NOVENAS

"For me, prayer is a burst from my heart, it is a simple glance thrown toward Heaven, a cry of thanksgiving and love in times of trial as well as in times of joy." – St. Therese of Lisieux

“I will send down a shower of roses from the heavens; I will spend my heaven doing good upon earth” – St. Therese of Lisieux

"Pray, hope, and don’t worry.” – St. Pio of Pietrelcina

“To begin is for everyone. To persevere is for saints.” – St. Josemaria Escriva

History

How to Pray a Novena

The word novena comes from the Latin word for nine, “novem,” which reveals that novenas are prayers said over the course of nine days, typically asking God for a particular petition and invoking a saint’s intercession. Novenas have biblical roots, as the number nine is significant. The Apostles prayed for nine days in the upper room between Jesus’ Ascension and Pentecost, and the Blessed Virgin Mary spent nine prayerful months pregnant with Jesus.

There are four different types of novenas: anticipation, preparation, petition, and penance. Novenas of anticipation are prayed for those who have died that they might be welcomed into the Kingdom of God. Novenas of preparation can be prayed leading up to a Sacrament or important day (either for you personally, or a particular feast day in the Church). Novenas of petition allow us to ask God to answer a prayer or invoke the intercession of a particular saint. Novenas of penance allow us to ask God for his mercy for nine days straight (sometimes given as a penance).

"All About Novenas" - Blessed is She

"How to Pray Novenas" - Hallow

It is important to explain that when we invoke the intercession of the saint, we are not praying to a saint as we would pray to God, for we worship God alone. But just as we pray for the dead, that they might reside in heaven with God, the saints (the ones in heaven) can also pray for us! Think of a novena as a tug on the habit or garments of a saint, asking them to bend down so that we can whisper our prayer in their ear so that they might bring it to God for us. Since the saints are already in heaven with God, they are closer to Him and can ask for favors on our behalf. Novenas typically end or begin on the feast day of the saint we are invoking with our prayers.

Popular novenas include the surrender novena, St. Teresa of Calcutta’s “Flying Novena”, Holy Family novena, Divine Mercy novena, Sacred Heart of Jesus novena, the 54-day novena (comprised of six novenas), St. Therese of Lisieux (who sometimes brings roses to those who pray her novena), St. Jude (patron saint of lost causes), St. Gerard (patron saint of pregnancy), St. Peregrine (patron saint of cancer), and the list goes on. There are prayers associated with each novena. Feel free to order novena prayer cards, look the prayers up online, order a book with popular novenas in it, or sign up for PrayMoreNovenas and receive the novena prayers right to your inbox. You may also be able to find novenas on Catholic social media accounts, so be on the lookout for ways to sanctify your feed!

Tip

“Prayer doesn’t change God, it changes us.” Novenas are not like vending machines where we put a specific prayer request or intention in and God immediately dispenses an answer back out. This is important because if it is not attempted prudently, we can get the wrong idea about who is in control. Novenas allow us to persist in prayer and to bring important requests to God, but ultimately, they teach us to detach ourselves from our petitions, placing the outcome or the desire in God’s hands.

Need Help? Unsure Where to Start?

Digital Resources for Novenas:

Pray More Novenas is the original novena reminder, and they promote so many different novenas over the course of the year. Sign up for their emails and receive reminders about when novenas are starting as well as the daily prayers once the novenas begin.
Novena Cards has a Novena Finder that allows you to search for a novena by name, by date, or offers suggestions based on what you are looking for (the gift of, increase in the virtue of, someone close to me, help with, etc.)

Print Resources for Novenas:

Pocket Guide to Novenas by Annie and Paul Deddens
If you want to have a physical prayer card in hand while praying your novena, Novena Cards offers beautiful resources that allow you to always have the novena prayer on you.
Novena Cards has a Prayer Planning Kit that provides you with the common novenas for the month as well as the prayer intentions that are typically entrusted to particular saints (ex: for pregnancy, a lot of Catholics pray to St. Gerard). It also gives you the option to write your intention and to keep track of your progress.
Shining Light Dolls offers a Wooden Novena Tracker, this could serve as a helpful reminder to you so that you and your family don’t lose your place in your novena.
Be A Heart Design offers a Liturgical Catholic Calendar that highlights some of the major feast days, solemnities, and holy days of obligation for Catholics. Add your favorite saints’ feast days to this calendar and keep track of when their novenas begin.
Blessed Is She offers a beautiful liturgical planner in two sizes, Big and Mini, that highlights some of the major feast days, solemnities, and holy days of obligation for Catholics while also allowing you to keep track of your own schedule.