Ask for one thing, nine days running.
A novena is nine consecutive days of prayer for a single intention. The form comes from the nine days the apostles spent in the upper room between the Ascension and Pentecost, waiting with Mary for something they had been promised and could not produce themselves — which is still what a novena is for.
Fixed dates
A Novena to the Immaculate Conception
Traditionally the nine days before 8 DecemberNine days in the dark of Advent on the one person the fault never touched. The classic Marian invocations, with the history of the doctrine itself, one fact a day.
A Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe
Traditionally the nine days before 12 DecemberTepeyac, 1531. The classic indulgenced prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe, said nine times, with the history of the apparition and the devotion, one fact a day.
A Novena to Saint Lucy
Traditionally the nine days before 13 DecemberA Sicilian martyr whose name means light and whose feast fell, for a thousand years, on the darkest day of the year. The traditional novena prayer, said nine times, with a fact about her and her cult each day.
The Christmas Novena
16 to 24 DecemberNine days built around the seven great O Antiphons of Advent, each with the scripture it is drawn from, framed by the census that sent Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and the crowded inn that turned them away.
A Novena to Saint Thomas Aquinas
Traditionally the nine days before 28 JanuaryThe student his classmates called the dumb ox, who wrote more than almost anyone and then stopped. His own prayer before study, said nine times, with a fact from his life each day.
A Novena to Saint Blaise
Traditionally the nine days before 3 FebruaryTwo candles crossed at the throat. The traditional blessing, said nine times, with a fact about Blaise's life and cult each day.
A Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes
Traditionally the nine days before 11 FebruaryLourdes, 1858: a girl of fourteen, a spring, and a title she did not understand. The Miraculous Medal invocation, said nine times, with a fact about Bernadette and the shrine each day.
A Novena to Saint Patrick
Traditionally the nine days before 17 MarchA Romano-British teenager taken as a slave who went back to the country that had enslaved him. The Breastplate, said nine times, with what his own writing actually says each day.
A Novena to Saint Joseph
Traditionally the nine days before 19 MarchThe just man who is given no line to speak. The traditional prayer to St. Joseph, said eight times and the Litany once, with a fact from Scripture or history each day.
A Novena to Saint Catherine of Siena
Traditionally the nine days before 29 AprilA dyer’s daughter, twenty-fifth of twenty-five children, who told the Pope to go back to Rome and was obeyed. The traditional novena prayer, said nine times, with a fact from her thirty-three years each day.
A Novena to Saint Peregrine
Traditionally the nine days before 1 MayThe saint asked for by people with cancer. The traditional novena prayer, said nine times, with a fact from his life each day, including the night before the amputation.
A Novena to Our Lady of Fatima
Traditionally the nine days before 13 MayThree shepherd children in the third year of a war, and an apparition whose one repeated instruction was the least dramatic thing about it. The Fatima decade prayer, said nine times, with a fact about the children and the apparitions each day.
A Novena to Saint Dymphna
Traditionally the nine days before 15 MayFor anxiety, depression, and illness of the mind. The traditional novena prayer, said nine times, with what is known of her and of the Flemish town that has cared for the mentally ill in its own homes for seven hundred years.
A Novena to Saint Rita of Cascia
Traditionally the nine days before 22 MayA marriage she did not choose, a vendetta she refused, a convent that turned her away three times, and a wound that kept her at the edge of the room. The traditional novena prayer, said nine times, with a fact from her documented life each day.
A Novena to Saint Anthony of Padua
Traditionally the nine days before 13 JuneThe world's lost-property office, begun with a stolen psalter. The traditional invocation, said nine times, with a fact from Anthony's short life each day.
A Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Traditionally the nine days before 27 JuneA Cretan icon stolen by a merchant, lost for seventy years under a French occupation, and given to the Redemptorists with an instruction to make her known. The traditional novena prayer, said nine times, with a fact about the picture each day.
A Novena to Saint Benedict
Traditionally the nine days before 11 JulyA student who walked out of Rome and ended up writing the rule that organised Western monastic life for fifteen centuries. The traditional novena prayer, said nine times, with a fact from his life each day.
A Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Traditionally the nine days before 16 JulyElijah's little cloud, the brown scapular, and a mountain with a long history of hermits and reformers. The Flos Carmeli, said nine times, with a fact from that history each day.
A Novena to Saint Ann
Traditionally the nine days before 26 JulyTo the mother of Our Lady — a novena of family affection, asking her to enrich a love for Jesus and Mary and to be present at the end.
A Novena to Saint Cajetan
Traditionally the nine days before 7 AugustFor bread and for work, the saint the unemployed queue for. The traditional novena prayer, said nine times, with a fact from his life or the Argentine devotion each day.
A Novena to Our Lady
Traditionally the nine days before 15 AugustNine days across the whole of Mary's life in Scripture, from the Annunciation to the Assumption, with a fact about the text or the doctrine each day.
A Novena to Saint Monica
Traditionally the nine days before 27 AugustSeventeen years of praying for someone who had stopped believing, and the discovery at the end that none of it was traceable to her. The traditional novena prayer, said nine times, with a fact from her son's own Confessions each day.
A Novena to Saint Augustine
Traditionally the nine days before 28 AugustThe son Monica prayed for through seventeen years. His own prayer from the Confessions, said nine times, with a fact from the life he spent the first half of running away from each day.
A Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows
Traditionally the nine days before 15 SeptemberThe seven swords, one a day: the sorrows of Mary from Simeon's prophecy to the burial, each with its own biblical or devotional source.
A Novena to Saint Michael the Archangel
Traditionally the nine days before 29 SeptemberA name that is a question. Leo XIII's prayer, said nine times, with a fact about Michael from Scripture or history each day.
A Novena to Saint Raphael
Traditionally the nine days before 29 SeptemberThe archangel who travelled disguised as a hired man for the length of a book. The traditional novena prayer, said nine times, with the story from Tobit a day at a time.
A Novena to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
Traditionally the nine days before 1 OctoberNothing whatever accomplished in twenty-four years, and a Doctor of the Church, including the eighteen months at the end when she could not believe in heaven at all. The traditional novena prayer, said nine times, with a fact from her own words each day.
A Novena to Saint Francis of Assisi
Traditionally the nine days before 4 OctoberHe got down off the horse before the disgust had gone. His own prayer before the San Damiano crucifix, said nine times, with a fact from his life each day.
A Novena to Saint Gerard Majella
Traditionally the nine days before 16 OctoberA handkerchief, a false accusation borne in silence, and twenty-nine years. The traditional novena prayer, said nine times, with a fact from his documented life each day.
A Novena for the Holy Souls
Traditionally the nine days from 2 NovemberFor the dead, the ones we buried and the ones nobody is left to name. The classic prayer for the dead, said nine times, with the history of the doctrine and the custom, one fact a day.
A Novena to Saint Martin de Porres
Traditionally the nine days before 3 NovemberBarred by law from the order he wanted to join, admitted as a servant, and eventually running its infirmary. The traditional novena prayer, said nine times, with a fact from his life each day.
A Novena to Saint Gertrude the Great
Traditionally the nine days before 16 NovemberA child handed over to a monastery at five, who held no office, left no relic, and has no grave. The traditional novena prayer, said nine times, with a fact from her life or her cult's history each day.
Movable, with Easter
A Novena of Divine Mercy
Good Friday to the eve of Divine Mercy SundayNine days on the nine traditional intentions, sinners first and the lukewarm last. An ancient Mass collect on God's mercy, older than the devotion itself, with a fact about Sister Faustina and the devotion each day.
A Novena to the Holy Spirit
The nine days between the Ascension and PentecostThe first novena, and the pattern of all the others: the nine days the apostles waited in the upper room. The Veni Sancte Spiritus, said nine times, with the history and scripture behind the seven gifts, one fact a day.
A Novena to the Sacred Heart
Traditionally the nine days before the feast of the Sacred HeartA human heart, meek and patient, present in the tabernacle. The classic novena prayer, said nine times, with the history of the devotion itself, one fact a day.
A Novena to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
The nine days before the feast, the day after the Sacred HeartThe heart in Scripture is not the feelings but the place where a person decides. The oldest prayer to Mary that survives, said nine times, with a fact from Scripture or history each day.
Any nine days
A Novena to Saint Jude
For a trouble that has gone on too longFor the case everyone has stopped expecting anything from. The classic novena prayer, said nine times, with the little that is actually known of Saint Jude himself, one fact a day.
A Novena to Our Lady, Undoer of Knots
Any nine days, for a thing that has only tightenedA knot is what effort produces when applied to the wrong end of the rope. The novena prayer in common use, said nine times, with a fact about the painting or the devotion's documented history each day.
Novena for the Removal of Skunk Odor
Nine days, or until the dog stops rolling in itA full nine days under the patronage of St. Francis — Trust, Humility, Wisdom, Perseverance, Intercession, Gratitude, Detachment, Hope and Thanksgiving — on its own illustrated page.
When they are prayed.
Most novenas end on a feast and are counted backwards from it, so the nine days are fixed if the feast is and movable if it is not. None of this binds anybody; it is given because it is pleasant to be praying a thing at the same time as everyone else who is praying it.
Fixed dates
- 30 November – 8 December
- A Novena to the Immaculate ConceptionThe nine days closing on the solemnity itself, in the dark of Advent.
- 3 – 11 December
- A Novena to Our Lady of GuadalupeThe nine days before 12 December, kept from Tepeyac to the whole of the Americas.
- 4 – 12 December
- A Novena to Saint LucyThe nine days before 13 December, in the dark of Advent.
- 16 – 24 December
- The Christmas NovenaThe great O Antiphons fall on the middle seven; the ninth day is Christmas Eve.
- 19 – 27 January
- A Novena to Saint Thomas AquinasThe nine days before 28 January, the only novena kept in that month.
- 25 January – 2 February
- A Novena to Saint BlaiseThe nine days before 3 February, when throats are blessed with two crossed candles.
- 2 – 10 February
- A Novena to Our Lady of LourdesThe nine days before 11 February, the date of the first apparition at the grotto in 1858.
- 8 – 16 March
- A Novena to Saint PatrickThe nine days before 17 March.
- 10 – 18 March
- A Novena to Saint JosephThe nine days before the solemnity of St. Joseph on 19 March.
- 20 – 28 April
- A Novena to Saint Catherine of SienaThe nine days before 29 April, the only novena kept in that month.
- 22 – 30 April
- A Novena to Saint PeregrineThe nine days before 1 May.
- 4 – 12 May
- A Novena to Our Lady of FatimaThe nine days before 13 May, the first of the six apparitions of 1917.
- 6 – 14 May
- A Novena to Saint DymphnaThe nine days before 15 May.
- 13 – 21 May
- A Novena to Saint Rita of CasciaThe nine days before 22 May, kept at Cascia with the blessing of roses.
- 4 – 12 June
- A Novena to Saint Anthony of PaduaThe nine days before 13 June. In many churches the Tuesdays of the year are his as well.
- 18 – 26 June
- A Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual HelpThe nine days before 27 June.
- 2 – 10 July
- A Novena to Saint BenedictThe nine days before 11 July.
- 7 – 15 July
- A Novena to Our Lady of Mount CarmelThe nine days before 16 July, the feast of the scapular.
- 17 – 25 July
- A Novena to Saint AnnThe nine days before her feast on 26 July, kept at St. Ann shrines since the seventeenth century.
- 29 July – 6 August
- A Novena to Saint CajetanThe nine days before 7 August, when the unemployed queue for bread and work.
- 6 – 14 August
- A Novena to Our LadyThe nine days before the Assumption on 15 August, where the ninth day ends.
- 18 – 26 August
- A Novena to Saint MonicaThe nine days before 27 August — and her son’s feast falls the day after hers.
- 19 – 27 August
- A Novena to Saint AugustineThe nine days before 28 August, overlapping almost entirely with his mother’s.
- 6 – 14 September
- A Novena to Our Lady of SorrowsThe nine days before 15 September, the day after the Exaltation of the Cross.
- 20 – 28 September
- A Novena to Saint Michael the ArchangelThe nine days before 29 September, the feast of the archangels.
- 20 – 28 September
- A Novena to Saint RaphaelThe nine days before 29 September, the feast of the archangels.
- 22 – 30 September
- A Novena to Saint Thérèse of LisieuxThe nine days before 1 October.
- 25 September – 3 October
- A Novena to Saint Francis of AssisiThe nine days before 4 October, closing on the evening of the Transitus.
- 7 – 15 October
- A Novena to Saint Gerard MajellaThe nine days before 16 October, prayed over cradles more than anywhere else.
- 2 – 10 November
- A Novena for the Holy SoulsBegun on All Souls’ Day, through the octave the Church has always given the dead.
- 25 October – 2 November
- A Novena to Saint Martin de PorresThe nine days before 3 November.
- 7 – 15 November
- A Novena to Saint Gertrude the GreatThe nine days before 16 November — kept in the month the Church gives to the dead.
Movable, with Easter
- Good Friday – Easter Saturday
- A Novena of Divine MercyThe nine days closing on the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday, the second Sunday of Easter.
- Ascension – Pentecost
- A Novena to the Holy SpiritThe original nine days, and the only novena whose dates are given in Scripture.
- The nine days before the Sacred Heart
- A Novena to the Sacred HeartThe feast is the Friday after the octave of Corpus Christi, and so falls in June.
- The nine days before the Immaculate Heart
- A Novena to the Immaculate Heart of MaryThe memorial follows the Sacred Heart by a day, and the order is doctrinal.
Any nine days
- Whenever it is needed
- A Novena to Saint JudeAttached to no feast, because the trouble it is for does not keep a calendar.
- Whenever it has only tightened
- A Novena to Our Lady, Undoer of KnotsFor a tangle rather than a problem — begun on any day, and usually late.
- Nine days, or until the dog stops
- Novena for the Removal of Skunk OdorBegin at the first opportunity. There is usually no doubt about when that is.
Have them sent to you.
novena.email sends one email a day for the nine days — the same text you are reading here, at an hour you pick, stopping by itself on the ninth day. You can start several at once and give each its own time. It is free, it asks for nothing but an address, and it counts nothing: no accounts, no tracking, no measuring whether you opened it.
It is deliberately small — kept for friends and family, so new requests are approved by hand and that takes as long as it takes. A separate service; this library does not know who subscribes.
How to pray one.
Read the day’s page once, slowly, and then say what you actually came to say. That is the whole method. The days are numbered but they are not a syllabus; nothing is spoiled by reading two in an evening, and nothing is lost by missing a day and picking it up again on the next.
Traditionally a novena is prayed on the nine days before a feast, and several here name theirs. That is a custom and not a rule — any nine days are nine days. There is no obligation attached, no promise conditional on completing it, and no technique being applied. It is persistence, which is the one thing about prayer that Our Lord explicitly commended.
Several of these draw on prayers that have their own pages: the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Glory Be are said with most of them, and the rosary or a visit to the Blessed Sacrament sits naturally alongside any of the nine days.