Sentence</h2>A Christmas novena with Saint Charbel, rooted in ancient Christian prayer, Scripture, and hymns, to meet Christ as light in darkness and peace for the heart.

Novena of the Holy Nativity with Saint Charbel

Pater Noster

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.

Ave Maria 

Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

Gloria

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

<h2>A Walk of Faith for Valentine&#039;s Day!</h2>Now is the time to experience the spirit of Valentine&#039;s Day, by confidently entrusting our desires to live a Christian marriage to St. Valentine, a great martyr and the patron saint of lovers.Be assured that we share your hopes and keep your intentions in our hearts every day!<h2>The Grace of Love: a Gift from God</h2><ul><li>Pray for yourself: pray that you meet someone in accordance with the Lord &#039;s heart.</li><li>Pray for yourself: entrust God with your desire to live a fruitful Christian marriage.</li><li>Pray for a single person you know who suffers from loneliness.</li><li>Pray for all those who desire to get married.</li><li>Pray that marriages be based on the « Rock of Faith » .</li><li>Pray for young people who are not looking to commit to the Sacrament of Marriage </li><li>Pray that the world regains a deep sense of commitment to sacraments.</li></ul>… other ideas? Share them with us!St. Valentine will certainly be happy to hear them and present them to the Lord!<h2>Commitment</h2>Commit yourself to offer your thanks to St. Valentine: if you feel that he answered your prayers, celebrate his Feast Day in a spirit of gratitude for his intercession on your behalf!<h2>Click Join to receive the prayers</h2><a href="https://hozana.org/en/intentions">Click here to leave your prayer intention.</a>

Meet Your Soulmate with the Novena to St. Valentine

Loving Father,
You know that the deepest desire of my heart is
to meet someone that I can share my life with.
I trust in Your loving plan for me and ask that I may soon meet
the person that you have prepared for me.
Through the power of Your Holy Spirit,
open my heart and mind so that I recognize my soulmate.
Remove any obstacles that are in the way of this happy encounter,
So that I might find a new sense of wholeness, joy and peace.
Give me the grace too, to know and accept, if you have another plan for my life.
I surrender my past, present and future into the tender heart of Your Son, Jesus,
full of confidence that You will hear and answer my prayer.
AMEN.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You.
St Valentine, pray for me.