66.249.84.233 (talk) |
LimosaCorel (talk | contribs) |
||
Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
==History== |
==History== |
||
[[File:NovenatoPerpetualHelp1973editionManila&Singapura.jpg|thumb|Novena prayers are often printed in portable booklets such as these. The [[Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help]] (Manila edition) and (Singapore edition).]] |
|||
The practice of saying novenas is not explicitly derived from [[Holy Scripture]], but was rather influenced by an early [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] and [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] custom performed by families consisting of nine days of mourning after the death of a loved one, followed by a feast.<ref name=hilger>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11141b.htm Hilgers, Joseph. "Novena." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 11. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 20 Dec. 2012]</ref> |
The practice of saying novenas is not explicitly derived from [[Holy Scripture]], but was rather influenced by an early [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] and [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] custom performed by families consisting of nine days of mourning after the death of a loved one, followed by a feast.<ref name=hilger>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11141b.htm Hilgers, Joseph. "Novena." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 11. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 20 Dec. 2012]</ref> |
||
Revision as of 08:48, 22 February 2014
- For the town in Singapore, see Novena, Singapore.
A novena (from Latin: Novem, meaning Nine) is an institutional act of religious pious devotion in the Roman Catholic Church, often consisting of private or public prayers repeated for nine successive days in belief of obtaining special intercessory graces.[1]
The prayers are often derived from devotional prayer books, or consist of the recitation of the rosary (a "rosary novena"), or of short prayers through the day. Novena prayers are customarily printed in small booklets, and the novena is often dedicated to a specific angel, saint, a specific Marian title of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or it invokes one of the personages of the Holy Trinity.
Within the Roman Catholic discipline, novena prayers for public use must have an Imprimatur, Nihil Obstat, and Imprimi potest. These ecclesiastical sanctions are usually granted by a bishop or any ranking prelate for publication and approval.
History
The practice of saying novenas is not explicitly derived from Holy Scripture, but was rather influenced by an early Greek and Roman custom performed by families consisting of nine days of mourning after the death of a loved one, followed by a feast.[2]
The practice was later adopted by new converts to the Roman Catholic faith who associated the event of the Twelve Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Upper Room as they prayed for nine days until the Holy Spirit descended on the Feast of the Pentecost. In the New Testament, this biblical event is often quoted from Acts of the Apostles, 1:12–2:5.
There are four recognized categories of novenas which belong to more than one of these categories:[2]
- Mourning, or in anticipation of a Burial
- In anticipation for a Church Feast or ending in Vespers (often requires Church attendance)
- Individual or Group Petition (Expiatory)
- Indulgence for the remission of Sins (often requires Sacrament of Confession or Church attendance)
By standard liturgical norms, novenas are performed in church, at home, or anywhere where solemn prayers are appropriate, though some indulgenced novenas require church attendance. Sometimes, a special candle or incense is lit at the beginning of the novena which burns during the nine days of prayer.
The first chapter of the General Principles of Sacrosanctum Concilium, #13 is often cited as a guideline regarding the implementations of public novenas.[3][4]
Other Christian use
Novena prayers are also practiced by some Orthodox and Anglican Christians, who hold close or similar beliefs regarding its pious practice.
See also
- Marian devotions - Miraculous Medal novena
- Novenas in anticipation of Christmas: Las Posadas, Simbang Gabi, Novena of aguinaldos
- Novena of Grace
- Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help
References
- ^ "Novenas" at EWTN
- ^ a b Hilgers, Joseph. "Novena." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 11. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 20 Dec. 2012
- ^ SacroSanctum Concillium. Chapter 1: Number: XIII. http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html
- ^ Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help - Baclaran copy. with Imprimatur.
Bibliography
- Right Reverend Monsignor Joseph F. Stedman, The New Revised 'Triple' Novena Manual, Confraternity of the Precious Blood, 1975.
- Barbara Calamari & Sandra DiPasqua, Novena, Penguin Studio, 1999. ISBN 0-670-88444-8.
External links
- List of Novenas at EWTN
- "Novena for the repose of the soul of John Paul II", United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)