A novena is a focused prayer period lasting nine consecutive days. Roman Catholic and Eastern Catholic churches commonly use it, especially before major feasts or for a specific need. A novena may include daily Mass, but it can also consist of a shorter service with prayers, Scripture, the Rosary, and private devotion.
Where does the name come from?
The word novena comes from the Latin novem, meaning “nine.” Unlike a vigil, which is commonly held on the evening before a feast, a novena covers nine consecutive days. It is a devotional observance rather than a separate sacrament or a standard part of the church year.
Which churches use novenas?
Roman Catholic novenas are especially common before Christmas, the Immaculate Conception, the Sacred Heart, and feasts of patron saints. A common Christmas novena runs from December 16 through December 24. Eastern Catholic churches also use nine-day prayer cycles, especially before feasts of the Theotokos. Orthodox churches keep related nine-day cycles; these are not all called novenas, and some use the Akathist across the nine days. Some Episcopalian and Protestant congregations use “novena” for a nine-day prayer series, although the custom is less common there.
What happens at a novena?
A Roman Catholic novena may include Mass every day, often at the same time and place. The word may refer to the whole nine-day cycle or to the services held within it. When Mass is celebrated, worshipers follow the usual order: entrance, readings, sermon, intercessions, Eucharist, and dismissal. On other days, a prayer leader may invite people to recite a litany, pray the Rosary, read a short passage, and offer a petition. A printed booklet often supplies the prayers and cues for standing, kneeling, or crossing the chest. The “prayer intention” might concern healing, family, peace, the dead, or a particular feast.
How can a visitor take part?
Visitors may attend one day or all nine; a novena is generally open to the public. If a service includes Mass, visitors may follow the congregation and observe the Eucharist without receiving Communion. For a shorter novena service, simply arrive, follow the booklet, and join the spoken responses. Ask the parish office or check the church bulletin for the location, time, and whether a prayer book is needed. The guide to going to church for the first time also explains common worship practices.