ViewedPages.com » Religion-and-spirituality » How to Pray a Novena

How to Pray a Novena

by: BabesTan-Magkalas
Total views: 14 | Word Count: 398

What is a Novena and how do you pray it? The word "Novena" was derived from the Latin word "novem", which is translated in English as nine. Hence, it is usually prayed for nine consecutive days to prepare for a feast day or for an urgent or special prayer intention.

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.

Some novenas are also spread over nine months, with each day of the Novena being on a First Friday. Likewise, there is an hourly novena which is prayed for nine consecutive hours such as the Novena to the Infant Jesus of Prague.

Moreover, there are novenas which are not limited to nine hours, days, weeks or months. Some are prayed for 30 days 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.

Instructions on how to pray a novena are simple. One can buy inexpensive novena cards or novena prayer booklets easily. Many novenas are also available online. Some novena prayers are so simple that all you have to do is to say a short prayer and mention your prayer intention at the end.

There are also long novenas, containing an opening prayer and a different prayer for each day or week of the novena. Some also include the Lord's Prayer (Our Father), Hail Mary and Glory Be, and other traditional Catholic prayers.

So everybody can learn how to pray a novena. There are well known novenas such as the novena to the Mother of Perpetual Help and the Sacred Heart Novena. These novenas are known to be efficacious in having ones prayer granted. But whatever novena you intend to pray, pray it from the heart. God sees whats inside our hearts and answers prayers according to His will.

About the Author

For various novenas and prayers, go to St. Joseph's Site. If you're wondering why inspite of praying novenas, still your prayers are not granted, click here to know why and what to do for your prayers to be granted.

More Articles from: Religion and Spirituality

1: How to Pray a Novena
    (By: BabesTan-Magkalas, On: Aug 2nd 2008, Words: 398, Views: 14)
2: Chakra Meditation For Everyone!
    (By: JonathanBenjem, On: Jul 16th 2008, Words: 630, Views: 8)
3: Understanding the Human Chakra System
    (By: Anne-MarieLaureaut, On: Jul 12th 2008, Words: 605, Views: 18)
4: How to Correctly Use Feng Shui Candles
    (By: KyleRichey, On: Jul 12th 2008, Words: 520, Views: 25)
5: How To Unlock Your Psychic Abilities
    (By: RosalindTraycek, On: Jul 10th 2008, Words: 426, Views: 12)
6: How To Get Psychic Jobs
    (By: RosalindTraycek, On: Jul 9th 2008, Words: 428, Views: 19)
7: The Real Use of Jade in Feng Shui
    (By: KyleRichey, On: Jul 5th 2008, Words: 479, Views: 17)
8: Feng Shui " Taking the Country By Storm
    (By: KyleRichey, On: Jul 4th 2008, Words: 478, Views: 24)
9: Clearing Your Chakras - Clearing Your Problems
    (By: JaiDahalli, On: Jul 3rd 2008, Words: 640, Views: 17)

ViewedPages.com » Religion-and-spirituality » How to Pray a Novena