Novena prayers are prayers that we pray for nine days in a row. The word novena actually comes from the Latin word “novem” which means “nine.” There are many benefits to praying novena prayers. They are a great form of spiritual training because novenas are a commitment. We agree to pray about an issue for nine straight days, without fail. Sometimes a person who is new to prayer, and has never done a novena, may forget to pray a day. They may be advised to do two novenas the next day or to start their novena over.

Novena prayers are a form of begging God the Father for His merciful intervention through the aid of Jesus Christ, His Son, the Holy Spirit, the Virgin Mary, and the saints. By committing our needs to God for nine straight days and praying in earnest we receive many graces that we would otherwise not receive. I think the testament to the great power of novenas comes from the fact that many who are devoted to them are so because of the answered prayers.

There is a rich tradition in the Church surrounding the history of novena prayers. The first and most powerful was of course with the disciples in the upper room who prayed nine days straight before the Holy Spirit came and filled them. There are many novenas said collectively around the world on certain days of the year. These novenas usually lead up to a special feast day in the church.