Have you ever heard someone say they are “praying a novena” and wondered what exactly that means? Maybe you have seen a novena to a particular saint, or perhaps someone has asked you to join them in praying one for a special intention.
A novena is a beautiful Catholic tradition of prayer that gives us the opportunity to bring a particular intention before God over a period of time. It can be a way of asking for help, guidance, healing, strength or a particular grace, while also learning to place our trust in God and His will.
But where did this tradition come from, and how do you actually pray a novena?
What Is a Novena?
The word novena comes from the Latin word novem, meaning “nine”. Traditionally, a novena consists of nine days of prayer, usually offered for a particular intention or in preparation for a feast day.
Some novenas are prayers addressed directly to God, while others ask for the intercession of a particular saint or the Blessed Virgin Mary. When we pray a novena to a saint, we are not worshipping the saint or asking them to replace God. Instead, we are asking them to pray for us, just as we might ask a friend or family member to pray for us.
There are novenas for all sorts of intentions. You might pray for healing, guidance, a new job, a difficult situation, your family, a particular decision, someone's conversion, a vocation, or simply to grow closer to God.
You don't have to wait until you have a huge problem either. A novena can simply be a way of intentionally setting aside time each day to pray and place something important into God's hands.
Where Did the Tradition of Novenas Come From?
The tradition of praying for nine days has its roots in the early Church.
After Jesus ascended into Heaven, the Apostles returned to Jerusalem and gathered together in prayer. Mary was with them too:
“They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus.”
— Acts 1:14
The Apostles waited in prayer for the coming of the Holy Spirit, who descended upon them at Pentecost.
These nine days of prayerful waiting between the Ascension and Pentecost are traditionally regarded as the origin of the Christian novena. The Novena to the Holy Spirit, prayed in preparation for Pentecost, continues this tradition today.
The important thing about this first novena is not simply the number nine. Mary and the Apostles were waiting, praying and trusting in God. That same attitude is at the heart of novena prayer today.
Why Do Catholics Pray for Nine Days?
Nine days gives us a period of time in which we can return to the same intention again and again.
Sometimes we pray about something once and immediately want an answer. But God doesn't always work according to our timetable. A novena gives us the opportunity to slow down, remain persistent in prayer and learn to wait on God.
Jesus Himself encourages us to be persistent in prayer. A novena can therefore become a beautiful reminder that prayer isn't always about saying something once and moving on. Sometimes we need to keep bringing something before God while allowing Him to work in our hearts.
The nine days can become a period of waiting, trusting and surrendering.
What Can You Pray a Novena For?
There is no shortage of things you can bring to God in prayer.
You might pray a novena for:
- Healing for yourself or someone you love
- Help during a difficult time
- Guidance when making an important decision
- Your family or friends
- A job or financial difficulties
- A relationship or marriage
- A vocation or discernment
- Someone who has drifted away from the faith
- Strength during illness or suffering
- Help with your prayer life
- A particular feast day
- A special intention that is close to your heart
- Simply a deeper relationship with God
You can also pray a novena for someone else. Perhaps a friend is going through something difficult, someone you love needs prayers, or you simply want to place another person's needs before God.
You don't need to have the perfect words. God already knows what is in your heart.
How Do You Pray a Novena?
One of the lovely things about novenas is that they don't have to be complicated.
First, choose your intention. Think about what you would like to bring before God and spend a little time considering why you are praying for it.
Then choose a novena. You might find one dedicated to a particular saint, a particular intention, or a feast of the Church.
Each day, simply pray the prayers for that day with a sincere heart.
Some novenas have a specific prayer that is repeated each day, while others have different prayers or reflections for each of the nine days. You may also choose to spend some time afterwards speaking to God in your own words.
There isn't a requirement that you pray at exactly the same time every day, although choosing a regular time can make it much easier to remember.
You also don't have to fast or pray the Rosary alongside your novena unless the particular novena asks you to. Of course, you can absolutely include the Rosary or other prayers if they help you enter more deeply into prayer.
The important thing is not making your novena complicated. It is turning your heart towards God.
What If I Miss a Day?
Don't panic! ❤️
Life happens. You might be busy, fall asleep, forget, or simply have a day where everything goes completely wrong.
Missing a day doesn't mean that your prayers are ruined or that God won't listen to you.
You can continue with the next day's prayer, pray the missed day when you remember, or combine the prayers if that works better for you. The important thing is not to become so worried about doing everything perfectly that you give up altogether.
God is not waiting to catch you out.
A novena is an opportunity to pray, not a test that you have to pass.
Can I Pray a Novena With the Rosary?
Absolutely! 📿
The Rosary and novenas can beautifully complement one another.
You might choose to pray the Rosary after your daily novena prayer, or include a decade or another Marian prayer as part of your time with God.
There are also particular novenas that are connected with the Rosary and Marian devotion.
However, praying the Rosary is not automatically required for every novena. If the novena you are following includes the Rosary, then follow its instructions. Otherwise, you can simply pray the novena on its own.
The most important thing is that your prayer leads you closer to God.
Novenas Aren't Magic
This is an important part of understanding Catholic prayer.
A novena isn't a magical formula that guarantees that we will receive exactly what we ask for.
We pray with faith and hope, but ultimately we place our intentions into God's hands. We don't control God, and prayer isn't about trying to force a particular outcome.
Sometimes God gives us exactly what we have asked for. Sometimes the answer looks completely different from what we expected. Sometimes the answer is “not yet”, and sometimes we may never understand why things happened the way they did.
That's why the words “Thy will be done” are so important.
When we pray a novena, we can be honest about what we want while still surrendering the outcome to God.
We can say, in effect: Lord, this is what I am asking for. You know how deeply I desire it. But I trust You, and I place it in Your hands.
That kind of trust is at the heart of Christian prayer.
How Can I Remember to Pray Every Day?
One of the hardest parts of a novena can be remembering which day you're on! 😂
If you've ever started a prayer routine with good intentions and then completely forgotten about it a few days later, you're definitely not alone.
A few simple things can help:
Choose a regular time.
Perhaps you pray after your morning coffee, during your lunch break, before bed or after the children have gone to sleep.
Set a reminder on your phone.
A simple daily alarm can make a huge difference.
Keep a visual reminder nearby.
A holy card, statue, candle or Rosary somewhere you can see it can remind you to stop and pray.
Pray in the same place.
Having a little prayer corner or a particular chair where you pray can help create a routine.
Ask someone to pray with you.
Praying a novena with a friend or family member can help you stay committed, and it can be beautiful to know that someone else is bringing the same intention before God.
You Don't Have to Pray Alone
Although a novena can be a very personal form of prayer, you don't have to pray one by yourself.
You can invite your family, friends or parish community to join you. Perhaps you're praying for someone who is unwell, a friend going through a difficult season, a family intention or a decision that affects several people.
There is something especially comforting about knowing that other people are praying alongside you.
And even when you are praying alone, remember that you are never truly alone in the life of prayer. We pray as members of the Body of Christ, united with the whole Church and with the saints who continually intercede before God.
What intention would you bring to God in a novena? 🙏
God Bless,
Beatriz.
Founder of By Bea Rosaries
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