How to pray a novena ?

The prayer novena is a very old practice, practised mainly by Catholics. It is a prayer that lasts nine days and concerns a specific or more general intention addressed to God or one of his saints whom we ask to intercede for us.

The prayer of the novena is accompanied by very precise rituals and can be done alone or in groups. It is important not to interrupt the prayer during the nine consecutive days chosen.

The principles of the novena

The Origins of the Novena

The origin of the practice of the novena is the prayer of Mary, some disciples and apostles who gathered in prayer for nine days between Ascension and Pentecost.

The etymology of the word novena comes from the Latin (novem, nine).

Over the centuries, the Catholic Church has ritualized the novena prayer. It can be proposed by a parish or a Church figure to Christians who feel concerned about the intention of the organised novena. It can also be done individually or in small groups, as a family or as a couple.

How does a novena take place?

The important thing is the meaning given to the process. The novena must be done with a deep and sincere intention.

It usually involves practising a devotion for nine days in a row at a fixed time. To guide you in this process, you can obtain a prayer booklet and light a novena candle that will burn for nine days in a row. Representing your permanent state of prayer, the candle should be lit at the beginning of your novena.

Novena intentions

Novena Themes

There are several themes for the novena:

• Novenas for mourning: these are made for the intention of the person who has just died or to accompany the people nearby who are in mourning.

• Novenas to prepare for a spiritual event, a sacrament or a Christian feast help prepare the soul for this important moment.

• Novenas for petitions: these are intended to ask God for a grace or a sign through one of his saints.

• Novenas for indulgence: these are novenas to ask God's forgiveness for a past sin. They are linked to the sacrament of confession.

In all cases, the request must be made from the heart and not from the head. Novenas have a deep spiritual significance. They can only be experienced as magical requests. Prayers must therefore be said with faith and trust in God. Your novena prayer intentions are a form of devotion to God, not a response to your needs and desires.

Done within a group or community, novenas allow the individual to remain connected to others through prayer.

Spiritual practices associated with novenas.

While the daily prayer time is an intense part of the novena practice, your intention should guide you during these nine days. You can also accompany this with fasting or meditation.

Novena Booklet to Our Lady of Miracles 2,50€

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Novena candle white 4,70€

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Our Lady Of Grace Novena Candle 17,5cm 4,90€

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Who should I pray to during a novena?

If you choose to pray a novena with a particular intention, you can be guided by the practices of the Catholic Church. Depending on your request or the theme you want to dedicate your novena to, there are guide books to help you direct your prayers.

Novenas for special events

Novenas are created and organised according to circumstances, sacraments being prepared and religious festivals during the year. Organised by the communities or done by personal choice, the important thing is the commitment of your faith in this very special time of prayer.

The trials that Christian people may go through can be a pretext for organising novenas. Novenas for COVID have been organised by several communities.

Novenas can be organised to prepare for a religious feast alone, with the family or with a group of Christians each year, such as the approach to the Nativity.

Novenas are also practised to prepare for a sacrament such as Confirmation.

Novenas for Mourning

Novenas for mourning are often said in the form of Masses. However, they can also be done as prayer novenas. These combine mourning and hope to accompany both the loved ones and the deceased.

Novenas of petition

These are the most numerous. They are often placed under the intercession of a saint, an archangel or Jesus. The chosen theme may be associated with a saint who is particularly close to the prayers that are to be addressed.

Thus, the Bernadette Soubirous novena is used when one wants to ask for courage to face events. The novena to the Angel Gabriel is used to ask for help in the fight against evil. The novena to Our Lady of Lourdes asks for intercession for the grace of conversion and relief from trials.

Novenas for Indulgence

When one wishes to pray for forgiveness for past sins, the novena is often associated with confession. For novenas of indulgence, the merciful Christ or the Seven Archangels are often invoked.

The prayer of the novena, even if accompanied by other steps such as fasting or meditation, should be vocal. Whether practised in community or alone, the novena remains a sincere and profound act of faith that will allow you to direct your prayers towards a very specific intercession.

How to pray the novena to Saint Joseph? What prayer for a novena to Saint Joseph?

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How to pray the Holy Family Novena? What prayer for a novena to the Holy Family?

Pray during the nine days of the novena, with a different prayer each day, dedicated to the Holy Family, thanks to this prayer booklet to the Holy Family sold at 1,8€.

How to pray the Novena to Merciful Jesus? What prayer for a Novena to Merciful Jesus?

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How to pray the novena to Saint Rita? What prayer for a novena to Saint Rita?

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How to pray the novena to Saint Michael Archangel? What prayer for a novena to Saint Michael Archangel?

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How to pray the novena to the Virgin of Prosperity? What prayer for a novena to the Virgin of Prosperity?

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How to pray the novena to Our Lady of Good Remedy? What prayer for a novena to Our Lady of Good Remedy?

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