Novena for the Living – Nine Masses for Your Intention

What a novena of Masses for the living involves

A novena for the living is nine Holy Masses celebrated on consecutive days for one intention concerning a living person or a family. The name comes from the Latin novem – nine. It is not a separate rite but a pious custom: for nine days the priest offers the Eucharist for the same intention, and the person who requested it unites themselves with this prayer.

Why the Mass in particular? The Catechism teaches that the Eucharist, as a sacrifice, is offered in reparation for the sins of the living and the dead and to obtain spiritual and temporal benefits from God (CCC 1414). A priest may offer Mass for anyone (can. 901). A novena is therefore not a “way of getting things done”, but a persevering, trusting petition placed within the greatest prayer of the Church.

For what intentions a novena for the living is requested

• for health and strength for someone who is ill, before an operation or during treatment,
• for God's blessing and protection for a child, a marriage, a family,
• for conversion, freedom from addiction, reconciliation in the family,
• for light in a difficult decision, for work, for success in an exam,
• in thanksgiving for graces received, e.g. for a successful operation or the birth of a child.

An overview of the other forms of prayer – from a single Mass to series of thirty Masses – can be found in our guide Mass intentions: kinds and principles.

Through the intercession of Our Lady of Białynicze

From the seventeenth century Białynicze was a place of pilgrimage to the image of Our Lady known as Our Lady of Białynicze; the shrine was called the “Jasna Góra of Lithuania”. In Soviet times the church and monastery were destroyed, and today the parish is preparing to rebuild them. We commend the intentions of the novena to God through the intercession of Our Lady of Białynicze. The history of this place is described on the Shrine of Our Lady of Białynicze page, and the priests who celebrate the Masses are introduced on the priests page.

How to word the intention

The intention should be short and clear and include the name of the person it concerns. Examples:

• “For health and God's blessing for Anne during her treatment”,
• “For the gift of reconciliation in the Smith family”,
• “For the light of the Holy Spirit for Thomas before his exams”,
• “In thanksgiving for graces received, asking for continued protection for Peter and Mary”.

If you find it hard to put your request into one sentence, describe it in your own words – in our reply we will suggest a short formula for your approval.

A novena or a longer series?

A novena is usually chosen for a particular, urgent matter: before an operation, in a time of crisis, before an important decision. When we wish to surround someone with prayer for a longer time, for example in a serious, long-term illness, the faithful request thirty Masses to the Heavenly Court. If it is a matter of one date – a birthday, a wedding anniversary, the day of an operation – a single Mass intention is enough. Prayer for deceased loved ones in the same form is offered as a novena for the dead.

How to request a novena for the living online

Choose “Novena for the living” in the form, write the intention and – if the date matters to you – the day on which the novena should begin or end (e.g. on the day of the operation).

You can send the intention through the form on this page, by e-mail or via WhatsApp. We reply by e-mail with a proposed date and the times of the Masses. Once your offering has reached the parish account, within two days at the latest you will receive a confirmation giving the intention, the date (or dates) and the time of each Mass.

Details can be found in our guide how to request a Mass online and on the Mass offering page.

Sources

• Catechism of the Catholic Church
• Code of Canon Law (cann. 901, 945–958)