Novena to the Body and Blood of Christ based on writings of St. Alphonsus

“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” - John 6:56

God is present with us today and every day in the Eucharist. Based on the writings of St. Alphonsus Liguori, this Novena to the Body and Blood of Christ provides insight and guidance for praying in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament or preparation for receiving holy Communion.

“Novenas can help us focus on a particular aspect or image of God amid our daily life,” said author David Werthmann. “Through these prayers and devotions, we invite God into our hearts and share with him our needs and worries. We ask God to accept our prayers and, as we do, our relationship with the Divine One grows.”

God calls us to turn to him in times of need or when we seek comfort. He is always in our hearts and available through the celebration of Mass. We are invited to unite with Jesus through the Eucharist, and we are expected to share Him with the world through encounters with one another.

Using the words of St. Alphonsus, this 32-page, deluxe pamphlet provides guidance to praying in the presence of Christ’s body and blood. God calls us to turn to him in times of need or when we seek comfort. He is in our hearts and available through the sacrifice of the Mass and for adoration.

Traditionally, a novena is a prayer or set of prayers repeated for nine consecutive days. However, it could just as well be accomplished in nine consecutive hours of one day or spread out to include one particular day each week over nine weeks. No fixed rules are required for making a novena, except to persevere in the prayer. 

Based on devotionals written by St. Alphonsus for Redemptorist priests and brothers in the 1700s, Werthmann has adapted the text for today’s readers. Earlier this year Liguori Publications produced a similar deluxe pamphlet by Werthmann. Novena to the Holy Spirit with St. Alphonsus is also available in Spanish as Novena de San Alfonso al Espiritu Santo.

About the Author
David Werthmann has a master’s degree in pastoral studies with an emphasis on spirituality from the Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis. He did further graduate studies in pastoral liturgy at Santa Clara University in California. For more than thirty years, Werthmann has been a teacher, a pastoral minister, a liturgical musician, and a freelance writer.