: a Roman Catholic period of prayer lasting nine consecutive days
Examples of novena in a Sentence
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To celebrate and honor the faith, friendships and memories that have shaped the parish community, there is a nine-day novena running through Oct. 26 that will culminate with a weekend full of events for alumni, parishioners and friends.—Andrea Manes, Oc Register, 23 Oct. 2025 Her mother started a novena, a nine-day period of prayer to ask for Casey's intercession on Mary's behalf.—Kristen Jordan Shamus, Freep.com, 3 July 2025 Around 350 to 400 people had gathered at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes in downtown Spokane on Tuesday for the second night of novena, a tradition of gathering for prayer for nine days or nine weeks, when the man, identified as Joshua James Sommers, allegedly attacked the priest.—Megan Forrester, ABC News, 7 Feb. 2025 According to legend, the Sisters of Loretto prayed a nine-day novena to St. Joseph, patron saint of Carpenters, for help building a staircase to the choir loft.—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 29 Mar. 2024 Also, the national order of the Knights of Columbus began a novena for peace and healing.—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2024 Intercessions and novenas were prayed in hopes that God would miraculously heal Ian of his sickness.—Josh Holdenried, National Review, 5 May 2023 This month, parishes across Southern California offered a novena, or nine days of intentional prayer, to St. Dymphna ahead of her feast day on Sunday as part of a recent push to create a more welcoming environment for those who suffer from mental afflictions.—Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2022
Word History
Etymology
Medieval Latin, from Latin, feminine of novenus nine each, from novem
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