Novena

A group of pious women gathered for a Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, most likely a mourning event. circa 1940.

For the town in Singapore, see Novena, Singapore.

A novena (from Latin: Novem, meaning Nine) is an institutional act of religious devotion in the Roman Catholic Church, often consisting of private or public prayers repeated for nine successive days in hopes of obtaining special intercessory graces.

The prayers are often derived from devotional prayer books, or consist of the recitation of the Rosary (a 'Rosary novena'), or of short prayers through the day. Novena prayers are customarily printed in small booklets, and is often dedicated to a specific saint, angel, a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or invoking one of the personage of the Holy Trinity.

Within the Roman Catholic discipline, Novena prayers for public use must have an Imprimatur, Nihil Obstat, and Imprimi potest. These ecclesiastical sanctions are usually granted by a Bishop or any ranking prelate for publication and approval.

There are four recognized categories of novenas:

• Mourning, or in anticipation of a Burial
• In anticipation for a Church Feast or ending in Vespers (often requires Church attendance)
• Individual or Group Petition (Expiatory)
• Indulgence for the remission of Sins (often requires Sacrament of Confession or Church attendance)

A given novena can belong to more than one of these categories. They may be performed in church, at home, or anywhere where solemn prayers are appropriate, though some indulgenced novenas do require church attendance. Sometimes, a special candle or incense is lit at the beginning of the novena which burns during the nine days of prayer.

History

The practice of saying novenas is not explicitly derived from Holy Scripture, but was rather influenced by an early Greek and Roman custom performed by families consisting of nine days of mourning, then followed by a feast after the death of a loved one.

The practice was later adopted by newly converts to the Roman Catholic faith who associated a pious event of the Twelve Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Upper Room as they prayed for nine days until the Holy Spirit descended on the Feast of the Pentecost. In the New Testament, this biblical event is often quoted from Acts of the Apostles, 1:12 - 2:5.

Other Christian Use

Novena prayers are also practiced by some Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran Christians, who hold close or similar beliefs regarding its pious practice.

See also

• Marian devotions - Miraculous Medal novena
• Las Posadas
• Novena of Grace

Bibliography

• Right Reverend Monsignor Joseph F. Stedman, The New Revised 'Triple' Novena Manual, Confraternity of the Precious Blood, 1975.
• Barbara Calamari & Sandra DiPasqua, Novena, Penguin Studio, 1999. ISBN 0-670-88444-8

External links

• "Novenas", Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN)
• "Novena for the repose of the soul of John Paul II", United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)