Lessons from a Novena
- Sophia Bauer
- May 8
- 3 min read
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As difficult as 2020 was overall, there was still some good that came out of it, specifically a novena that changed my attitude towards prayer. A typical novena lasts for nine days, but this one lasted for nine MONTHS! You were to begin day one on the Annunciation of the Lord (March 25) and end right before Christmas day, reflecting on the nine months Mary carried Christ in her womb. Although it took many years for some of my petitions to be answered—still waiting on some—it taught me some major lessons.
PERSISTENCE IN PRAYER
It took me praying this novena for it to finally click about the widow's persistence with the judge (Luke 18:1-8). Although Christ was more so contrasting the judge with the Lord answering our prayers, He also stressed the importance of never backing down on sharing our desires with Our Lord. For nine months I prayed for three specific intentions that were near and dear to my heart, prayers of healing and for gifts not yet given. There were some days when I just wanted to roll out of bed and slump my way to my coffee machine, but because I chose to commit to this novena I began my morning with Marian prayers that helped center myself in prayer for those intentions. Which leads me to the biggest thing I was reminded...
GOD'S WILL OVER MY WILL
Something that I know deep in my heart but always struggle to accept is that not always will my prayers be answered the way I want them to be answered. If it were up to me, everything would be wonderful, I tell myself. Healing would be instant, and those close to me would not suffer. Friends wouldn't lose their jobs, loved ones would remain grounded in faith, and any illnesses of the mind or body will quickly pass as distant memories. But that's not always true, and not always are prayers even answered on this side of Heaven. I don't see the big picture the way God sees it. Some trials are necessary for us to persevere in, no matter how difficult they are in the moment or how long we must remain in those periods of our lives. God knows what we need to grow, and who am I to get in the way of that?
I will admit, I had every intention of offering up three new intentions this year with the novena, but dropped the ball in starting on March 25 and already missed over a month of praying the novena. But is it really ever too late to be persistent with God? This Mother's Day I'm hitting the ground with my three intentions, reminding myself constantly for His will over mine always. Besides, with May being the Month of Mary how could I not want to do something with the help of Our Mother!
In helping keep me accountable for the novena, I created a PDF of the prayers and how to pray it. You are free to download it for your own personal use and begin a little late with me this year, or save it to start fresh on the feast of the Annunciation (March 25) next year.
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ!
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