Novenas are a Catholic practice, not unlike saying the Rosary . . . which is a long drawn out affair, apparently intended for deep thought and supplication, but usually ends up being a droning, meditative set of 55 + prayers.
http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/...rosary.cfm
Novenas are a set of prayers in addition to the rosary. (And if you're in a convent or monastery, you also stop for prayers (liturgical hours) during the day - schedules vary, but average prayer-time every three hours.) Novenas are a set of prayers that have a theme, and are prayed over nine days.
http://catholicism.about.com/od/prayers/g/Novena.htm
A lot of Catholic church bulletins show a Novena schedule, with a new theme every nine days, and printed prayer examples.
Since I am not Catholic (I only work there for a few hours a week.) I'm a little shaky on the intent of all these prayers. Obviously there is a meditative element, and the intent of bringing one "closer to god" by spending hours in prayer. And certainly the people believe that they are having a positive effect on the world by doing so.
That is about where my ability to explain ends. Perhaps our devout Catholics have more to say on the matter.
http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/...rosary.cfm
Novenas are a set of prayers in addition to the rosary. (And if you're in a convent or monastery, you also stop for prayers (liturgical hours) during the day - schedules vary, but average prayer-time every three hours.) Novenas are a set of prayers that have a theme, and are prayed over nine days.
http://catholicism.about.com/od/prayers/g/Novena.htm
A lot of Catholic church bulletins show a Novena schedule, with a new theme every nine days, and printed prayer examples.
Since I am not Catholic (I only work there for a few hours a week.) I'm a little shaky on the intent of all these prayers. Obviously there is a meditative element, and the intent of bringing one "closer to god" by spending hours in prayer. And certainly the people believe that they are having a positive effect on the world by doing so.
That is about where my ability to explain ends. Perhaps our devout Catholics have more to say on the matter.
"The family that prays together...is brainwashing their children."- Albert Einstein
