What exactly are Novenas?

[ellam25]

I’ve searched prayers to certain saints and it comes up with novenas to them. Examples: Novena to St. Philomena, Novena to Lady of Lourdes etc. I looked up the word Novena but am still not really understanding how it is different than a prayer? Sorry if this seems like a dumb question!

 

[fide]

I’ve searched prayers to certain saints and it comes up with novenas to them. Examples: Novena to St. Philomena, Novena to Lady of Lourdes etc. I looked up the word Novena but am still not really understanding how it is different than a prayer? Sorry if this seems like a dumb question!

Don’t worry about any “dumb” questions - the dumb ones are the ones who won’t ask. I once asked a similar question: “How long does a novena last?” I asked because a “novena” was to begin, to a certain saint, on the next coming Friday. I wanted to know long that meeting was to last. I was answered, in all seriousness, “nine days.” Because novenas are prayers that are offered or repeated in a sequence of nine sessions - nine Fridays in a row, in this case. But I wanted to know how long the one this Friday was to last - and no one knew, because no one knew exactly what prayers were to be offered.

Anyway, “novena” is from the Latin word meaning “nine” - thus a novena (nine times), prayers will be offered. It could be a Rosary nine days in a row, a chaplet every Wednesday for nine Wednesdays in a row, etc.

 

[GLam8833]

Does an indulgence come with saying of Novenas?

 

[phil19034]

9 nine day devotional