Novenas

A novena (from Latin novem, nine) is a prayer repeated on nine days in a row for one intention. The model is the nine days between the Ascension and Pentecost, when the apostles “were persevering with one mind in prayer with… Mary the mother of Jesus” (Acts 1:14, Douay-Rheims).

Ancient Romans kept nine days of mourning (novendialis); Christians kept nine days of prayer for the dead, a custom that survives in the novemdiales, the nine days of Masses after a pope’s death. Novenas before feasts, such as the Christmas novena from December 16, spread widely from the 17th century.

1. Choose an intention and a novena. You can start any day; some people time it to end on a saint’s feast.
2. Pray the novena prayer once each day for nine days in a row, at a time you can keep.
3. If you miss a day, simply continue. A novena is not a contract.
4. Add the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be if you like.

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The Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy (2001) §103 (Christmas novena) and 155 (Pentecost novena) commends novenas that prepare for liturgical feasts. A novena is not a formula that obliges God; the number nine is a custom, not a condition (CCC 2111).