Traditionally, a novena is a prayer or set of prayers repeated for nine consecutive days, often before an important feast. However, there are no fixed rules for making a novena, except to persevere in prayer. The versatility and richness of these prayers goes hand in hand with their popularity. Novenas have been a great source of comfort and strength for centuries. Through our devotion to a particular saint we are assisted in our lives to love God and our neighbor wholeheartedly. We strive to be light in the world, bringing the compassion and love of God to all we meet on our life’s journey. Novenas give form to our devotion to a favorite saint and the novena prayers are woven into the fabric of our daily lives.

Traditional Dates - While you can start a novena at any time of the year, the Novena to St. Frances Xavier Cabrini is generally prayed from November 4 through November 12, leading up to her feast day on November 13.