Attend Mass
Although St. Walburga is not commemorated on either old or the new calendars, you can certainly attend Mass to pray for the saint’s intercession!
If you would like to attend a traditional Mass for the feast, find a Traditional Latin Mass near you (click here to explore).
Have a picnic or a bonfire on the eve of the feast
This was the traditional method of commemorating the feast when devotion to St. Walburga was at its peak.
This night also corresponds to the ancient pagan festival of Beltane Eve. The Celtic Festival of Beltane, which marks the beginning of summer in the ancient Celtic calendar, is a Cross Quarter Day, half-way between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice.
So, pray for the conversion of the pagans around your bonfire!
Here are some other activities you can do around the bonfire:
- Read the story the divine light that illuminated of St. Walburga’s convent
- Raise a toast to St. Walburga
- Read Goethe’s poem The First Walpurgis Night (Die Erste Walpurgisnacht) or listen to Mendelssohn’s musical rendition
- Read the short story Dracula’s Guest by Bram Stoker
Gather oak branches to decorate the home
Given St. Walburga’s relationship to St. Boniface (she was his niece) and St. Walburga’s Benedictine spirituality, Fisheaters.com wisely advises:
“It’s traditional, too, to gather greenery and oak branches at dusk, adorn them with symbols of Christ, and use them to decorate our homes (the English of Lincolnshire would hang cowslip flowers—Primula veris—to ward off evil). The use of oak branches is a way to recall the Benedectines’ victory over paganism, as perfectly seen in the story of St. Boniface and the ‘sacred oak.’ As to foods, German fare and beer brewed by Benedictines or their brothers, the Trappists, sound perfect.”
Pray the Litany of St. Walburga
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, Saint Walburga, pray for us.
St. Walburga, lily of purity, pray for us.
St. Walburga, model of humility, pray for us.
St. Walburga, model of obedience, pray for us.
St. Walburga, perfect model of monastic discipline and modesty, pray for us.
St. Walburga, ornament of virgins consecrated to God, pray for us.
St. Walburga, model of mortification, pray for us.
St. Walburga, conqueror of all temptations, pray for us.
St. Walburga, perpetual sacrifice of Divine love, pray for us.
St. Walburga, glorious example of perseverance in the service of God, pray for us.
St. Walburga, zealous servant of Jesus and Mary, pray for us.
St. Walburga, light and ornament of thy order, pray for us.
St. Walburga, miraculous help in time of need, pray for us.
St. Walburga, refuge of the afflicted, pray for us.
St. Walburga, solace of the sick and sorrowful, pray for us.
St. Walburga, powerful advocate of all who venerate thee, pray for us.
St. Walburga, who through love of Jesus didst despise the pomps and vanities of the world, pray for us.
St. Walburga, who through love for Jesus didst forsake thy home and country, pray for us.
St. Walburga, who didst bring from afar the light of faith to heathen nations, pray for us.
St. Walburga, who as a wise and prudent virgin didst make an entire offering of thyself to thy heavenly Spouse, pray for us.
St. Walburga, who didst teach the true Faith both by thy word and example, pray for us.
St. Walburga, who through works of charity poured out the oil of tender compassion, pray for us.
St. Walburga, who through thy holy example didst gain many virgins to follow Jesus Christ, pray for us.
St. Walburga, who, strong in faith, didst conquer the world, pray for us.
St. Walburga, who didst at all times confide in the Lord, pray for us.
St. Walburga, who didst faithfully serve God in perfect love, pray for us.
St. Walburga, who didst restore sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf, pray for us.
St. Walburga, who didst restore speech to the dumb and reanimate the paralyzed limbs of the lame, pray for us.
St. Walburga, who through thy example and intercession didst convert so many sinners,pray for us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, O Lord.
Pray for us, O holy Saint Walburga, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let Us Pray.
O God, Who art full of mercy and compassion toward all who call upon Thee, and Who dost not cast away anyone who approaches Thee with confidence and humility, grant that through the intercession of Thy holy virgin, Saint Walburga, we may partake of the plenitude of Thy mercies; help us, that as by Thy special grace we have known and praised Thee, through the holy virgin Walburga, as a God rich in miracles, we may also love and adore Thee as a merciful Father, through Jesus Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
Pray the Novena to St. Walburga
Pray especially starting on 22 April and ending on 30 April (Walpugisnacht), the eve of the Feast of St. Walburga.
Holy Walburga, you dwell in the glory of heaven, gazing upon the face of the Triune God in the company of all the saints. I turn to you, full of trust in the words of Jesus Christ, “Amen, amen I say to you, the one who has faith in me will do the works I do, and greater far than these.” God has granted you the gift of healing; help me in my need, which I bring before you
(Mention your intentions here)
Beg God to grant healing, consolation and strength to me and to all those for whom I pray. Implore Him to let me recognize His love and know His presence, whatever He may have in store for me. Ask this for me through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Who lives and reigns in the unity of the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.
Amen.