How to pray a Novena

[Polak]

I am a bit embarrassed to say this, but I have looked online and have been unable to find a clear explanation, so I have to resort to asking on this forum.

Here we go. I don’t know how pray Novenas. It is just one of the prayers I have never done. Recently a friend said she was starting a nine day Novena to St.Jude and asked if I wanted to join. She said the prayers get sent to your email inbox every day. I decided I would. On day 1 (yesterday) I received the first prayer, and on day 2 (today) I received the 2nd, and it’s the exact same prayer. I must say I am very confused. Why bother to sending the same prayer to somebody’s inbox every day? Surely if it’s the same prayer then they can just send it once and I can recite it every day for nine days?

Also, the prayer seems very short. It takes 2 minutes. Are you supposed to just recite the words send to you? I get the feeling I am doing something wrong.

Also, who write these Novenas? Are they official prayers written by the Church or do people put them together and then sure then with people (might sound like a daft question)?

https://www.drstandley.com/guidance_novena_list.shtml

This website shows lots of different Novenas. Very confused.

 

[Inbonum]

Novena | Catholic Answers Encyclopedia

You pray by rules written in novena. Or, you can make your own novena without written rules. For example pray rosary nine 9 days in a row for xy intention. Or pray 9 months some prayer every day. Or 9 hours in a day, every hour one prayer for some intention.

Also, the prayer seems very short. It takes 2 minutes. Are you supposed to just recite the words send to you? I get the feeling I am doing something wrong.

Doesn’t matter if it is short, what matters is you heart and intention. It should be prayed with attention and not expect magical result after 9 days.

Also, who write these Novenas? Are they official prayers written by the Church or do people put them together and then sure then with people (might sound like a daft question)?

Some of them are made by some congregations or faithful. Some of them are made by saints.
You can make your own novena if you wish.
You cannot go wrong, it is important to pray with right attitude: ask God’s will to be done and know that God hears your prayers even if it seems like it is unanswered. Sometimes prayers are answered in different way than we expect.

How to Make a Novena | Catholic Answers Q&A

 

[Polak]

Thanks so much. It take it it doesn’t matter too much when we pray them? For instance my friend sent me a Novena to St. Jude, because the 9th day is going to be on the feast day of St. Jude. Is it believed to have some extra power if you do it like that, or do people just do that because if fits nicely?

 

[Inbonum]

Thanks so much. It take it it doesn’t matter too much when we pray them?

No. You can pray anytime in year. Sometimes we pray novenas in honor of some saint 9 days before feast day but that isn’t obligation. You can really start it whenever you wish.

Is it believed to have some extra power if you do it like that, or do people just do that because if fits nicely?

People do it mostly in honor of saint if it is 9 days before, like preparation for feast day. There is no “more power” when you pray it that way or in any other time.
Only power is in our trust in God.

Actually it is wrong if we believe this “if you say this prayer 3x in day God will answer your prayer” or “if you pray it on certain dates you will receive grace”. That is superstitious.

 

[Limoncello4021]

A Novena is just a prayer said for nine days. It can be a long prayer or short prayer, a prayer to Jesus, God the Father, the Holy Spirit, Mary, or any of the saints. Usually, you make a Novena for a particular intention. Often Novenas are prayed for the nine days before a feast day. You can pray the exact same prayer every day for nine days, or vary it. You can pray it at any time of the day. In short, it is quite loose in “rules.”
Just google Novena to… (your favorite saint, Mary, the Sacred Heart, etc) and you’ll find plenty of Novenas, or make up one of your own.
The person sending the Novena–the same prayer every day–is just issuing a reminder, which can be helpful to people as they commit to a nine-day prayer.

 

[Polak]

The person sending the Novena–the same prayer every day–is just issuing a reminder, which can be helpful to people as they commit to a nine-day prayer.

Thanks. So it is literally praying the same prayer for nine days in a row (or hours etc.) with particular intentions.

 

[Inbonum]

So it is literally praying the same prayer for nine days in a row (or hours etc.) with particular intentions.

Some novenas have different prayers each day, like Divine Mercy novena.

 

[Limoncello4021]

Yes, it is very typical to say the same prayer daily.