Novenas?

[Saint_Michael]

When at daily Mass here in the city I see leaflets left in the pews that say a novena to St. Jude for example. Then it instructs you to pray this nine times for nine consecutive days, and to leave nine copies everyday and your prayer will be granted. I can’t help but feel like this is one of those chain letters you get by email. What’s the Churches stance on this practice? This seems like silly surperstition to me.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

The actual prayers of a novena are fine. (I say several, especially the Divine Mercy Novena). Where the “publish” and the “pray this for 9 days to have your prayer granted” started, I honestly do not know, but the informed Catholic would not see this type of St. Jude novena/ prayer as a ‘guarantee’ and would like you equate it to the ‘chain letter’ mentality that has sadly infiltrated many good and decent souls who e-mail such tripe to you and me. . .

 

[Em_in_FL]

Novenas are very powerful prayers and are highly encouraged by the church. The “nine day” significance goes back to the nine days of prayer between the Ascension and Pentecost…

I have seen the types of leaflets you’re describing that encourage you to leave copies of the novena for your prayer to be answered… that part does sound quite hokey like chain letters… and is not necessary for this powerful prayer to be valid. Prayers don’t work like that… no worries!

I’m sure the original intention of that was to pass on the prayer to others… but it certainly shouldn’t diminish the value of these powerful prayers.

HTH!!!

Here are a few listings of some great novenas…

ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/novena.htm
catholiclinks.org/novenasenglish.htm
catholic-pages.com/DIR/novenas.asp

 

[Saint_Michael]

Let me clarify that I pray the Novena to St. Jude and Miraculous Medal almost weekly. What I’m focused on is the practice of the “pray this nine times, for nine days, and leave nine copies each day etc…”. That seems like silly superstition, I don’t have a problem with the actual prayers.

 

[Andruschak]

Let me clarify that I pray the Novena to St. Jude and Miraculous Medal almost weekly. What I’m focused on is the practice of the “pray this nine times, for nine days, and leave nine copies each day etc…”. That seems like silly superstition, I don’t have a problem with the actual prayers.

My own novena book just gives ONE prayer to be said nine days in a row. The LOS ANGELES TIMES newspaper has frequent thanks to St. Jude for favors received in its Classified Announcements. I haven’t come across those leaflets at my local Church, but would bring them to the Church Office for their “heads up”

 

[Sir_Knight]

Let me clarify that I pray the Novena to St. Jude and Miraculous Medal almost weekly. What I’m focused on is the practice of the “pray this nine times, for nine days, and leave nine copies each day etc…”. That seems like silly superstition, I don’t have a problem with the actual prayers.

When making a Novena, one is to publicly acknowledge favors received and spread devotion to that Novena. The “leaving 9 copies each day” ignores the “spirit of the law” and focuses on the “letter of the law” and according to a homily made by our Bishop a few years ago, “such things are OFFENSIVE to God” and therefore should NOT be done in that manner.

The efficacy of any Novena depends in great measure on the piety and devotion of the individual. The following suggestions will increase the fervor of your novena:

1. *] Participate, if possible , in the public novena services, since there is added efficacy in the union of the faithful at prayer.
   
   *] Receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion during your novena.
   
   *] Promise an act of public gratitude, should your petition be granted; have holy Mass celebrated in thanksgiving; make your favor public for the encouragement of others; spread devotion to the Novena
   
   *]While making your request, be sure to honestly leave yourself open to God’s will – meaning, be willing to accept God’s answer even if it comes in a way that you do not expect or want.
   … Hope this helps.

 

[wcknight]

Thanks Sir Knight,

I used to live in downtown DC and our parish St. Marys’ always had (and still does to this day) Monday novenas (about 10 to 14 scattered throughout the day) to Our Lady of Perpetual Help (It may be the same as those of the Miraculous Medal.)

The ones in St. Marys in downtown DC are always very well attended. Several were accompanied with masses but not all, and a couple were during the regular confession times.

I made those novenas, when I was hoping to find a suitable wife, (I did make the novenas on 9 consecutive Mondays-32 years ago- and I’m very grateful). There was nothing about leaving 9 copies anywhere. It’s very surprising to me than very few parishes have any novenas at all.

I wonder is it because most folks are not seeking miracles or favors today or its is just not very popular elsewhere.

 

[LilyM]

10 to 14 Novenas in one day? :bigyikes: How long do they normally take? Sounds like they wouldn’t have time for much else at that church on a Monday!

Although I guess it means that if you were really keen you could attend 9 in one day rather than taking 9 weeks about it :yup:

Two of the parishes around here have Novenas to Our Lady of Perpetual Help - one has two Wednesday Novenas and the other a Friday Novena. They usually take about half an hour and have loads of hymns, prayers and whatnot strung together into a little service.

And yes, some of those are extremely well attended as well, and yes, there aren’t that many churches around here having them either.

I’d be guessing it’s a combination of fewer people having faith in the power of prayer combined with the choice to do such things as a private devotion rather than a public one. After all, a lot of people may wish to pray to other than Our Lady of Perpetual Help or of the Miraculous Medal.