The Gift of the Novena

This article is not about writing, though it may be of some interest to some writers. My awareness and observations of our current times have motivated me to write this article for those of you who are looking for some way to deal with difficult and challenging situations. Sometimes the situations of our lives are of our own making; other times, the world seems to be rocking apart around and within us. Such are the times we are living through right now. 
With that in mind, I offer this to those of you looking for a spiritual tool to use to channel your thoughts, prayers, and struggles into. 

Today as I listened to friends talk about their struggles, observed some of the chaos going on in the world around me, and struggled to find a way to offer a little bit of comfort to a friend who had just lost her Mother, it came to me to offer this idea to those of you who might find it helpful.  While the Novena comes out of the Catholic Christian tradition, as you will read, I believe it can be adapted to anyone who wishes to use it.  Make it your own practice, and use it to alleviate some of the sorrow, struggle, or frustration you may be feeling at this or any other time  you may find it helpful. 

A Novena is a prayer that is said for a special intention over the period of nine, hours or nine days. A Novena is a sacrifice made, of your time, energy, and spiritual intentions (giving up or releasing your own will so that the Divine can answer your prayers), in prayer for a special intention or a special occasion. For example, you may say a Novena in honor of the passing of a parent. Or you may pray a Novena as a means of seeking guidance on a particular problem, challenge, or issue in your life. The historical context of the Novena goes back to the nine days that the Blessed Mother, Mariam, and the Disciples spent together in prayer in the nine days between the Ascension and Pentecost Sunday.

We have nine days left of Saturn’s transit through Libra; a time which seems to be very difficult for many people.   The Harvest Moon is waxing to the fullness in the Autumn sky, and a very special, powerful time is upon us.  For many reasons, we seem to be at a turning point in our lives. It is a time when we need to become more aware of our connection with the Divine, Creator, God. As we turn toward a deeper awareness we surrender our egos to the  will of the Divine in our lives. Using a Novena over the next nine days, may be one way to help focus and channel your prayers, meditations, thoughts, and energy during this tumultuous time.

While the practice of praying a Novena comes out of the Catholic Christian tradition, it can be used by anyone from any spiritual tradition. How do we pray a Novena? First, set your intention to devote either nine hours or nine days to a Novena. Prepare your home and yourself, keeping in mind that for a specified time, you will be devoting your time and attention to doing the Novena, and will structure your life (during those nine hours or during specific times on each of the nine days) to that practice.  Let your family and close friends know that you will be out of contact during those specific times (not answering your phone, checking emails/FaceBook, of other social media). You may also ask that they support you with their thoughts and prayers during the time you are spending on the Novena. 

Begin the Novena by saying a prayer and Novena of your choice. There are traditional novenas for specific requests and intentions, or you may write your own.  If you are doing the 9-hour Novena, set your alarm so that each hour you begin the Novena with the same prayer and recitation of the intention. In between, prepare your home by doing the laundry, cleaning out closets, the refrigerator, or cupboards, and other tasks that help you put your physical house in order. Think of everything you do during the entire 9 hours (or 9 days) as a moving meditation. Do everything you can to keep yourself focused on the intentions that you are requesting during the Novena. 

Whatever intention or request you choose to bring into this prayer practice, be willing to commit to following through with the practice of surrendering to the Divine, releasing anything that blocks or holds you in unhealthy habits, patterns of behavior, or negative thoughts and beliefs. Be receptive to what comes to you in prayer, meditation, dreams, thoughts, or experiences during the Novena. Today, for example, I was drawn to the seasonal migrations of the birds, and the local birds who live here year round. Watching their interactions and movement, proved to be a significant symbol for me today.  Sometimes a dream will reveal an answer to a prayer, and sometimes I will feel a sudden and immediate relief or release from an emotional tie or bond.  

Like all spiritual practices, we get the most from the experience when we enter with a clear intention, let go of our expectations for how we are going to receive our answers, and when we allow ourselves to enter fully into the fullness of the experience with an open heart, mind, and willingness to surrender to a power higher than ourselves. 

Be creative with your Novena. Sing and dance your prayers. Write your own Novena. Use whatever special sacred words hold meaning to you. The following are some examples of traditional prayers for Novenas. They may suit you; they may not. Make this practice your own, and enter into sacred space and time now.

Prayers for Novenas:

When we walk to the edge of all the light we have and take the step into the darkness of the unknown, we must believe that one of two things will happen:
There will be something solid for us to stand on or we will be taught to fly. Patrick Overton

Universal Prayer For Peace

Lead me from death to life,
From falsehood to truth.
Lead me from despair to hope,
From fear to trust.
Lead me from hate to love,
From war to peace.
Let peace fill our hearts,
Our world, our universe.
Peace, Peace, Peace.

The story behind the Prayer for Peace
In July 1981, Mother Teresa gave the first public pronouncement of what is known as the 'Universal Prayer for Peace'. This took place at the Anglican St. James' Church, Piccadilly in London. This well-known 'Prayer',was designed to be truly international — a prayer which would be capable of transcription into any language and in supplication to any god.

A little research reveals that this 'prayer' was originally adapted by the former Jain monk and environmentalist, Satish Kumar, from a mantra in the Indian Hindu Upanishads. The Upanishads are essentially monistic treatises, secret Hindu doctrines, written from 800-400 B.C.

The prayer of St. Francis of Assisi 

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Be creative with your Novena. Sing and Dance your prayers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxSWxAKv5ic

Intercessory Prayers are used when we ask someone in Spirit to pray with and for us. Commonly, intercessors are saints (people who have lived exemplary lives). Intercessors may also be loved ones who you pray for. They can also pray for and with you. 

Mary Undoer Of Knots

Holy Mary, full of the presence of God during your life, you accepted with

great humility the Holy Will of the Father and the legacy of your Son, Our Lord Jesus

Christ. Evil never dared to entangle you with its confusion. Since then you have

interceded for all of our difficulties. With all simplicity and patience you have given

us example on how to untangle the knots in our complicated lives. By being our

Mother forever, you arrange and make clear the path that unites us to Our Lord.

Holy Mary, Mother of God and ours, with your maternal heart untie the knots

that upset our lives. We ask you to receive in your hands [

mention who or prayer 

request 

] and deliver us from the chains and confusions that have us restrained.

Blessed Virgin Mary, through your grace, your intercession and by your example,

deliver us from evil and untie the knots that keep us from uniting with God, so that

once free of every confusion and error, we may find Him in all things, have Him in

our hearts and serve Him always in our brothers and sisters.

Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for us

Novena To St. Joseph (patron saint of Fathers and Husbands)

O, Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the

throne of God, I place in you all my interest and desires. O, Saint Joseph, do assist

me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your divine Son all spiritual

blessings, through Jesus Christ, Our Lord, so that, having engaged here below your

heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of 

Fathers.

O, Saint Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your

arms; I dare not approach while he reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name

and kiss his fine head for me and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying

breath.

Saint Joseph, Patron of Departing Souls, pray for me.

Amen.

 According to the story, the following prayer was sent from the Pope to Emperor 

Charles in 1505 as he was readying to go into battle. “Whoever shall read this

 prayer or hear it or keep it about themselves, shall never die a sudden death, or be

drowned, nor shall poison take affect on them; neither shall they fall into the hands

of the enemy, or shall be burned in any fire or shall be overpowered in battle.

Novena To St. Therese Of Lisieux 

(The little Flower)

O glorious Saint Therese, whom Almighty God has raised up to aid and

counsel mankind, I implore your Miraculous Intercession. So powerful are you in

obtaining every need of body and soul our Holy Mother Church proclaims you a

 “Prodigy of Miracles . . . the Greatest Saint of Modern Times.” 

Now I fervently beseech you to answer my petition [

mention here

] and to

carry out your promises of 

spending Heaven doing good upon earth . . . of letting fall 

from Heaven a Shower of Roses.

Henceforth, dear Little Flower, I will fulfill your plea

 “to be made known everywhere” and I will never cease to lead others to Jesus

through you.

Holy Spirit Novena

Dearest Holy Spirit, confiding in Your deep, personal love for me, I am making this novena for the following request, if it be Your Holy Will to grant it:
(mention your request).

Teach me, Divine Spirit, to know and seek my last end; grant me the holy fear of God; grant me true contrition and patience.
Do not let me fall into sin. Give me an increase of faith, hope and charity, and bring forth in my soul all the virtues proper to my state in life.

Make me a faithful disciple of Jesus and an obedient child of the Church. Give me efficacious grace sufficient to keep the Commandments and to receive the Sacraments worthily.
Give me the four Cardinal Virtues, Your Seven Gifts, Your Twelve Fruits.
Raise me to perfection in the state of life to which You have called me and lead me through a happy death to everlasting life.
 I ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.