How do you pray a novena? The word Novena comes from the Latin word novem which means nine. So a novena is generally prayed for nine consecutive days, most often in preparation for a great feast day, or for a special prayer request or need.
However, a novena can also be spread over nine weeks, with each day of the Novena being said on any day depending on when the day of a particular saint or devotion falls. For example, Wednesday is the day traditionally associated with devotions to St. Joseph so a weekly novena in his honor is usually done on a Wednesday.
There are also novenas which are done over nine months, and usually on the First Friday of each month. Some novenas are even hourly and a good example is the novena to the Infant Jesus of Prague which is prayed for just a day for nine consecutive hours.
In addition are novenas which are not necessarily done in nine hours, days, weeks or months like the 30-day novena to St. Joseph.
Praying novenas has its reference in the Holy Bible. In Acts 1:14, Jesus told His followers to pray together in the upper room and so the apostles along with the Blessed Mother and other disciples of Jesus prayed for nine consecutive days until the day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit or Pentecost.
Praying a novena is simple. Instructions are provided in novena prayer booklets and even online. Some are so simple that all you have to do is pray a short prayer, mention your prayer intention and pray it again the following day up to nine days.
Some novenas are long and contain various prayers.
Usually, there is an opening prayer and different prayers each day or week. Some also incorporate the Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary and Glory Be, Act of Contrition and other traditional Catholic prayers.
So anyone can pray a novena if he/she desires to. Examples of well-known novenas are those to the Mother of Perpetual Help and the Sacred Heart. Many people say that these novenas are efficacious. But whatever novena you are praying, remember to pray it from the heart. God always see what's inside our hearts and answers prayers in His own way and in His own time.
Babes Tan-Magkalas has 2 major passions in life : St. Joseph and prayer. She wrote a free ebook entitled "Prayer Tips (for Prayers That Get Results)" where she gives out valuable information on how to make prayers more powerful and effective.
Grab your copy http://www.stjosephsite.com/SJS_Prayer%20Tips2.htm
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