What makes a novena powerful?

[MarthaSo]

Is it the saint? The faith of the individual? The outcome?

I know of course it’s ultimately up to God and some say it’s also done to edify us without expecting any result, but I am confused by the expression of some being more powerful than others in light of the fact that outcomes to novenas said to the same saint are different.

 

[newconvertcatholic]

Great question.
I’ve always had trouble praying novenas.

I did pray a novena to St. Joseph once when I was unemployed and I found work on his feast day in March.

I would say the saint is important. St. Joseph for instance, has been a powerful intercessor for me.
I would also say the prayers contained in the novena are important.

I think it’s a great practice to pray the same prayer for nine days straight. Usually it’s a prayer to the saint with an Our Father and a Hail Mary. It also helps us ask God for the same thing nine days straight. Because I’ve realized we’re quite fickle and we move from one thing to the other.

Ultimately, it’s a devotion that has stayed because it has worked. We shouldn’t pray expecting a result but we can be rest assured that our prayers will be answered one way or the other.

Hope that helps.

 

[MarthaSo]

Thank you for your thoughtful response. I appreciate it.
I still do wonder why the term “powerful” is applied, because it makes it seem like prayers in themselves have power which I believe but that some are “more” powerful which through scripture shows that is the case for righteous men but all saints we pray to in a novena are “righteous” because they are in heaven so I’m still confused as to why people say some novenas are more powerful than others.
I’m sorry but it makes it seem like there are lesser saints in heaven and even if there are lesser saints in heaven why would someone take the risk in praying to them their petition if they are lesser?

It’s all just confusing when that term is applied I think. With all that said. today is my second day praying to St. Louise and Zelie Martin, whether my petition is granted or not, somehow I just feel the term powerful may not be applied because of outcome. Or maybe it does, Jesus did tell us to persevere in prayer because we’ll get what we want (?) This alludes to the man pestering his neighbor and knocking on the door while he was sleeping. Still doesn’t answer the powerful aspect with regard to which saint though.
I believe all prayers are powerful (this is a new revelation in my old age that I’ve discovered believe it or not) and that puts me at peace.
I just worry about semantics only because some folks may feel disheartened if their expectations are that power equals answering precisely as we want vs acceptance of Gods will and knowing that the prayer was powerful in and of itself irrespective of outcome because it brings us closer to Christ.
Thanks again for answering, it helped me work it out a little more in my head.
God bless!

 

[newconvertcatholic]

I agree with you. We shouldn’t use powerful in this sense.

All prayer is powerful because God listens to them. I do believe that God listens to all our prayers and responds in a way that is not easily visible to us.

That said, I think some prayers have become popular over the years because of testimony and I think novenas are one of them.

I became Catholic two years ago and I’ve only started to appreciate the need for intercession (of Mary principally but also of the Saints more generally).

The question I usually is not whether certain prayers are more powerful than others but how must I pray for this given situation. And I think novenas are great contextual prayers. What I mean is that I could always pray Our Father and I’m sure God knows that I need a job. But how providential that I prayed the novena to the saint patron of workers and found work on his feast day. I think God wanted me to grow in love for St. Joseph. I also love the Little Flower for the same reason. She usually helps me in small tasks.

I however think (and this makes total sense rationally) God wants to pray without getting discouraged. And by praying for nine days, our prayer becomes more powerful because such a prayer requires more faith.

I have nothing to back this up but I’m reading St. Louis Grignon de Montfort says the Holy Rosary is a great prayer because it requires certain perseverance. I think the same would be true for novenas.

 

[Michael16]

When I pray novenas, I pray Rosary novenas. My favorite intercessor is the Blessed Virgin Mary. Some of the best results in prayer have come from her intercession.

But: You must remember that prayer and novenas aren’t spells. They don’t have power in and of themselves. The power rests on God’s answer. We do our part by asking persistently and with faith.