I just bought a few different books on Novenas and unfortunately after flipping through them I have more questions than when I started. It seems between the books I have there is a lack of consistency. An example would be the novena to Therese of Lisieux. One book lists a novena to her as the “24 Glory Be” novena, another is a single prayer to be recited once a day for 9 days, and another is a different prayer every day for 9 days.
Is there an “official” novena for St. Therese? I once heard someone say if you pray a novena to her you sometimes mysteriously come by roses, but which one? Does it matter? Could I just make up my own novena to a particular Saint and recite it 9 days in a row?
Thanks in advance and God bless,
-AJ
Go ask a holy priest for advice.
I shall tell you what I know.
Before anything, we must acknowledge our sins. Start by offering an act of contrition. Better yet, go to a priest and receive Holy Confession. The more pure and holy we are, the more God will listen to our prayers.
“Because the eyes of the Lord are upon the just, and his ears unto their prayers: but the countenance of the Lord upon them that do evil things.”(1 Peter 2: 12)
Novenas have no set structure, although the more you pray, the more efficacy it has, i.e. the more it is likely St. Therese will hear your prayer.
The number ‘9’ is flexible, meaning it doesn’t have to be 9 days-could be 9 hours, 9 weeks, 9 months.
I once prayed a 9 hour novena to the Blessed Virgin’s Immaculate Heart, and I received my answer the next day.
I would suggest at least 90 seconds of prayer, for the Novena set of prayers (3 Glory Bes, etc.). However, the more you pray, the more your prayer will be heard.
So I offer that you first: offer your intention while calling upon St. Therese for her intercession,
pray 3 Our Fathers, 3 Hail Marys, 3 Glory Bes in her honor, and finish with the Novena prayer to St. Therese.
A set of 3 different prayers for the honor of the Blessed Trinity, because They are 3 Holy and Powerful Persons. 3 times each for that same honor.
The important thing to do in a novena is to offer your intention first, be as specific as you can, and then offer prayers so you may have the intercession.
You may do this 3 times a day if you’d like, for a greater probability of answering (again, 3 times, for the honor of the Blessed Trinity).
I did this formula I mentioned to you for a St. Jude novena once, and I was answered a few weeks later. To the positive!
God Bless You!
Please pray for me!
