The Surrender Novena is one of the most beloved and calming prayers of our time. Rather than listing our worries, it invites us to hand each one to Jesus with a single, trusting act of surrender: “O Jesus, I surrender myself to You, take care of everything!” It was given through the Servant of God Fr. Dolindo Ruotolo, a humble Neapolitan priest and friend of St Padre Pio.
How to Pray the Surrender Novena
Pray once a day for nine days. Each day begins with a short meditation in the voice of Jesus, and ends by slowly repeating the act of surrender ten times, resting in his care.
The Act of Surrender (Prayed Ten Times Each Day)
O Jesus, I surrender myself to You, take care of everything! (Repeat ten times.)
The Nine Days
Each day carries a different word of Jesus, drawing the heart from anxiety to trust: Day 1 – “Why do you confuse yourselves by worrying?”; Day 2 – leave the care of your affairs to me; Day 3 – trust does not force my hand but disarms my justice; Day 4 – surrender even in trouble; Day 5 – close the eyes of your soul and let me work; Day 6 – miracles flow from full surrender; Day 7 – do not worry, I will provide; Day 8 – let me lift you above your storms; Day 9 – Mary will always help. On each day, finish with the act of surrender ten times.
About Fr. Dolindo Ruotolo
Fr. Dolindo Ruotolo (1882–1970) was a priest of Naples who suffered much and lived in deep union with God. St Padre Pio once told pilgrims, “Why do you come to me? Go to Fr. Dolindo – he is a saint.” The words of this novena are drawn from his writings, in which he recorded the Lord’s invitation to abandon everything into his hands. His cause for canonization is open, and he bears the title Servant of God.
Related Prayers and Devotions
The Three O’Clock Prayer
A Prayer for Anxious Thoughts
Browse all Novenas
Sources: Text of the Surrender Novena as published by FOCUS, the Archdiocese of Denver, and surrendernovena.com. Biographical detail on the Servant of God Fr. Dolindo Ruotolo.