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Member since: April 11, 2007
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Levon Jude
S 54 day Novena...do I need to...?
I am thinking of doing the 54 day Novena from tomorrow onwards.

I was thinking if I can do it at home? I should kneel or can I sit cross-legged? Also do I need to placed a crucifix or a picture of My Mother Mary and Her Son, Our Lord?

Most of all, do I need to observe any fast or rules? Especially can my sister do the novena during her monthly cycle?

Please tell me.

I am not yet a Christian...so I don't know many things about the Christian traditions yet..until I join the RCIA next year.

God bless acaykath.

Only you managed to answer my question.

i have as many reasons to believe in the powerful intercession of Mother Mary.

God bless Meg M.

You are 2nd person who answered my question pretty well.

Can't wait to go for RCIA.

Answer 1

Waste of time. Christianity isn't about rituals. It's about a relationship with God. Get a Bible and read the New Testament for a half-hour a day for 54 days. You'll get WAY more out of it than sitting cross-legged staring at a crucifix or whatever.

Answer 2

Yes, you can pray a novena at home.

You can kneel, sit whichever way you want, lie down, stand up - whatever is more comfortable and thus most conducive to deep prayer for you.

You can, if you want, have a crucifix, image of Mary or other saint, nearby if you so choose. Such things will help create good surroundings in which to pray.

If fasting is not a part of the novena, then it is not necessary. However, if you want to fast while you pray the novena, there's nothing wrong with that.

I do not see a reason why your sister couldn't pray the novena on account of her cycles.

Good luck in converting to Catholic Christianity.

Answer 3

I looked up the 54 day Novena, and I can see this a Catholic tradition of prayers with a rosary.

I am a Christian, not a Catholic. However, my boyfriend is Catholic so I will tell you what I think.

Praying is a time for you to talk with God. It is a time of reflection, repentance, confession...and, presenting your praises, thankfulness and requests to the Lord.

A 54 day Novena is a type of ritual...within prayer. If you wish to use a ritual to pray...that is your concern, your choice. Even in the Catholic faith - this kind of prayer rosary is voluntary. If you want to do this...look it up on the internet...like this site: www.rosariesforourlady.com/PrayerMiraculousRosaryNovena.htm
or this one: www.catholicity.com/prayer/novena.html

My understanding from reading about it, is that the "saint" who started this tradition was suffering from cramps, and woman's pains... so, it appears that your sister can participate regardless of whether or not she is in her monthly cycle.

Kneeling, cross legged, placing a crucifix... look at those sites and follow that pattern if you feel this is important. However, I agree with the person who posted that the outside details of this process are not important - in comparison to the relationship you are developing with God.

Fasting and specific rules... look at those sites. Since this is voluntary...again, you have freedom to make your own decisions in those regards.

May God bless you...

Answer 4

>>I was thinking if I can do it at home? I should kneel or can I sit cross-legged? Also do I need to placed a crucifix or a picture of My Mother Mary and Her Son, Our Lord?<<

Whatever helps YOU best commune with God. An image can be very helpful by exciting pious thoughts and helping keep us focused. Kneeling is great, if you can do it.

>>Most of all, do I need to observe any fast or rules?<<

Novenas are private devotions, so there are no rules, unless you wish to impose them yourself, such as praying the novena every day at a certain time.

>>Especially can my sister do the novena during her monthly cycle?<<

Yes.

>>until I join the RCIA next year.<<

Congratulations! I myself am a convert to Catholicism.

Answer 5

You can pray whenever and wherever you want. There is no fasting involved, you just might want to pray at the same time every day (that's kind of what the novena is).
"In the Catholic Church, a novena is a devotion consisting of prayer said (most typically) on nine successive days, asking to obtain special graces. These may consist of small prayer books, recitation of the Rosary, or small prayers through the day.
The practice of saying novenas is derived from Scripture. After Jesus' Ascension into heaven, he told his disciples to pray together in the upper room and devote themselves to constant prayer (Acts 1:14). The Apostles, Blessed Virgin Mary, and other followers of Jesus prayed together for nine consecutive days, concluding in the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.
Though the novena is primarily a devotion used by members of the Catholic Church, it has spread to the Orthodox, Anglican, and even some Lutheran churches."


You don't need to place anything, but you may if you choose to. The monthly cycle has nothing to do with anything. You just need to actually believe in what you are doing.
Best of luck.

Answer 6

Novenas are generally done for a specific purpose. It's more a Catholic thing than anything a Protestant would be involved with. There are no physical restrictions such as you suggest.
Novenas are sets of prayers. You don't need crucifixes, pictures, rosaries, or anything else. It's a PRAYER. Jesus prayed on a cross. I don't think God will care if you sit crosslegged or lie on the couch.

God isn't really all that big on rote prayers. Why not just TALK to Him?

Answer 7

I sit when I do mine. It must be the novena to the mother Mary. I am doing it now. Today was my 29th day. I have a thing for novena's. Don't know why. Maybe because I realize the power of them. Good for you. They for some reason work miracles for me. I don't think that whoever you are doing the novena to, cares how you do it, on your knees or not, as long as your heart is into it. They already know everything there is to know about you. They know your sincerety to them and your personality. Just be yourself. Remember when we pray, we can talk and pray to them as if they were truly friends of ours. I think they prefer it that way.

Answer 8

the Bible specially speaks of God's dislike to smug human beings. no longer that he dislikes the guy yet he dislike the boasting. bragging; windy speech job 3:4. huge mouths Judges9:38. suited time for boasting, a million Samuel2:a million-3 affront of the Lord, Psalm10:3. no longer something to gloat approximately Psalm 40 9:6-9, a million Corinthians1:29; 2 Corinthians4:6,7; Ephesians2:8-10. self-proclaimed greatness,Psalm seventy 5:5; cheating stewardship, Proverbs 25:14; Boast bearing directly to the lord, Jeremiah 9:23-24; purely a noisy noise, Jeremiah 40 six:17; do no longer blow your man or woman horn Matthew 6:2; Insincere loyalty, Matthew 26:31-35, sixty 9-seventy 5; stop bragging a million Corinthians 3:21; bragging at this is worst, James3:14; evil boasting James 4:sixteen. the e book; the place to discover it in the Bible, the terrific a to z source by skill of ken anderson is a huge e book those texts may well be got here across on pg fifty six it additionally says see; boasting, delight, and arrogance. examining the Bible on a daily basis by way of prayer soliciting for the education of the Holy Spirit in the great and holy call Jesus Christ... is a huge thank you to start or end the day. or start up and end the day.

Answer 9

Forget about Christian tradition--- You need to get a Bible and read it cover to cover and you will find the answers to all your questions. I have been a Christion since I was 17 years old ( I am now 65 ) and I learn something new everytime I read through the bible. God very much dislikes Idols such as mary or anything else that gets in the way of you seeing and understanding Him. All He wants is for us to get closer to Him every day. You and I were put on this earth for his pleasure not for ours. Once you understand that you , will begin to see how great it is to be a child of the KING.

Answer 10

ok u can do a Novena at any time of the day any where at work at school at home just put ur self n a queit pleace. im a catholic been 1 s 1992

Answer 11

This is a purely Catholic tradition, and not a very common one. It involves dedicating nine days to prayer. There are no restrictions to this, but an isolated place would probably make it easier to focus. You may choose to fast if you wish. It is one form of worship.

The monthly cycle only applies to ceremonial uncleanliness which has no bearing on modern Christianity.