Church “Prayer Language”

a special kind of prayer, saying thanks, and growing closer to God

Have you ever heard someone at church talk about a Novena and had no idea what they were talking about?

Don’t worry—you’re not the only one! A Novena is a special kind of prayer that people say for nine days in a row. It’s a way to ask God for help or to say thank you. But most of all, it’s about trusting God’s plan, not just getting what we want. Let’s take a minute to learn more about this powerful way to pray!

What Is a Novena? 

A Novena is a special prayer you say for nine days in a row. People usually pray a novena when they have something important to ask God—like for healing, help with a problem, or peace in a difficult time. You can also pray a novena to say thank you to God or to get ready for a special day in the Church.

The word novena comes from the Latin word for "nine." The idea comes from the Bible, when Jesus told His friends (the Apostles) to pray together after He went back to Heaven. They prayed for nine days, and on the tenth day, God sent the Holy Spirit to them at Pentecost.

Today, people still follow that example. They pray novenas to get closer to God and to ask for help or blessings. Sometimes, novenas are prayed before big feast days in the Church. For example, if you want to pray to St. Joseph, you might start a novena nine days before his feast day.

There are different kinds of novenas:

• Asking God for help (called a petition novena)

• Thanking God for something

• Getting ready for a special Church day

• Praying for someone who has died

You can pray a novena by yourself, with your family, or with your church community. It might include a short prayer each day, a Bible verse, or a special request.

The most important thing about a novena isn’t just getting what you ask for—it's about growing closer to God and trusting Him, even if the answer to your prayer takes time.