Question about a Novena to St. Rapheal

[DaneClark]

I am planning to do the following Novena to help me find a spouse:

"St. Raphael, you were sent by God to guide young Tobiah in choosing a good and virtuous spouse. Please help me in this important choice which will affect my whole future. You not only directed Tobiah in finding a wife, but you also gave him guidelines which should be foremost in every Christian marriage: “Pray together before making important decisions.” If through prayer we keep God as the “third Partner” in our marriage, we will have the strength and grace we need to always accept and do His will. Amen.

Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory be…"

Is this one of those Novenas that is best said at a certain time of year, or is just as good any time of the year? Also, this is one of the standard 9-day Novenas, right?

 

[DaneClark]

Okay, I see that I’m supposed to pray this one starting on February 14. My plan is to say the Novena to Our Lady of Good Success starting on January 24, then do the Novena to Saint Rapheal on February 14th. However, what do I do if my Novena is answered sometime in the 2 weeks in between? Should I still say the second one even if it already has been answered?

 

[Joe_5859]

I am planning to do the following Novena to help me find a spouse:

"St. Raphael, you were sent by God to guide young Tobiah in choosing a good and virtuous spouse. Please help me in this important choice which will affect my whole future. You not only directed Tobiah in finding a wife, but you also gave him guidelines which should be foremost in every Christian marriage: “Pray together before making important decisions.” If through prayer we keep God as the “third Partner” in our marriage, we will have the strength and grace we need to always accept and do His will. Amen.

Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory be…"

Is this one of those Novenas that is best said at a certain time of year, or is just as good any time of the year? Also, this is one of the standard 9-day Novenas, right?

What a wonderful prayer!

By definition, a novena is a prayer that you pray nine times, most often on 9 consecutive days. I would go with that.

The important thing to keep in mind is that novenas (and all prayers) are not some sort of Catholic magic spells that you have to execute precisely in order for them to “work”. God is not a divine Pez dispenser.

Sometimes, popular piety will lead people to say certain prayers at certain times of the year, but that’s usually not mandatory (unless we’re talking about the liturgy, which, in this case, we are not).

It can be a good preparation for a feast day of a particular saint to say a novena that ends on that saint’s feast day, but, again, it’s not required. I would not recommend waiting until next September to say this novena just to end it on St. Raphael’s feast day (September 29th). There’s no time like the present.

 

[Joe_5859]

Okay, I see that I’m supposed to pray this one starting on February 14. My plan is to say the Novena to Our Lady of Good Success starting on January 24, then do the Novena to Saint Rapheal on February 14th. However, what do I do if my Novena is answered sometime in the 2 weeks in between? Should I still say the second one even if it already has been answered?

I really don’t think you need to wait to say it. It seems like romantic superstition to me to “require” that the novena be started on Valentine’s Day.

In any case, don’t forget to be open to God’s will in the matter! He may not answer your prayer instantaneously.

If you are planning on doing two novenas back to back, you should absolutely follow through with it regardless. I know people who have done similarly (though not praying for your exact intention) whose prayers were answered “in between”. They then used the later novena as a novena of thanksgiving, which I thought was pretty cool. I’m sure God appreciates being thanked every once in a while.

 

[revert_jen]

However, what do I do if my Novena is answered sometime in the 2 weeks in between? Should I still say the second one even if it already has been answered?

Unless I am misunderstanding, an “answer” would mean that you have found a good and virtuous spouse. In the vast majority of cases, you cannot know in two weeks whether this is the case. So definitely still say the second one, asking God to help you see if the person you met is the right one. After all, poor Sarah had seven husbands before the right one (Tobias/Tobiah) came along!

Best wishes,

–Jen

 

[1believer1]

You have received a lot of good information, but I would like to encourage you to pray for some discernment as well. Pray that God will give you a clear understanding that you are called to the married life. Each of us has a vocation ( or vocations ) and you need to be sure that this is what God wants for you. Reread the Book of Tobit and remember that if God sends you a spouse be sure to thank Him and keep Him in your marriage. Blessings on your journey.

 

[bpbasilphx]

\In any case, don’t forget to be open to God’s will in the matter! He may not answer your prayer instantaneously.\

Or the way you want Him to.