Novena Question

[hiccups]

I have been praying a novena to a few saints and last night was the last night for my Saint Rita novena. At the bottom of my prayer card it says “in nine days you will receive your answer” Now I know God can always say no or not at this time ect ect. But it feel like I have no answer being given to me…not even a no. Is this normal to feel like this? I know the saints we pray to for intentions and for them to help pray for our need and intercede for us with God but…why does it feel like Saint Rita didn’t hear me? Also if anyone would like to give me another good novena’s I’d really appreciate that

 

[CountrySteve]

PRayers ain’t magically spells or whatever, you’ll get your answer in God’s time, not your own GOd bless

 

[Elizium23]

Some prayer novenas are more like Catholic chain letters. They make empty promises not approved by the Church and raise false hope in the faithful. Some also encourage that you make multiple copies of the prayer and distribute it in a church. This sort of thing should not be done without the pastor’s approval.

The above poster is correct. There is nothing magic about prayer. It is not a spell incantation that will be answered with thunder and glory. God answers us in His own time, in His own way.

If you ever have doubts about a prayer, bring it to your pastor. A good time to see him is after Mass, many will stand at the door and receive parishioners. I have alerted my pastor to certain unapproved apparitions being distributed before, and he is grateful for the information.

 

[houston1]

I have been praying a novena to a few saints and last night was the last night for my Saint Rita novena. At the bottom of my prayer card it says “in nine days you will receive your answer” Now I know God can always say no or not at this time ect ect. But it feel like I have no answer being given to me…not even a no. Is this normal to feel like this? I know the saints we pray to for intentions and for them to help pray for our need and intercede for us with God but…why does it feel like Saint Rita didn’t hear me? Also if anyone would like to give me another good novena’s I’d really appreciate that

Hi hiccups,

I am currently in a similar situation. In my novenas, I always pray for God’s will be done in the matter as His will is always best for me. I pray this even when I am confused and discouraged. In my particular novena, I have only received a “no” or “not yet” answer at this point. Also, in my novena, I asked that if I did not receive what I requested that God take the desire from me. Well, my desire is as strong as ever.

So, what did I do? I continued to pray without ceasing as we are instructed to do in 1 Thes. 5:17. I wanted my desire to vanish but it has not. Regardless of the outcome, I am committed to suffering this for God until he choses to let this storm pass in my heart. After my 1st novena, I started another set of novenas and then completed them. I am now working on my third set of novenas. I’ve also been doing other prayer for my intention, too.

Despite this long and drawn out process, I trust that God’s holy will will be done in this and I try to apply Proverbs 3:5&6 to my life. It reads, “trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence rely not: in all your ways be mindful of him and he will make straight your paths.” I also plan to be the persistent widow to the unrighteous judge of Luke 18:1-8. You should meditate on this. Here it is.

1 And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man; 3 and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Vindicate me against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

I done several of the novenas listed on the ewtn website. Here is the link.

ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/novena.htm

I hope this helps. I will pray for you.

houston1

 

[hiccups]

Thank you! I just feel like she didn’t hear my prayers. I don’t get why I feel like that but I do. It’s like this…weird…emptiness?

 

[Elizium23]

If you offered your prayer in good faith then St. Rita and God heard it. Perhaps you are going through a general spiritual dryness, a Dark Night of the Soul? If you find this to be the case, I suggest a devotion to St. John of the Cross, who experienced this himself, wrote about it, and as you can see, became a saint in Heaven despite his struggles.

 

[Elenorann]

Hello, I just want to say that when I pray the saint Martha novena, I get a sign that I know she is hearing it or Jesus is. It doesn’t happen every single time but it has ten years ago and just this week it has happened again. Each time was right after I lost a brother or sister. Sometimes I smell church incense when I pray the rosary. So I think I am a pretty lucky person even though I am hurting so deeply. So keep praying.