Hey, I am a non Catholic trying to find out more about Novena
Devotion. I was told by people about the 9-week Novena, can
any of the Catholics tell me more about it?
Can we request for more than one thing? How
effective is this? If busy to attend, can we miss
just one week and make up for it the next week?
If you want to find out more, read http://www.catholic.org.sg/cn/wordpress/?p=2614
which will give you some ideas and also visit the Church website at
http://www.cssr.org.sg/.
The best way is to go and attend the Novena service yourself and
buy a book which cost $1.00-$2.00 I think. Then you know how the
service goes.
Important to note is that you are not worshipping Mother Mary at
Novena but asking her to pray with you and for you - not unlike how
you and your friends gather to pray together. Big difference is
that Mother Mary is a Saint and mother of God while we are all
sinners.
All petitions are granted by God and never by Mother Mary. Just
to make sure you are not confused by some who may tell you that
Novena is about praying to Mary.
You can write your petitions to our Blessed Mother and you can
request for more than 1 thing. You can marked it as private and
confidential if you do not want them to be read out by the priests
during the service.
All petitions received are placed at the alter of our lady and
prayed daily for 9 weeks. I think you must do 9 consecutive weeks
and no break in between but I am not entirely sure....you can go to
a service and approach the priest to ask them.
If you are serious, why would you want yo miss a week? I am
there every Saturday..... and they have service every hour from
7.00am till 7.00 pm. Only 12.00pm is lunch break and 3.00pm for
Mandrain service. No reason to miss really and all it takes is only
half an hour.
Many who goes to Novena are non-Catholics, non-Christians and
even Protestants Christians. Go and experience yourself.....