Novenas
What is a Novena?
(From novem, nine.)
A nine days' private or public devotion
in the Catholic Church to obtain special graces. To the novena belongs that of hopeful
mourning, of yearning, of prayer. "The number nine
in Holy Writ is indicative of suffering and grief" (Saint Jerome). The novena is
permitted and even recommended by ecclesiastical authority, but still has no proper and
fully set place in the liturgy of the Church. It has, however, more and more been prized
and utilized by the faithful. Four kinds of novenas can be distinguished: novenas of
(1) mourning, of (2) preparation, of (3) prayer, and the(4)
indulgenced
novenas, though this distinction is not exclusive.
  The
novena
of preparation had its origin in the nine months Our
Lord was in His Blessed Mother's womb from the Incarnation to the Nativity.
At the same time as the novena of preparation, the proper novena of prayer
arose, among the faithful, it would seem, who in their need turned to the saints with a
novena, especially to recover health. Catholics know from their own experience that the
novena is no pagan, superstitious custom, but one of the best means to obtain signal
heavenly graces through the intercession of Our Lady and all the saints. The novena of
prayer is thus a kind of prayer which includes in it, so to speak, as a pledge of
being heard, confidence and perseverance, two most important qualities of efficacious
prayer.
The number ten is the highest, the
numerus maximus, simply the most perfect,
which is fitting for God; the number nine,
which is lacking of ten, is the number of imperfection, which is fitting for mortal
kind. For this reason it was adapted for use where man's imperfection turned in
prayer to God.
As has been said, the simplest explanation of the novena are the
nine
months of Christ in the womb. But for every novena of preparation,
as also for every novena of prayer, not only the best explanation but also the
best model and example was given by Christ Himself to the Church in the first Pentecost
novena (i.e. the nine days from Ascension Thursday until
Pentecost). He Himself expressly exhorted the Apostles to make this
preparation. And when the young Church had faithfully persevered for
nine
full days in it, the Holy Ghost came as the precious fruit of this first Christian novena
for the feast of the establishment and foundation of the Church. If one keeps this in mind
and remembers besides that novenas in the course of time have brought so many, even
miraculous, answers to prayer, and that finally Christ Himself in the revelation to
Blessed Margaret Mary Alacoque recommended the special celebration of nine successive first Fridays of the month.
Popular Novenas
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At times, it seems that life is threatened
on all sides.
Please join with others across the nation in prayer.
For the nine days between September 7 (the vigil of the feast of the Birth of Mary) and
September 15 (the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows), we pray for the intercession of Mary, the
Mother of our Life, our Faith and our Hope. May be said any time,also.
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According to tradition, in the 13th century Our Lady appeared to
Saint Simon Stock, Superior General of the Order, and gave him the brown scapular saying
that whoever wore it would be preserved from eternal damnation and on the 1st Saturday
after their death, would be taken by her to heaven. |
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In honor of the Power, Wisdom, and Loving Mercy of the Blessed
Virgin Mary |
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The current Marian times had their
beginning in 1830, when Our Blessed Mother appeared to Catherine Laboure in the convent at
Rue de Bac, in Paris, France, as the Mediatrix of all Graces, and gave the Miraculous
Medal to the world. |
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The Oblate Fathers introduced the devotion to
America in 1952. Novena devotions are maintained at the Shrine of Our Lady of Hope, Oblate
Fathers' Novitiate and Infirmary, Tewksbury, Massachusetts. |
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In 1858, Our Blessed Mother appeared to a
peasant girl, Bernadette Soubirous at Lourdes, France, announcing herself as the
Immaculate Conception -- confirming the dogma proclaimed by Pius IX. Bernadette had never
heard the term until told by Our Blessed Mother.
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Many names have been given to me. I have been called the
"Virgin of the Passion", the "Golden Madonna", the "Mother of the
Redemptorist Missionaries", the "Mother of Catholic homes".
The name of my own choosing is "Mother of Perpetual
Help". |
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In Her appearances at Fatima, the Mother of God solemnly
promised us final victory over the forces of evil in our own time. "In the end, My
Immaculate Heart will triumph," She told us, "the Holy Father will consecrate
Russia to me. Russia will be coverted and a period of peace shall be given to
mankind."
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The capital city of the Aztec empire falls under the Spanish forces. Less
than 20 years later, 9 million of the inhabitants of the land, who professed for centuries
a polytheistic and human sacrificing religion, are converted to Christianity. What
happened in those times that produced such an incredible and historically unprecedented
conversion?
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Devotion to Our Lady of Walsingham is always centered on the Mystery of
the Annunciation. It was at the Annunciation that Our Lady accepted God's invitation to be
the Mother of God, the Theotokos. She gave herself over to God's will and conceived by the
Holy Spirit. By this same Holy Spirit Mary always leads us to Jesus, and her prayers help
us say "yes" to God's will in our lives even as she did at the Annunciation.
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This Novena should be started on 16 December and concluded on 24
December, a period of nine days. |
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Novena of Divine Mercy, which Jesus asked Saint Faustina to begin on Good
Friday, 1937 is for nine days from Good Friday to Divine Mercy Sunday which is the first
Sunday after Easter. Jesus told her: "By this Novena" [of Chaplets and
particular intention each day] "I will grant every possible grace to souls."
However, it can be said more often than just from Good Friday to
Divine Mercy Sunday (the first Sunday after Easter), and is recommended often. |
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A novena to Saint Peregrine, begun on 23
April, would end on his feast day (1 May).
However, it can be said more often and is recommended at any time. |
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Patron Saint of: against doubt, against hesitation,
bursars, cabinetmakers, carpenters, confectioners, craftsmen, dying people,
engineers, families, fathers, happy death, holy death, house hunters,
interior souls, laborers, people in doubt, pioneers,
Protector of the Church, social justice, travelers,
Universal Church, wheelwrights, workers, working people. |
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"My children, Saint Philomena has great power with God, and
she has, moreover, a kind heart; let us pray to her with confidence. Her virginity and
generosity in embracing her heroic martyrdom have rendered her so agreeable to God that He
will never refuse her anything that she asks for us." -- Saint John Vianney |
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The Heart of Jesus never ceases to love us in heaven. He
sanctifies us through the Sacraments. These are inexhaustible fountains of grace and
holiness which have their source in the boundless ocean of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. |
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"I firmly wish that My face reflecting the
intimate pains of My soul, the suffering and love of My heart, be more honored! Whoever
gazes upon Me already consoles Me."
- To Sister Pierina by Our Lord Jesus. |
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All gifts, graces, and virtues of the Holy Spirit are distributed
through the hands of Mary. The Triumph of Mary's Immaculate Heart begins with a drop of
grace, ripples out gracefully touching many with hope, then pours out in a thundering roar
of faith, until it swells into one gigantic tsunami of love that will engulf the world!
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The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee named
Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's
name was Mary. Upon arriving, the angel said to her: "Rejoice, O highly favored
daughter! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women."
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Dear Apostle and Martyr for Christ, you left us an Epistle in the New
Testament. With good reason many invoke you when illness is at a desperate stage. We now
recommend to your kindness
{name of patient}
who is in a critical condition. May the cure of this patient increase his/her faith and
love for the Lord of Life, for the glory of our merciful God. Amen.
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Many Catholics remember
Saint Blaise's feast day, February 3, because of the Blessing of the Throats that take place on
this day. Two candles are blessed, held slightly open, and pressed against the throat as
the blessing is said.
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O God, Who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You
that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all
stain, so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come
unto You. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns
with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.
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The novena in honor of the Holy Ghost is the oldest of all novenas
since it was first made at the direction of Our Lord Himself when He sent His apostles
back to Jerusalem to await the coming of the Holy Ghost on the first Pentecost. It is
still the only novena officially prescribed by the Church. Addressed to the
Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, it is a powerful plea for the light and strength and
love so sorely needed by every Christian. |
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“Listen, my faithful children;
open up your petals, like roses planted near running waters; send up the sweet odor of
incense, break forth in blossoms like the lily. Send up the sweet odor of your hymn of
praise; bless the Lord for all He has done.” (Sirach 39:13-14)
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Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son
of Man be lifted up, that all who believe may have eternal life in Him. Yes, God so loved
the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him may not die but may have
eternal life. God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the
world might be saved through Him. |
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Too many graces, too many mercies
flow from Your Blood for me not to hope in Its efficacy. |
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Our Lady of Siluva is invoked for fallen-away and
lukewarm Catholics and for the conversion of non-Catholics.
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Fourteen Holy Helpers, who served God in
humility and confidence on earth and are now in the enjoyment of His beatific vision in
Heaven; because thou persevered till death thou gained the crown of eternal life
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Novena to the Most Holy Trinity
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"It is therefore a holy and
wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins" -
2Maccabees 12:46
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Rules for the Observance of
Novenas
by Saint Alphonsus Liguori
1.
The soul must be in the state of grace; for the devotion of a sinful heart
pleases neither God nor the Saints.
2.
We must persevere, that is, the prayers for each day of the novena must
never be omitted.
3.
If possible, we should visit a church every day, and there implore the favor
we desire.
4.
Every day we ought to perform certain specified acts of exterior self-denial
and interior mortification, in order to prepare us thereby for the reception
of grace.
5.
It is most important that we receive holy communion when making a novena.
Therefore prepare yourself well for it.
6.
After obtaining the desired grace for which the novena was made, do not omit
to return thanks to God and to the Saint through whose intercession your
prayers were heard.
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