Reluctant to start a novena

[SemperJase]

For quite some time now, I’ve been thinking about praying a Novena but I’ve been reluctant to start. You see, I’m somewhat (OK, a lot) in self-discipline lately and I’m afraid to start what I won’t finish - so I haven’t even started. It seems to be a catch-22.

Any thoughts?

 

[LilyM]

Try not to think of it as a novena. Think of it as praying a beautful and pleasing prayer. Prayer is always good, right? And it truly doesn’t matter if you pray the prayer for one day, three days, or nine, it’s all good and all worth doing. :yup:

 

[strngrnrth]

Do you have any natural slack in your day? Probably not, but if you do, say if there is a moment when your breakfast is making or while waiting to see if one of the kids (if you have them) is asleep, or while a meal is cooling as you sit at the table or waiting for a bus or for a windshield to clear… sometime, make that the novena time. Put a number on the calendar or your appt. book each time. That way you know how much longer you are trying to pray it. Believe in it! Finding time to pray when you believe in it is not hard like finding time to pray when it’s just one more part of a busy day. If you had a postcard telling you tomorrow morning at 6:45, God would be in town and would grant everyone a few minutes to make requests, thanks, praise and petitions of any kind, would you dream of missing it? I have to remind myself of this all the time. In fact we have that chance every day at whatever time we want, which changes the marginal value of each opportunity. But that margin closes in if we don’t take advantage of it. Treat it like a special offer, which it is, and jump at it.

 

[Paul2274]

Sometimes when I start a novena I get worried that I’ll miss a day. I found, for myself, if I take a piece of paper and put it next to my bed and write that day’s date (ie 8-9-08) then say the novena.
The next night do the same thing and that way I look at the paper as a reminder to say the novena and it also lets me know if I skipped a day and also how many days I have been saying it… don’t have to count on my fingers.

Paul

 

[Robin_L.in_TX]

The fruit of the Spirit is peace, so if worry is keeping you from prayer for any reason, it is not from the Holy Spirit.

God is outside of time which is a function of the created world. Ask for the faithfulness to say the daily prayers of the novena, but remember, God is interested in our hearts, and rewards our struggles.

Just start it, and thank God when you remember, and ask for more grace should you forget a day. Then continue on until you finish the prayers of the novena.

In Christ’s peace and joy,

Robin L. in TX

 

[Andruschak]

For quite some time now, I’ve been thinking about praying a Novena but I’ve been reluctant to start. You see, I’m somewhat (OK, a lot) in self-discipline lately and I’m afraid to start what I won’t finish - so I haven’t even started. It seems to be a catch-22.

Any thoughts?

Just do it. Start off with a Novena to Mary. You fluff it, she understands as only a Mother can. And she is not a bean counter

 

[DJgang]

I never finish a Novena. I’m horrible…I forget, can’t remember or decide to pray something different one day…

Bottom line…all prayers are not a waste of time, so if you just get one day of the Novena in, that’s better than none…

God bless! Dana

 

[pac]

St. Therese of the Little Flower…She works wonders and its simple

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Just do it. Start off with a Novena to Mary. You fluff it, she understands as only a Mother can. And she is not a bean counter

Good advice I can identify with:thumbsup: …miss a day or two and Our Lady doesn’t think : “Tsk Tsk! …I won’t listen now anymore”. If you miss a day or two or three simply continue until you have completed the nine days…even if it takes three weeks or so…and talk to Our Lady about your difficulties. I’m terrible with Novenas and put my trust and confidence in Our Lady and her care for the weak and stumbling…those who really try…and always wind up with totally empty hands…

…and more advice I can identify with:

LilyMTry not to think of it as a novena. Think of it as praying a beautful and pleasing prayer. Prayer is always good, right? And it truly doesn’t matter if you pray the prayer for one day, three days, or nine, it’s all good and all worth doing. :yup:

Posted by Pac:

St. Therese of the Little Flower…She works wonders and its simple

Posted by Trishie here…these words of St. Therese to her sister Celine really brought me endless comfort and consolation:

“**Offer to God the sacrifice of never gathering any fruit. If He wills that throughout your whole life, you should feel a repugnance to suffering and humiliation—if He permits that all the flowers of your desires and of your good will should fall to the ground without any fruit appearing, do not worry. At the hour of death He will cause fruits to ripen on the tree of your soul.” **(Saint Therese quoted by Celine in ‘Counsels and Reminiscences’