How to Pray a Novena

A novena is a prayer prayed over nine consecutive days, usually for a particular intention — a healing, a decision, a loved one, a word of thanks. The name comes from novem, the Latin word for nine.

Where it comes from

The very first novena was prayed by Our Lady and the apostles. After Jesus ascended into heaven, they gathered in the upper room and prayed together for nine days until the Holy Spirit came upon them at Pentecost. Ever since, Christians have kept this pattern of nine days of waiting, trusting prayer.

How to pray one

A novena is simple. You choose an intention and a prayer, and you pray it once a day for nine days in a row. Many novenas are addressed to Our Lady or a particular saint, asking them to carry your intention to God.

A simple shape for each day:

  1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross
  2. Pray the set prayer for that novena (many have a short prayer for each of the nine days)
  3. Add your own intention in your own words
  4. Close with an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be

The heart of it

The real work of a novena is not the words — it is the faithfulness. Nine days is long enough to test us, to teach us to keep returning even when we feel nothing. That steady returning is the prayer.

Praying with a handmade rosary in hand can help the days keep their rhythm — the beads a small anchor for a heart that is learning to wait on God.

✣ Browse our handmade rosaries. Each one is knotted and blessed by hand, then shipped with care across India and around the world. See the collection →

Whatever you are carrying, a novena is a beautiful way to place it, day by day, into Our Lady's hands.