Novenas

[catholicbball17]

Hi again.
I have been praying the St. Jude Novena along with a novena to St. Josemaria and the rosary for the past few weeks (much more than the 9 days) so that I can get a job. I am still unemployed and had a few near-misses. I restarted the St. Jude novena after I discovered a pamphlet at a nearby church that was different as it included some novena prayers and also said that I had to leave 9 prayer-books of the novena for 9 days straight at some churches. Anyone familiar with that, does the novena work without leaving the pamphlets. Also I could use some more ideas of who to pray to for a job.

 

[odile53]

There can be a lot of superstition surrounding novenas, and what one has to do to get them to “work.” True prayer brings your problem to the attention of the saint whose intercession (their prayers) you are requesting, and asks their help in making God’s will or His glory manifest. You can check out more about novenas and other popular pious practices in the Catechism.

There is nothing “wrong” with novenas, just what some people do with them. God answers prayer according to His holy will, not whether we repeat a prayer a specific number of times, distribute pamphlets, or publish something in the personal column of the local newspaper. Be really careful that you don’t attach superstitious beliefs to prayer. We may want something very badly, but God may have a much better idea in mind for us, and usually does.

I made a novena to St. Jude about a rather desperate employment situation years ago, and made his name and intercession known by word of mouth: I told everyone I knew that I was praying the novena, and asked them to pray about the situation as well. The situation shook itself out in a way I had not considered—the other person involved found a different job.

 

[catholicbball17]

I made a novena to St. Jude about a rather desperate employment situation years ago, and made his name and intercession known by word of mouth: I told everyone I knew that I was praying the novena, and asked them to pray about the situation as well. The situation shook itself out in a way I had not considered—the other person involved found a different job.

I have been unsuccessful in my job search even after so many months of hard searching on top of school.

 

[johnthebaptist1]

I too have said Novenas,to saints, that had to be said for nine days,once you finish the Novena, leave your pray in the hand,s of that Saint, the Saint will take your pray to God Jesus and Mary,just keep your Faith,it will be answered.

 

[Joannm]

Some novenas or should I say the conditions attached to them are like spiritual chain letters. You can’t control God. If GOD wills something it will happen. If not then we have to accept His will for us. No amount of copies of prayers left in a church is going to convince God to change His desires for us.