Hey there,
Okay, so maybe you’ve not been afraid to ask about novenas.
And given the lack of discussion about novenas, you probably didn’t even want to know everything about them.
But take heart my friends, novenas are beginning to grow in popularity. This chart shows the trend in Google searches for the term “novena” since 2004.
Though I had heard of novenas all my cradle Catholic life, I had never actually prayed one until I started Genuflect a couple of years ago.
I like the structured nature of novenas. An added bonus is they take less time than a Rosary, so it’s easy to fit into a busy day or night.
And now I pray novenas regularly.
This week’s issue of Genuflect is all about novenas: what they are, their origin and history, how to pray a novena, what to do if you skip a day or mess it up, how a novena can revive your prayer life, and the effect prolonged prayer has on our brains. And visit our Novenas page anytime to find your next Novena to pray.
So now you’ll know everything about novenas without having to ask. And if they aren’t already, you can make them a stable in your prayer life.
Keep Believing-
Katy Barrilleaux
Founding Editor, Genuflect
P. S. For the latest Catholic news, be sure to check out Genuflect Daily. We hand pick the top Catholic news you care about. Subscribe to the site and submit stories you find on the internet … and upvote all your favorites.
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Novenas Overview
Whether you’ve never prayed a novena … or it’s been a while .. or even if you regularly pray novenas, you may learn something new here. Santiago Cortes-Sjoberg looks at what novenas are, the types of novenas, and how they’ve evolved over the centuries.
What Are Novenas? | U.S. Catholic
The Original Novena
You don’t hear the term novena too much these days. They seem like an “old fashioned” form of prayer. Old fashioned or not, you may not realize just how far back they go!
Do You Know About The Original Novena? | Epic Pew
How to Pray a Novena
If you’re new to novenas, you’ll appreciate this visual step-by-step guide on the what, why, when, and how to pray a novena.
How To Pray a Novena – A Visual Step by Step Guide | Catholic Link
Avoiding Superstition
We pray novenas at times to request help with a matter or to get an answer to a question. But if we’re not careful we may be engaging in superstition. Here’s what you need to know.
If I’m Not Praying a Novena Exactly as Prescribed to Obtain an Answer, Must I Start Over? | Catholic Answers
What if You Miss a Day?
It happens to the best of us. We begin praying a novena, or some other devotion, and a few days in, we accidentally miss a day. What do we do? Will it still count? Here’s how to handle it.
What If I Miss a Day of The Novena? | The Divine Mercy
Revive Your Spiritual Life
Novenas date back to the time of the apostles. And though their popularity has waned in recent years, Lillian Fallon shares her personal story of how praying novenas revived her spiritual life.
How a 9-Day Routine Revived my Spiritual Life | Grotto
Novenas by Date
If you want to pray a novena in the days leading up to a respective feast day, this list is for you. You’ll find the start date and the feast day, with a link to the novena prayer.
List of All Novenas | Novena App
The Effects of Prayer on The Brain
As Catholics we believe in the power of prayer. We know the power of prayer. But did you know that prolonged prayer can resculpt the brain? There’s science that backs it up and it’s pretty cool.
Prayer May Reshape Your Brain … And Your Reality | NPR
genuflect: prayer
No time like the present to begin praying a novena. We’ve published several at Genuflect. You’ll find novenas to St. Joseph, John the Baptist, and Saint Maria Goretti, as well as the Holy Trinity, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and several others. Find a novena to pray here.
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Digital Inspiration
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