What is a Novena?

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StacieAdy

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Hi all!

Okay, for those of you who don’t know, my husband and I are about 4 months into RCIA, so there is much that I am still learning. 🙂

Can someone please explain “Novena” to me? It lasts 9 days, correct? What is the purpose, and what do you do?

Thank you all!

Stacie
 
A novena is 9 days of prayers directed through a saint for a special intention, such as healing or employment or family problems, etc. There are many, many novenas to choose from depending on the need you are praying for. This tradition started with Mary and the Apostles in the Upper Room as they waited for the descent of the Holy Spirit, in Acts 2.
 
StacieAdy said:
Hi all!

Okay, for those of you who don’t know, my husband and I are about 4 months into RCIA, so there is much that I am still learning. 🙂

Can someone please explain “Novena” to me? It lasts 9 days, correct? What is the purpose, and what do you do?

Thank you all!

Stacie
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A Novena is a set of prayers recited over nine days. Thousands of them exist. Here is a list of the more popular ones…

ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/novena.htm

I will also mention a book I use a lot, FAVORITE CATHOLIC NOVENAS, edited by L.E. McCullough, and publishhed by Regina Press:thumbsup:
 
Thank you both very much for your response, and Andruschak, thank you for the link and book title! So can a person do a Novena whenever they want?
 
StacieAdy said:
Thank you both very much for your response, and Andruschak, thank you for the link and book title! So can a person do a Novena whenever they want?
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Yup, any nine day period you choose, any Novena you choose, depending on need. I like doing the Novena for the Holy Souls, and not just in November.
 
StacieAdy said:
So can a person do a Novena whenever they want?
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No fixed rules need be laid down, generally speaking, for the making of a novena beyond that of persevering in prayer through the space of nine days – following the example of the Apostles who prayed for nine days for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The Novena can also be done for 18 days – 9 days of prayer of petition followed by 9 days of prayer of thanksgiving even if the request hasn’t been answered yet. There is also a 54-day novena – three 9-day Novena’s in prayer of petition followed by three 9-day Novena’s in prayer of thansgiving.

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.
 
Thank you all for being so willing to help me! I am loving all of the info from all of you! I’m afraid you’re all going to be hearing from me a lot for awhile, lol. 😛
 
StacieAdy said:
Thank you both very much for your response, and Andruschak, thank you for the link and book title! So can a person do a Novena whenever they want?
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There is also the 9 hour Novena of Childlike Confidence , Mother Teresa said what is referred to as her emergency Novena of Memorare’s, it was Fr, Peter Mary Rookey from Chicago that sent it to me.

Sorry if this was on the lists posted, I just couldn’t see it.
 
Here’s a couple more novena recommendations:

The Passion Novena (great during Lent), and

The Salvation Novena

Both are scriptural rosaries by Larry London and are available through many online book dealers.
 
StacieAdy said:
So can a person do a Novena whenever they want?
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It is encouraged by some to say a specific Novena during the nine days leading up to a special Feast day. For example, I just prayed a Christmas Novena from December 16-24, and the Immaculate Conception Novena leading up to the Immaculate Conception on December 8. You can pray a Novena to a particular saint before their Feast day, etc. I like this practice, because it’s a nice form of preparation for special Feasts - it makes the Feast more special for me 🙂
But there’s certainly no rule saying you can’t pray a Novena at any time you want. 👍

Karolina
 
StacieAdy said:
And what do we do on Feast Days? Anything special or specific?
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Celebrate! Party! Say a prayer of thanks, go to Mass if you can (some feasts are Holy Days of Obligation where attendance at Mass is obligatory).
 
Eireann said:
There is also the 9 hour Novena of Childlike Confidence , Mother Teresa said what is referred to as her emergency Novena of Memorare’s, it was Fr, Peter Mary Rookey from Chicago that sent it to me.

Sorry if this was on the lists posted, I just couldn’t see it.
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the novena of Childlike Confidence or Emergency Novena to the Infant Jesus is an exceptionally powerful novena!!!
 
LilyM said:
Celebrate! Party! Say a prayer of thanks, go to Mass if you can (some feasts are Holy Days of Obligation where attendance at Mass is obligatory).
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Really?? lol I feel quite dense, but I wasn’t aware that anything was actually done on Feast Days, unless they were Holy Days of Obligation
 
Della said:
A novena is 9 days of prayers directed through a saint for a special intention, such as healing or employment or family problems, etc. There are many, many novenas to choose from depending on the need you are praying for. This tradition started with Mary and the Apostles in the Upper Room as they waited for the descent of the Holy Spirit, in Acts 2.
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What Novena is best for employement and marriage issues?
 
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