WHAT ARE NINE-DAY NOVENAS?
Nine-day novenas are periods of public or private prayer to obtain special graces, to implore special favors, or to make special petitions to God. Novenas have a special sense of intensity, spiritual urgency, and need. Novenas are traditionally associated with the image of Mary and the other disciples of Jesus immediately after Christs ascension. They gathered in a room in prayer, lifting up their needs to God, anticipating the coming of the Holy Spirit. After nine days of prayer, Pentecost arrived, with the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Mary and the disciples. Through the centuries, the Christian community has celebrated novenas. Novenas are associated with the great mysteries of our faith for example, novenas around Christmas (particularly popular in the Hispanic community), novenas before certain Marian feasts, novenas to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and novenas associated with the Divine Mercy. Novenas connect us with the Communion of Saints. With the certainty that those in
