St. George
Posted on April 23, 2020 by admin No comments
Born: Palestine
Died: 23 April 303 Nicomedia, Bithynia, Roman Empire
Venerated: in Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church Oriental Orthodoxy Church of the East Anglican Communion Lutheranism Umbanda
Major shrine: Church of Saint George, Lod St. George Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Edappally St. George Orthodox Church Puthuppally Pally
Feast: 23 April (Saint George’s Day) 6 May (Gregorian when Julian date is observed) 23 Parmouti (Coptic calendar, 1 May)
Patronage: Many Patronages of Saint George exist around the world
Saint George was born in Palestine of Christian parents, towards the close of the third century. In early youth he chose a soldier’s life, and soon obtained the favor of Diocletian, who advanced him to the grade of tribune. But when the emperor began to persecute the Christians, George rebuked him at once for his cruelty, sternly and openly, and announced his resignation. Having foreseen that the words he would say might bring about his death, he had first distributed his wealth and clothing to the poor.
Young man, Diocletian said to him, think of your future! I am a Christian, George replied, and nothing in this world is the object either of my ambition or my regret. Nothing can shake my faith. He was subjected to a long series of torments, and finally beheaded.
There was something so heartening in the defiant cheerfulness of the young soldier, that every Christian felt a personal share in this triumph of Christian fortitude. Devotion to Saint George is very ancient and widespread in the Church. A fourth-century church dedicated to him at Constantinople is believed to have been built by Constantine, and his name is invoked in the most ancient liturgies.
In Europe, Malta, Barcelona, Valencia, Aragon, Genoa, and England have chosen him as their patron. Even beyond the circle of Christendom he was held in honor, and invading Saracens learned to exempt from desecration the image of the one they hailed as the White-horsed Knight.
Prayer to St. George for Strong Protection Against Enemies
I will go dressed and armed with the weapons of Saint George so that my enemies, having feet will not reach me; having hands will not trap me; having eyes will not see me, neither with thought can they cause me harm.
Firearms will not reach my body; knives and swords will break without touching my body, ropes and chains will break without tying my body.
Jesus Christ protects and defends me with the power of His Holy and Divine Grace.
The Virgin of Nazareth covers me with her sacred and divine mantle, protecting me in all my dolors and afflictions.
And God, with His Divine Mercy and great power, is my defender against the evils and persecutions of my enemies.
Glorious Saint George, in the name of God, extend to me your shield and your powerful arms, defending me with your strength and your greatness; and may my enemies underneath your feet become humble and submissive to you. So Be it in the Power of God, of Jesus Christ and of the Divine Holy Spirit. Amen
Prayer to St. George, for Triumph in My Battles
Mighty God, Saint George was nicknamed the “Victory Bringer” because he relied on Your power to defeat evil wherever he went. Starting out as a soldier in his country’s army, he converted and became a soldier for Christ. Laying down the world’s armor by giving his wealth to the poor, he forever after carried the shield of faith and won many victories for those who sought Your help. I ask him to pray for the battles I’ve been enduring, and to bring Your triumph into my life. Help me to overcome the Enemy, Lord Jesus, and teach me how to protect myself with ever-increasing faith. Saint George, pray for me. Amen.
Prayer to invoke St. George’s powerful intercession against temptations
Faithful servant of God and invincible martyr, St. George; favored by God with the gift of faith, and inflamed with an ardent love of Christ, thou didst fight valiantly against the dragon of pride, falsehood, and deceit. Neither pain nor torture, sword nor death could part thee from the love of Christ.
I fervently implore thee for the sake of this love to help me by thy intercession to overcome the temptations that surround me, and to bear bravely the trials that oppress me, so that I may patiently carry the cross which is placed upon me; and let neither distress nor difficulties separate me from the love of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Valiant champion of the Faith, assist me in the combat against evil, that I may win the crown promised to them that persevere unto the end. Amen.
Prayer to St. George for Strong Protection
Faithful servant of God and invincible martyr, Saint George; favored by God with the gift of faith, and inflamed with an ardent love of Christ, thou didst fight valiantly against the dragon of pride, falsehood, and deceit. Neither pain nor torture, sword nor death could part thee from the love of Christ.
I fervently implore thee for the sake of this love to help me by thy intercession to overcome the temptations that surround me, and to bear bravely the trials that oppress me, so that I may patiently carry the cross which is placed upon me; and let neither distress nor difficulties separate me from the love of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Valiant champion of the Faith, assist me in the combat against evil, that I may win the crown promised to them that persevere unto the end. Amen.
Prayer to St. George
Saint George, with courage you stood up to those in power, to tell them that what they were doing was wrong. Pray that we, too, may have the courage to stand up for what is right, with God’s help. You were not ashamed of your faith. Pray that we, too, may be proud of our faith, and may cheerfully show the love of Jesus in all that we do. St George, pray for us! Amen.
Prayer to St. George
Almighty God, who gave to your servant George boldness to confess the Name of our Saviour Jesus Christ before the rulers of this world, and courage to die for this faith: Grant that we may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer to St. George
Glorious Saint George, the martyr, defender of the Christian faith, who gave your life for the Catholic Church. Protect my body from illness and my soul from evil. Defend the happiness of my home from all those who may conspire to destroy it. Give me the strength of your faith and fill me with hope and with the love of God. Amen.
Prayer to St. George
St. George, heroic Catholic soldier and defender of your faith, you dared to criticize a tyrannical emperor and were subjected to horrible torture. You could have occupied a high military position but you preferred to die for your Lord. Obtain for us the great grace of heroic Christian courage that should mark soldiers of Christ. Amen.
Prayer to St. George
O God, the merits and prayers of Your Blessed Martyr George are a source of happiness for us. Grant us as a gift of grace the blessings we seek through him. Almighty God, we humbly ask (make your request here) through the intercession of St George that we may live a life pleasing to You, and receive the favours we ask, if they are for our good. Amen.
Prayer to St. George
O Lord God of Hosts, who didst give grace to thy servant George to lay aside the fear of man and to confess Thee even unto death, grant that we, and all our countrymen who bear office in the world, may think lightly of earthly place and honour, and seek rather to please the Captain of our Salvation who has chosen us to be his soldiers, to whom with Thee and the Holy Spirit be thanks and praise from all the armies of Thy saints, now and evermore. Amen.
Novena to St. George
Pray the following four prayers for nine consecutive days.
Preparatory Prayer
Almighty and eternal God! With lively faith and reverently worshipping Thy divine Majesty, I prostrate myself before Thee and invoke with filial trust Thy supreme bounty and mercy. Illumine the darkness of my intellect with a ray of Thy heavenly light and inflame my heart with the fire of Thy Divine love, that I may contemplate the great virtues and merits of the Saint in whose honour I make this novena, and following his example imitate, like him, the life of Thy Divine Son.
Moreover, I beseech Thee to grant graciously, through the merits and intercession of this powerful Helper, the petition which through him I humbly place before Thee, devoutly saving, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Vouchsafe graciously to hear it, if it redounds to Thy greater glory and to the salvation of my soul. Amen.
Prayer in Honour of St George
O God, who didst grant to Saint George strength and constancy in the various torments which he sustained for our holy faith; we beseech Thee to preserve, through his intercession, our faith from wavering and doubt, so that we may serve Thee with a sincere heart faithfully unto death. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Invocation of Saint George – Prayers of Intercession
Faithful servant of God and invincible martyr, Saint George; favoured by God with the gift of faith, and inflamed with an ardent love of Christ, thou didst fight valiantly against the dragon of pride, falsehood, and deceit. Neither pain nor torture, sword nor death could part thee from the love of Christ. I fervently implore thee for the sake of this love to help me by thy intercession to overcome the temptations that surround me, and to bear bravely the trials that oppress me, so that I may patiently carry the cross which is placed upon me; and let neither distress nor difficulties separate me from the love of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Valiant champion of the Faith, assist me in the combat against evil, that I may win the crown promised to them that persevere unto the end.
Final Prayer
My Lord and my God! I offer up to Thee my petition in union with the bitter passion and death of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, together with the merits of His immaculate and blessed Mother, Mary ever virgin, and of all the saints, particularly with those of the holy Helper in whose honour I make this novena. Look down upon me, merciful Lord! Grant me Thy grace and Thy love, and graciously hear my prayer. Amen.