Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



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Theresa
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Posted: May 20 2009 at 10:36pm | IP Logged Quote Theresa
Could someone please explain to me what a Novena is and why it is said? I grew up Catholic, went to a Catholic school for 11 years and I don't recall ever hearing about this.

I have so many questions that I would like to have answers too and I feel very sad that after all of my years I don't know.

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MaryM
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Posted: May 20 2009 at 10:58pm | IP Logged Quote MaryM
Oh Theresa, what a great time to ask this question! I say that because it is almost time to start the Holy Spirit Novena - the first novena, derived from the nine days of prayer between Ascension and Pentecost.

I compiled this explanation from a couple older threads:

Novena comes from the Latin word for nine and refers to nine continuous days of prayer. The oldest novena - the novena to the Holy Spirit, derived from the directions given to the apostles by Jesus when He sent them back to Jerusalem to await the coming of the Holy Spirit. After the Ascension the disciples, together Mary and the women, came together in the upper room to devote themselves to constant prayer (Acts 1:14). They prayed for nine days before receiving the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

So nine days of prayer has a special meaning to the Church. A novena is usually prayed on nine consecutive days or once a week for nine weeks as there are also novenas (St. Joseph or St. Anthony) which are nine Sundays or Wednesdays or Tuesdays. (And there is the 52 day Rosary novena.)

One can pray a novena at any time but the more important "Solemnities" usually are accompanied by a special novena, timing the novena to end on the vigil of the solemnity or feast.

These threads would probably also be of assistance in understanding novena prayers, Theresa.

Forgive my ignorance...
Novenas? Chaplets? Help me understand
Novenas vs. prayers

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