
Catholic convert Cathi Kennedy reviews The Handy Little Guide to Novenas with the hope of learning about this prayer tradition.
The Handy Little Guide to Novenas
by Allison Gingras
Published by Our Sunday Visitor
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. (Philippians 4:6)
I didn't make it past the back cover of The Handy Little Guide to Novenas before learning something new! This gem of a book by Catholic Mom contributor Allison Gingras had something to teach me on every page.
Novena is from the Latin novem, meaning nine. In simplest terms, a Novena is a prayer for a specific intention, prayed each day for a set number of days.
Whether the novena lasts nine minutes, nine hours, five days, forty days, or fifty-four days, all are valid ways of praying for intercession in your time of need.
The novena has biblical origins
What I learned from the back cover, and what Gingras explains in more depth, is the biblical origin of the novena. After Jesus ascended into heaven, Mary and the apostles went to the upper room and remained there in prayer for nine days. "Their faithful nine days of prayer is considered both the first and oldest novena."
In addition to explaining what a novena is, the author also gives instructions on how to pray a novena. Gingras quotes from scholar Fr. Mitch Pacwa's three elements of a novena:
- Be specific about what you are praying for.
- Have trust and confidence that God will answer your prayers.
- Repeating prayers helps us to "move beyond making a request to learning to listen to God as he speaks to us in prayer."
Getting past the obstacles to praying novenas
Gingras counters the "I'll never remember to pray every day for XX number of days" — my often-repeated excuse not to commit to a novena. She recommends the following reminders:
- Pick a time each day to pray.
- Ask a friend or friends to pray with you to help with accountability.
- Set an alarm/reminder on your phone.
- Use a visual reminder like a holy card or statue.
- Pray in the same place daily — your car, desk, and the like.
Regarding which novena to pray, the author suggests you ask a priest or search online for a specific intention or saint.
Gingras reminds us that it doesn't need to be complicated if you cannot find a novena that seems right for your intention.
Simply share your intention with the saint of your choice and then pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be for nine days.
What can repetitive prayer do for you?
My biggest takeaway from this gem of a guide is that the practice of repetitive prayer brings us closer to God and helps build our relationship with Him — that is where the change occurs — by changing the heart of the one who prays.
Ask for The Handy Little Guide to Novenas at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com or the publisher, Our Sunday Visitor.
Is this a book you'd like to read? Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.
Copyright 2024 Cathi Kennedy
Images: Canva
About the Author

Cathi Kennedy
Cathi Kennedy is passionate about building relationships. At the University of Notre Dame, she advises graduate students for the Mendoza College of Business. An impassioned writer, voracious reader, and aspiring knitter married to a musician and mom to two amazing sons, Cathi is a convert to Catholicism. She seeks to learn something new about her faith every day.
Comments