Question: Litanies and Novenas

[JessicaCeleste]

When one is praying a litany or novena privately, can they alter it so that it reflects that - saying “save me” or “graciously hear me” instead of “save us” or “graciously hear us”?

It seems awkward to use the plural when I’m reciting them privately…

 

[rider]

By using the plural you include all those for whom you are bound to pray.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Also in using the plural you unite yourself with all the rest of the Church, and the saints, who pray these prayers.

 

[Joysong]

Hi Jessica,

Prayer is so very personal that I wouldn’t want to leave you with the impression that the novena won’t work unless every word is pronounced exactly as written. The prayer formula of novenas is an aid to help us focus in prayer by using prepared words of another. The worth of our prayer is solely dependent on the heart entering into what we say to our Father. I can promise you that if you are praying in this manner, He is listening.

Most of the psalms are written in the first person, rather than the plural that embraces others. I have prayed the novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in June, and devotedly inserted, “I love You,” after each invocation before the usual ending, “have mercy on us.”

You are a young lady, I see, and I hope you will find this old lady’s advice helpful. Don’t get hung up on formulas, but let your heart run free doing what most inclines you to love. Jesus will help you understand that a change in words does not offend Him.

Carole

 

[Joysong]

Hello Jessica,

A friend on another thread had mentioned something he saw in St. Therese’s Story of a Soul, and to better understand what he wrote and find the quote, I got into my book.

I stumbled on these words of hers that seem to give confirmation to your idea on prayer, and coming from a Saint and Doctor of the Church, you may find comfort in reading them.

What an extraordinary thing it is, the efficiency of prayer! Like a queen, it has access at all times to the Royal presence, and can get whatever it asks for. And it’s a mistake to imagine that your prayer won’t be answered unless you’ve something out of a book, some splendid formula of words, specially devised to meet this emergency. If that were true, I’m afraid I should be in a terribly bad position.

I just do what children have to do before they’ve learnt to read; I tell God what I want quite simply, without any splendid turns of phrase, and somehow he always manages to understand me. For me, prayer means launching out of the heart towards God; it means lifting up one’s eyes, quite simply, to heaven, a cry of grateful love, from the crest of joy or the trough of despair; it’s a vast supernatural force which opens out my heart and binds me close to Jesus.

And not to diminish the advice others have given about prayer that is united with the rest of the church, I would agree, except for those moments when you simply present your own needs to God. I see no problem using the singular form, if that is what is in your heart. There will be plenty of other times when you may want to use the prayer formula for others and then you can switch to the plural.

 

[Ricardothere]

I believe that words are like the wrapping but the content is in our hearts… for this reason I often do not complete a rosary… while reciting the prayers I sometimes stop and simply smile at Mary… speechless… in adoration…

   JMJ

     Ricardo