Novena questions

[Binary]

I’m on day 4 of praying the “Mary, Queen of all hearts” novena, (text here: catholicdoors.com/prayers/novenas/p04325.htm) and it has aroused some questions for me. I should mention that this is the first time I’ve chosen to pray a novena.

1. Why are novenas supposed to be more efficacious than normal petitionary prayers?
2. In the novena, I promise “to spread your glory, by making you known under the title of Mary, Queen of the Universe.” What does this title mean? Does Mary have any glory of her own? I thought that she did not, and only reflected God’s glory.
3. The instructions at the bottom are to “Go to confession, receive Holy Communion and recite this prayer for nine consecutive days.” Does that mean that I should be participating in those two sacraments for nine consecutive days?
4. Are novenas invalidated if one falls into a state of mortal sin during the course of it?

I realize that I should have asked these questions before starting, but I figure that late is better than never.

 

[Monica4316]

Hi novenas are supposed to be especially effective because you’re praying persistently for 9 days. It shows patience and trust in God, and you’re not expecting instant results. Also, they help us to focus on something particular long enough to learn more about it. For example, one time I prayed a novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. And it taught me a lot about the Sacred Heart devotion, which I wouldn’t otherwise know

for your second question. No, Mary does not have her OWN glory, this is impossible, all the glory she has was given to her by God. He crowned her the Queen of Heaven and all the world not because she is married to the Father the King (she’s not) but because she is the Son’s Mother. This is a reference to the Old Testament in which there was a queen who was called so because she was the mother of the King.

When we pray to spread Mary’s glory it’s like we’re praying for the reign of her Immaculate Heart. To understand this, it’s important to understand first that everything that comes to Mary she gives to God in a more perfect way. So if all the world was consecrated to Mary’s heart, she would then present the world to Jesus and give it to Him.

for #3… I don’t think it means that you should go to Confession every day for 9 days. (I don’t think this is even possible, no priest would approve IMO). Probably it means that you should go to confession and receive the Eucharist right before starting the novena so that you say it with a pure heart before God, free of sin.

#4: sorry I don’t know the answer to this one… it’s a good question though. I’m sure someone here knows…?

God bless

 

[Binary]

Hi novenas are supposed to be especially effective because you’re praying persistently for 9 days. It shows patience and trust in God, and you’re not expecting instant results. Also, they help us to focus on something particular long enough to learn more about it. For example, one time I prayed a novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. And it taught me a lot about the Sacred Heart devotion, which I wouldn’t otherwise know

for your second question. No, Mary does not have her OWN glory, this is impossible, all the glory she has was given to her by God. He crowned her the Queen of Heaven and all the world not because she is married to the Father the King (she’s not) but because she is the Son’s Mother. This is a reference to the Old Testament in which there was a queen who was called so because she was the mother of the King.

When we pray to spread Mary’s glory it’s like we’re praying for the reign of her Immaculate Heart. To understand this, it’s important to understand first that everything that comes to Mary she gives to God in a more perfect way. So if all the world was consecrated to Mary’s heart, she would then present the world to Jesus and give it to Him.

for #3… I don’t think it means that you should go to Confession every day for 9 days. (I don’t think this is even possible, no priest would approve IMO). Probably it means that you should go to confession and receive the Eucharist right before starting the novena so that you say it with a pure heart before God, free of sin.

#4: sorry I don’t know the answer to this one… it’s a good question though. I’m sure someone here knows…?

God bless

Thank you, Monica. You’re a gem. And not one of those ****** gems either, like topaz.

 

[Binary]

I can’t say ******? Lame.