Day 1 · Asking
Lord Jesus, you said, “Ask, and it shall be given you.” I bring you my intention today and trust you with it.
Day 2 · Trust
Father, help me trust you with all my heart and not lean on my own understanding, whatever the answer.
Day 3 · Rest
Jesus, I come to you weary and heavy laden. Give me your rest as I wait.
Day 4 · A clean heart
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Forgive my sins and renew a right spirit within me.
Day 5 · Peace
I will not be anxious. With thanksgiving I make my request known to you, and ask for your peace.
Day 6 · Hope
Lord, your thoughts toward me are thoughts of peace, to give me a future and a hope. I hold on to that promise.
Day 7 · Courage
When I am afraid, remind me that you are with me. Strengthen me, help me and hold me up.
Day 8 · Your will
Like Jesus in the garden, I pray: not as I will, but as you will. Work all things together for good.
Day 9 · Thanksgiving
Thank you for hearing me these nine days. I will be still and know that you are God. Amen.
What is a novena?
A novena is nine days of prayer for a particular intention, such as healing, guidance, a job or a loved one. Many novenas ask a saint to pray with us, like the novenas to St. Jude, St. Joseph or the Sacred Heart; others pray directly to God. The first novena is often traced to the nine days the disciples spent praying together, “with Mary the mother of Jesus,” before the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost (Acts 1:14, 2:1).
How to pray a novena
Choose your intention and a novena prayer. Pray it at about the same time each day for nine days in a row. Many people add an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be each day. If you miss a day, simply continue; a novena is an act of persevering trust, not a formula. Jesus taught that we “ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1).
What if my prayer is not answered as I hoped?
A novena does not oblige God to give us what we ask. It is nine days of bringing a need to him and growing in trust. Even Jesus prayed, “nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39). Many people find that the nine days change their own hearts.
Frequently asked questions
What is a novena?
A novena is a prayer prayed for nine consecutive days, usually for a special intention. The word comes from the Latin for “nine.” It is a Catholic devotion, though any Christian can pray for nine days in a row.
How do you pray a novena?
Pick your intention and a novena prayer, then pray it once a day for nine days in a row, ideally at the same time. Many people add the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be each day.
What happens if you miss a day of a novena?
Simply pick up where you left off, or start again if you prefer. A novena is about persevering in prayer, and God is not bound by a missed day.
Why is a novena nine days?
It recalls the nine days between Jesus’ Ascension and Pentecost, when the disciples and Mary “continued with one accord in prayer” (Acts 1:14) until the Holy Spirit came.
More prayers
- The Hail Mary Prayer The traditional Catholic prayer to Mary, with the Bible verses it comes from.
- Hail, Holy Queen (Salve Regina) The Salve Regina, prayed at the end of the Rosary.
- Morning Prayer Short prayers to start the day, the Lord’s Prayer and the Catholic Morning Offering.
- Prayer for Healing Prayers for your own healing, for someone who is sick, and for healing and strength.
- Prayer for Strength Prayers for strength in hard times, for courage and for guidance.
- Psalm 91 Prayer of Protection A prayer of protection drawn line by line from Psalm 91.