Novena is the feminine form of the Medieval Latin word, novenus, "ninth", which is the ordinal number from novem, nine.
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.
Bibliography
The New Revised "Triple" Novena Manual, by the Right Reverend Monsignor Joseph F. Stedman, Confraternity of the Precious Blood, 1975.
Novena, by Barbara Calamari & Sandra DiPasqua, Penguin Studio, 1999. ISBN 0-670-88444-8
