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I was wondering if you can explain what a novena is and what the Sisters of Charity meant by a "flying novena". I remember there were nine something’s. Please explain if you could what a novena is and what prayers are said, and maybe even some other examples of novenas.
Paul
Dear Paul:
A novena is a period of prayer usually lasting nine consecutive days, or one day each week for nine consecutive weeks. The prayers of the 'flying novena' you mention are usually recited in some emergency situation or special time of need, and are said on the hour every hour for nine hours.
Novena prayers are usually offered for particular intentions, in honour of a particular saint, or to highlight a some mystery in the life of Jesus.
Novena prayers usually follow a certain formula. Here is a common version of the 'flying novena':
The Flying Novena
O Jesus, who hast said: "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you.", through the intercession of Mary, Your most Holy Mother, I knock, I seek, I ask that my prayer be granted. (State the request.)
O Jesus, who hast said: "All that you ask of My Father in My Name, He will grant you.", through the intercession of Mary, Your most Holy Mother, I humbly and urgently ask Your Father in Your name that my prayer be granted. (Repeat the request.)
O Jesus, who hast said: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass.", through the intercession of Mary, Your most Holy Mother, I feel confident that my prayer will be granted. (Repeat the request.)
Praise God. Hallelujah!
Novenas are often published on small prayer cards, and the Internet is full of examples. There are even books published with whole collections of novenas. Some examples are: Novenas to St Anthony, St Jude, St Joseph, St Peregrine, St Therese of Lisieux, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Infant Jesus of Prague, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and Our Lady of Lourdes.
Here is the prayer used for the St Therese Novena.
O Little Therese of the Child Jesus, please pick for me a rose from the heavenly gardens and send it to me as a message of love. O Little Flower of Jesus, ask God to grant the favors I now place with confidence in your hands . .
(Mention specific requests)
St. Therese, help me to always believe as you did in God's great love for me, so that I might imitate your "Little Way" each day.
Amen.
Novenas are thought to have originated in the 17th century, and recall the period of time (9 days) between the Ascension of Our Lord and the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles at Pentecost, days during which the Apostles "devoted themselves to constant prayer." (Acts: 1-12, 14) The word novena is derived from the Latin novem, meaning nine.
Like all prayer, novenas must come from the heart, keeping in mind that the will of God is paramount. A novena is an excellent way, as St Paul urges us, to "pray constantly" (1 Thess 5:17; Eph 5:20.), but it should not be regarded as some kind of magic formula to get what we want. The distribution of chain letters, for example, "guaranteeing" answers to prayers by the recitation and "passing on" of a particular novena, is nothing short of superstition, and should be avoided. The only guarantee we have that prayer will work lies in our intention - call it purity of heart or humility - to do and receive as God wills, not as we would have it.
God bless,
Father Norbert