A Novena is said for 9
days in a row. It is a prayer of petition to ask for something that is needed.
Its name comes from the word "novem" which is Latin for
"nine". Basically it is for praying a series of prayers. Novenas can
also be prayed to give thanks.
But what
about today's world? Where does the Novena fit in?
The Novena is a public or private prayer that is said for 9 days to obtain special graces or favors or to ask for a special favor. It truly has a sense of urgency.
It
is not clear where the origin of the Novena came from. In the Old Testament,
there are no references to 9 days of celebration among the Jewish people. In
the New Testament, at the time of the Ascension, the Lord gave the Apostles
something called the Great Commission and told them to go back to Jerusalem to
wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
In the book of the Acts of the Apostles it is written that "after that
they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet near Jerusalem—a mere
Sabbath's journey away. Together they devoted themselves to constant
prayer" (Acts 1:12,14). Then 9 days later, the Holy Spirit descended upon
the Apostles at Pentecost. It is possible that these 9 days of prayer is a
basis for the Novena.
Whatever
it may be, in my own personal experience I have found that a Novena works. I
invite my readers to continue to add comments and share experiences with the
Novena. I enjoy the Miraculous Novena
for Employment and after posting it in 2011, it has never failed me each time I
turned to it to help me to get employment. There is something about it that
opens doors where doors seem stuck and miraculously I am asked to go on
interviews and end up with a job offer. It blows my mind. Even before I found,
bought and shared the tools that helped with job interviews and resumes, this
Novena was there working, helping me.
Before
Christianity existed, the Romans prayed 9 days of prayers for many different
reasons. For example there were 9 days of prayer that were done at Mount Alban
to stop the wrath of the gods that was being predicted by the soothsayers of
that time. Also, there were 9 days of prayer that were said when a miracle had
been predicted. There were also some families who prayed for 9 days to mourn
the death of their loved ones. Some ancient Christians observed the 9 day
mourning period when a loved one passed. In today's society the Pope's Novena
or Novendiala is followed upon the death of the Holy Father.
In
France and Spain during the Middle Ages, there were Novenas of Prayers that
were said for 9 days before Christmas to signify the 9 months that our Lord
spend inside the womb of the Blessed Mother. The Novenas were used to help
people prepare for the celebration of the birth of our Lord.
Popular Novenas that are said today
include the following: Miraculous Novena for Employment, Miraculous medal, St.
Joseph, St. Jude, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mother Theresa etc.
Novenas
still have a legitimate place in the world of Catholic spirituality. Quoting
the "Enchiridion of Indulgences" it states that "a partial
indulgence is granted to the faithful, who devoutly take part in the pious
exercise of a public novena before the feast of Christmas or Pentecost or the
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary." So, it is basically
viewed as a spiritual exercise that is for strengthening the faith of an
individual so that the individual always remembers the goodness of the Lord who
answers all of our prayers according to His divine will.
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