San Expedito is one of the saints of the Catholic Church who has more devotees around the world.
Find out below his story, his miracles and learn a powerful novena to ask for his intervention in urgent matters.
History of San Expedito
Known as the saint of urgent causes, merchants and navigators, the existence of San Expedito has been questioned many times.
According to the Jesuit historian Hipólito Delehaye, the name “Expeditus” comes from a misreading of “Elipidius”, a Roman soldier martyr, who died in Melitene around the year 303.
It is also suggested that the name “Expeditus” is rather an adjective that in Latin means free of charges and that within military language, it refers to light infantry.
Many legends have arisen within the history of San Expedito. One of the best known is the “miracle of water”. At the time of Marcus Aurelius, Saint Expeditus was commander of the XII Roman legion, called “La Fulminante”, which fought against the barbarians in the region of Germany (currently Armenia and Turkey).
On one occasion they were surrounded by their enemies without food or water. As the barbarians approached to attack, the Roman soldiers fell to their knees and began to pray as they had seen the Christians do.
At that moment, before the perplexed attitude of the barbarians, an intense storm broke out in the sky and the soldiers were able to collect water in their helmets to drink and fight until they finally won the battle.
What is San Expedito used for?
He is one of the most popular saints since he is venerated in a large number of countries such as: Austria, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Philippines, France, Italy (especially in Sicily, Campania and Lombardy), Germany, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Russia, Spain, Turkey, Uruguay, Venezuela, USA.
Saint Expedite’s day is April 19. The image of San Expedito is usually that of a Roman soldier stepping on a raven. Saint Expeditus was canonized in 1671 by Pope Clement X.
Saint Expeditus is always prayed to in desperate, very serious or urgent cases. He is also known as the patron saint of merchants, soldiers, students, young people and travelers.
He is also recognized as the patron saint of legal causes that are too long.
Novena of San Expedito, the saint of the impossible
Now that you know his story and his miracles, I will share the novena to Saint Expeditus day by day so that you can make your urgent requests and receive the help and blessings you deserve.
Prayer for every day
Pray this prayer every day before the prayer corresponding to each day.
Be our guide and help us to go through our earthly life with hope. We earnestly ask you for relief for those who suffer and for your intercession before Jesus, our Savior, to open the gates of heaven to the souls waiting in purgatory. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
First day
On the first day, the prayer asks for the youth. At the end, pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be
Give me that ability to discover new alternatives, where today I only see confusion and fatigue. Hear my call and attend to my request, because I need you. Take my prayers to the Lord so that He may do His will in me.
Saint Expeditus, brave defender of the Church of Christ, pray for us who turn to you
.Second day
The second day is prayed for courage to face the situation. After the prayer, pray the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Glory Be.
Develop in me the virtue of which you are the bearer and make me strong in soul and spirit to be able to move forward in these days when I fear. You who were a brave man, teach me to live with my fears and my daily pains, so that I can get ahead and triumphant in the face of adversity.
Saint Expeditus, brave defender of the Church of Christ, pray for us who turn to you.
Third day
The third day is prayed in gratitude for the availability that San Expedito always has to help.
Show me which is the path that I must follow so that I can solve the problems that arise today. Guide each of my steps and open the way for me before all storms. Because I trust that only you can help me. Come to my aid and show me a ray of sunshine that illuminates my soul.
Saint Expeditus, brave defender of the Church of Christ, pray for us who turn to you.
Fourth day
The fourth day of the ninth of San Expedito is prayed to the just heart. At the end, pray the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Glory Be.
Guide each of my words to be clear in the face of adversity, because I know that if my mind is clear it will be easier to make the right decision in the face of so much confusion.
Saint Expeditus, brave defender of the Church of Christ, pray for us who turn to you.
Fifth day: Modesty
The prayer of the fifth day of the novena speaks of the humble heart of Saint Expeditus.
Today I humbly approach you to ask you to help me with the things that I cannot change, so that in some way they can be modified and externalized in me. I trust you will teach me how to do it.
Saint Expeditus, brave defender of the Church of Christ, pray for us who turn to you.
Sixth day
On the sixth day, a prayer is said that asks for strength and courage to be able to give up everything that afflicts you.
Show me how to do it, guide my actions, I give it all to you so that you guide me right now. You who have been wise for having left everything and giving yourself diligently to God, even knowing what your destiny was, give me that strength of heart for renunciation, that in you I trust my steps and my decisions.
Saint Expeditus, brave defender of the Church of Christ, pray for us who turn to you.
Seventh day
The seventh day of the novena San Expedito, is to ask the saint to give you enough faith to overcome the problem that afflicts you. At the end, pray the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Glory Be.
You who have believed increase my faith every day, as a faithful representative of Christ our Savior. Reveal to me what my mission is in the world so that I can carry it out with faith and joy.
Saint Expeditus, brave defender of the Church of Christ, pray for us who turn to you.
Eighth day
On the eighth day the prayer talks about hope and trust that everything is under the Lord’s care.
I fully trust that you will be able to help me in the face of adversity and that you will guide my steps so that I can exercise charity among my brothers.
Saint Expeditus, brave defender of the Church of Christ, pray for us who turn to you.
ninth day
On the ninth and last day, the prayer to Saint Expedite speaks of asking for charity in the hearts to learn to share and be in solidarity with those who need it most and, in this way, receive what they deserve.
I fully trust that you will be able to help me in the face of adversity and that you will guide my steps so that I can exercise charity among my brothers.
Saint Expeditus, brave defender of the Church of Christ, pray for us who turn to you.
Other Catholic novenas
Below you will learn about other Catholic novenas for urgent causes that you should learn to pray:
- Novena to the Virgin Undoing Knots: Get to know the history of the devotion to the Virgin Undoing Knots and make your urgent requests through this novena.
- Novena to San Judas Tadeo: If you have labor problems and need help to get or change a job, pray this powerful novena to San Judas Tadeo to receive his help.
- Novena to Mary Help of Christians: If you find yourself in a critical moment and need help from the Lord, pray this powerful novena to Mary Help of Christians, so that she may intercede for you and give you the blessings you need.
Do you usually pray to San Expedito?
Yes, I pray to him frequently
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No. I do not pray to San Expedito
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