Novena Prayers

Strengthen your faith through the power of nine days of prayer. Whether you seek healing, guidance, peace, protection, or thanksgiving, these Catholic novenas invite you to grow closer to God through the intercession of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the saints.

Novena prayers are a series of prayers said over nine consecutive days (or sometimes nine consecutive weeks) to ask God for a particular grace, to prepare for a feast, or to grow spiritually. The word “novena” comes from the Latin novem, meaning “nine.”

The tradition is rooted in Scripture. After Jesus ascended into heaven, the apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary spent nine days in prayer while waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 1:12–14; 2:1–4). This period is considered the first Christian novena.

A novena is not a formula that guarantees an answer. Rather, it is an expression of trust, perseverance, and surrender to God’s will.

How to Pray a Novena

Although each novena has its own prayers, a simple pattern is:

Make the Sign of the Cross.

State your Intention.

Pray Novena prayer assigned for that day.

Spend a few moments in silent prayer.

End with the Sign of the Cross.

The important thing is to pray faithfully for all nine days, trusting God whether the answer is “yes,” “no,” or “not yet.”

Key message

A novena is not about trying to persuade God through repetition. Instead, it is a spiritual discipline that helps believers:

Draw closer to God.
Deepen their trust in His providence.
Persevere in prayer.
Open their hearts to accept His will.

For many Catholics, novenas become a meaningful way to grow in faith while seeking the intercession of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary, or the saints.

Choose a Novena Prayer

Select a novena below to open the complete nine-day prayer.