Pray a Powerful Novena in Nine Minutes, Hours, or Days

Allison Gingras describes three favorite novenas from members of her 'saint posse.'

Have nine days, nine hours, or even nine minutes? Then you have time to pray one of these three powerful novenas. A novena is a Catholic practice of prayer, typically completed over nine days. The first novena is attributed to the Apostles' time in the upper room praying and waiting, after the Ascension, for the coming of the Holy Spirit. 

Let’s start with nine days and Padre Pio’s Efficacious Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which he prayed every day for the intentions of those who sought his prayers. A little hint for those who have trouble being consistent in prayer for a week-plus. An easy way I keep faithful to this devotion is by adding “Pray Novena” to my calendar with an email reminder sent directly from there.

Padre Pio's Efficacious Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

O my Jesus, you have said:
“Truly I say to you, ask and it will be given you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.” Behold I knock, I seek and ask for the grace of [insert your intention].
Our Father*…Hail Mary**…Glory be to the Father***…
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

O my Jesus, you have said:
“Truly I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, He will give it to you.” Behold, in your name, I ask the Father for the grace of [insert your intention].
Our Father*…Hail Mary**…Glory be to the Father***…
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

O my Jesus, you have said:
“Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away.” Encouraged by your infallible words I now ask for the grace of [insert your intention].
Our Father*…Hail Mary**…Glory be to the Father***
…Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you. 

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of you, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, your tender mother and ours. 

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears! Turn, then, O most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. 

St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us. [Feel free to include your own intercessors here]

*Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

**Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

***Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

In some instances, waiting through nine days of prayer just won't do. Sometimes the need is so great, it requires more immediate prayer options. So let’s say you have a day when at the top of the hour, for nine hours, you can take a minute to offer a novena prayer. Then, the Infant of Prague Novena, may be just what you are looking for. To help my busy mind remember this, I usually set an alarm (such as on a phone, home virtual assistant, or fitness tracker) to remind me to pray throughout the day. 

A little side note before I share this powerful prayer: it can also be done over nine days. The funny thing with praying, however you choose to do it, heaven doesn’t give you style points or dock you in execution. Prayer is always welcome and always perfect (thanks to the Holy Spirit).

Infant of Prague Novena 

O Jesus, Who has said, "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened," through the intercession of Mary, Your Most Holy Mother, I knock, I seek, I ask that my prayer be granted. 
(Make your request) 

O Jesus, Who has said, "All that you ask of the Father in My Name, He will grant you," through the intercession of Mary Your Most Holy Mother, I humbly and urgently ask your Father in your name that my prayer will be granted.
(Make your request)

O Jesus, Who has said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away but My word shall not pass away," through the intercession of Mary Your Most Holy Mother, I feel confident that my prayer will be granted.
(Make your request) 

End with this prayer of thanksgiving: 

Divine Infant Jesus, I know You love me and would never leave me. I thank You for Your close Presence in my life. 

Miraculous Infant, I believe in Your promise of peace, blessings, and freedom from want. I place every need and care in Your hands. 

Lord Jesus, may I always trust in Your generous mercy and love. I want to honor and praise You, now and forever. Amen.

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Sometimes waiting through nine days of prayer just won't do: the need is so great, it requires more immediate prayer options. #catholicmom

Next comes the Emergency Novena, sometimes referred to as the Flying Novena, credited to St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa). It offers the quickest novena I have ever encountered and is completed by simply reciting the Memorare 9 times:

Memorare to the Blessed Virgin Mary

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Funny aside: I memorized this prayer listening to Venerable Patrick Peyton's Rosary CD in my car; now when I recite it, I hear his voice, and I tend to find when I say it out loud, I have a tinge of a brogue.

Tradition states Mother Teresa always added a tenth Memorare in thanksgiving for the Blessed Mother’s intercession and the Lord’s answer — regardless of the prayer outcome. This additional prayer pairs perfectly with utilizing a Rosary to keep track of the Memorares. I try to add this flying novena at the end of my Rosary each day because there is always someone, somewhere needing an extra prayer boost.

Copyright 2020 Allison Gingras
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