Q. 1. What is a Catholic Novena?

A. 1. A Catholic Novena is the recitation of prayers and devotions for a special purpose during nine consecutive days with the hope of obtaining the favour through the grace of God.

For example: Paul prayed a Novena for nine consecutive days in the hope that on the ninth day, his wife Helen would be healed from her ailment.

Q. 2. Are all Novenas based on a devotion of nine consecutive days?

A. 2. Novena comes from the Latin, meaning "nine each." Based on the number nine, there is a variety of devotions that people refer to as Novenas. The following are examples:

- Repeating the same devotion for nine consecutive hours;

- Repeating the same devotion on the same day of the week for nine consecutive weeks;

- Repeating the same devotion on 54 consecutive days such as in the "Miraculous 54 days Rosary Novena."