St. Expedit, also known as St. Expeditus, is a Christian martyr and a Roman saint of the third century who was said to be a Roman centurion in Armenia that was martyred around April 303 for converting to Christianity. He is the patron saint for speedy cases, resolving all of our difficulties in a flash! We can entrust him with our prayers, especially in the form of a novena.
Traditionally this novena begins on April 11th so as to finish on the feast day of St. Expedit on April 19th. However, it can be prayed at any time we feel the need for speedy intervention. Through the intercession of St. Expedit we offer up all of our prayers to Christ and Blessed Mother Mary.
Each day we begin the novena by reciting an Act of Contrition to St. Expeditus :
“My Lord Jesus Christ,
Father of endless charity
I am heartily sorry for all 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, St. Expeditus.”
And we end the novena each day by reciting:
“Oh St. 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 the particular grace desired...)
and I promise to follow your examples
and will propagate this devotion to you.”
Then we pray 3 “Our Fathers” in honor of the Most Holy Trinity.
Day 1
O Glorious Martyr, St 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.
Day 2
O Glorious Martyr, St. Expeditus, through the enviable hope given you by God,
pray that those of little belief may be penetrated by some rays of hope
so that they may also receive eternal things, please pray that ardent hope in God
be also given me and hold me steadfast in the midst of sufferings.
Day 3
Oh Glorious Martyr, St. Expeditus, through the endless love
which our Lord planted in your heart, please remove from mine all shackles tied by worldliness,
that without them I may love only God in all eternity.
Day 4
Oh Glorious Martyr, St. 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.
Day 5
Oh Glorious Martyr, St. 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.
Day 6
Oh Glorious Martyr, St. 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 angers and hardness of heart which is the stumbling block of my soul.
Day 7
Oh Glorious Martyr, St. 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 only live only for Him, that I may die only for Him,
and that I may pray only to Him in all eternity
Day 8
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.
Day 9
Oh Glorious Martyr, St. Expeditus, who was so much loved by the Queen of Heaven
that 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.
Praying to St. Expedite is a very popular devotion in many different parts of the world. Praying to St. Expedite may be a solution for solving many different situations.
St. Expedite never waits for tomorrow to get things done; this is why he is the privileged intercessor for urgent situations. His motto “Hodie” (today) with which he is usually represented, illustrates his determination to make decisions with promptitude and assurance. It is possible to turn to him to ask God to quickly solve a situation of conflict, for example in a legal matter. We can also pray to him to help us have courage and discernment when confronted with evil or adversity.
St. Expedite, who died young, is also known as the patron saint for youth and school children. He is prayed to for assisting students in times of exams, contests, or passing their driving license. His capacity to intercede for us to God and to undo difficult situations as well as his status as the patron saint of youth, make him a saint that is solicited in times of job hunting.
Discover a multitude of novenas to different saints and experience consolation and comfort of belonging to a community of prayer especially in times of emergency.
In difficult times, pray to Padre Pio
For desperate causes turn to St. Rita
Looking for a job, ask St. Joseph
For peace of mind, pray to The Lord