How to not fail at a novena?

[whichwaytogo47]

A second cousin just had a baby born at 28 weeks and are newly married. I was thinking of doing something significant as a novena. I’m afraid to fail because I have failed at novenas before. I might have succeeded once but I failed at least twice. How do you develop the discipline to honor your promises to make your prayer life fruitful instead of reneging on your promises?

My church has a 6:30AM and an 8AM daily mass (9AM Saturday mass) and I think I’m more likely to succeed at the novena at the 8AM mass.

With the holiday, does it matter if I complete the novena at a different mass time or different church that’s closer to home? Can I have grave matter (potentially mortal sin) on my heart and still succeed at completing a novena as long as I bring it to confession on Saturday? Can you abstain from the Eucharist and still have a valid novena or should I delay the starting of the novena till I get to confession?

Thanks so much!

 

[Tis_Bearself]

You’re over thinking it. Just get the novena done any which way you can. The next one will go better.

I am still working on finishing one from before Christmas. I have finished others on time. Sometimes things just spin out of control. Also, as long as you get back in a state of grace when reasonably possible (like when confession is available) I don’t think God is bothered by you praying with grave matter on your soul. When you’re in that state he prefers you to pray rather than not pray. Once you get back in a state of grace he should give you all your benefits.

 

[whichwaytogo47]

You’re over thinking it. Just get the novena done any which way you can. The next one will go better.

I am still working on finishing one from before Christmas. I have finished others on time. Sometimes things just spin out of control. Also, as long as you get back in a state of grace when reasonably possible (like when confession is available) I don’t think God is bothered by you praying with grave matter on your soul. When you’re in that state he prefers you to pray rather than not pray. Once you get back in a state of grace he should give you all your benefits.

So far from going to confession, I’ve been able to thus far stay out of mortal sin or so I believe. I definitely think it’s a healing thing. I get the most saddest when I fail to abide by the gifts I’ve been given or believe to have been given: aka fear of the Lord and fortitude. I am ashamed that I often need help in my unbelief (aka lack of commitment and desire to spend more than a couple minutes in adoration before rushing to go about my day) and going to daily mass has been helpful. I plan to spend a couple of minutes in adoration on Friday as after mass, I have to go to work.

I have decided to do the nine consecutive days. And I did fail on day 3 the first time. Though I am on my 2nd attempt of the novena and I’m on Day 5. I hope to complete the novena on a mini-retreat (aka a morning retreat) on Saturday. I think I have seen many gaps in my faith in pursuit of the novena and call it a blessing. And baby McKinsey (wife’s mom’s cousin’s granddaughter) is doing very well as she was born 2 weeks ago. My mom’s also praying to St Jude and is doing a St Jude novena. Her faith is very strong and I admire it. I hope to follow in her footsteps.

I need to increase my giving. Though I don’t see myself being able to tithe, I would like to get to $20/week as we bring home approximately $4,000 a month, pay $1200 in rent and pay about $1,000 in debt service. I think that would be a great start and than I could increase it as we got out of debt and after we get thru the major childcare years (don’t have children yet but aspire to have them).