A Book of Novenas
Raymond Edwards (Editor)
Glynn MacNiven-Johnston
Philip G. Bochanski
Kristina Cooper
Walter Macken
Miguel Cuartero
ISBN 9781784691714
CTS Booklet D820
Over the last few years I have read over 250 volumes from the Catholic Truth Society. There are many wonderful books, series and authors. I ordered this book under the suspicion that it was made up of many Novenas I had encountered in other volumes. And that is exactly what it is. This volume contains the book by Glynn MacNiven-Johnston and Raymond Edwards:
As well as:
Novena to the Holy Spirit - Philip G. Bochanski
Road to Pentecost Prayer Guide for Eastertide - Kristina Cooper (Excerpt)
Novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary - Walter Macken
Our Lady, Untier of Knots - Miguel Cuartero
The description of this volume is:
“Containing a rich selection for many different needs, this beautiful collection of novenas encourages intercession of the saints and making prayer in the tradition of the great figures of Scripture.
The Church encourages us to ask for the intercession of the saints, to locate our prayer within the annual round of the Church’s year, and to make our prayer in the tradition of the great figures of Scripture. The novenas in this beautifully bound collection help us to pray in all of these ways. It contains a rich selection for many different needs and intentions, including popular novenas to our Lady and the Holy Spirit.”
The chapters in this book are:
Introduction
What is a novena?
How to use this book
Part I Novenas Through the Church’s Year
Advent
St Andrew (November 30th)
Blessed Charles de Foucauld (December 1st)
Immaculate Conception
Christmas
Epiphany
St Thomas Aquinas (January 28th)
St Josephine Bakhita (February 8th)
St David (March 1st)
St John of God (March 8th)
St Patrick (March 17th)
St Joseph (March 19th; May 1st)
St Benedict (March 21st; July 11th)
Annunciation
Easter
St George (April 23rd)
St Peregrine (May 1st)
The English Martyrs (May 4th)
St Damien of Molokai (May 10th)
St Dymphna (May 15th)
St Rita (May 22nd)
Pentecost
St Anthony of Padua (June 13th)
St Thomas More (June 22nd)
St John Fisher (June 22nd)
Sacred Heart
St Christopher (July 25th)
St Anne (July 26th)
St Martha (July 29th)
Transfiguration
St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) (August 9th)
St Maximilian Kolbe (August 14th)
Assumption
St Helena (August 18th)
St Monica (August 27th)
Exaltation of the Cross
St Joseph of Cupertino (September 18th)
St Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) (September 23rd)
St Raphael (September 29th)
St Thérè se of Lisieux (October 1st)
St Gerard Majella (October 16th)
St Jude (October 28th)
St Martin de Porres (November 3rd)
Christ the King
Part II Scriptural Novenas
Moses - discerning and accepting our vocation
Elijah - finding strength in God
Tobit - Marriage Hannah - the gift of children
Hannah: The gift of Children
Joseph & his brothers - for peace in the family
David & Absalom and the Prodigal Son - estranged children
Martha - being the one that does all the work
Ruth and Naomi - feeling abandoned and forgotten
Deborah and Barak - when things seem too much for us.
Jonah - when God’s plan doesn’t seem to make sense
Job - being honest with God
Abraham - old age
Part III Four Longer Novenas:
To the Holy Spirit
For Pentecost
To the Blessed Virgin Mary
Our Lady Untier of Knots
The book begins with these words:
“A novena is a way of praying, often for a particular need or grace. It consists of a prayer or prayers said over nine days. The word novena is originally Latin, and means “in a group of nine”. 1 This is because a novena lasts for nine consecutive days; on each day, there is a particular prayer to be said, or devotional practice to be made.”
We are also informed in the introduction that:
“There are many different sorts of novena; you can make a novena using any prayer you want: the main thing is to pray it regularly for nine days in a row. Nevertheless most people will make a novena using a prayer composed for the purpose. Some novena prayers are long, and may include litanies, or meditations; others are short. You can make a novena using the same prayer nine times, or nine different prayers, one for each day. There are no rules; what follows are only suggestions.”
And they are some wonderful suggestions. I have set calendar reminder’s to do a few of these Novena’s over the next year leading up to specific Saints feast days. I had read all of the Novenas in this book through the various source booklets. Part I of this book is compiled from all the novenas in:
But they are ordered following the church year. Section II has the novenas in the same order as the booklet. And section III has either the whole booklet or an excerpt of just the novena. But even though I have eBooks of all of these Novenas I am thankful to have picked up this volume. First it is a stunning and it is well crafted book. It is printed in colour, great page and font sizing. And made to last. I am not usually a physical book guy, I tend to pass on all the physical books I read, but this one is going sit on my bedside table and be used for praying my way around the church year, and for other intentions.
This is an excellent volume for personal devotion, for use with a prayer group, or family. And it would make a wonderful gift. An excellent collection from the Catholic Truth Society and I highly recommend it.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2021 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.
Books by Glynn MacNiven-Johnston:
Biographies:
Maria Goretti Teenage Martyr
Pier Giorgio Frassati Inspiration for Students
Father Damien Apostle to the Lepers
Martin de Porres
Rita of Cascia
...
Prayer Books:
Handbook of Novenas for Feasts and Seasons
Devotions to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour
The Infant of Prague
Handbook of Novenas to the Saints: Short Prayers for Needs & Graces
Handbook of Scriptural Novenas: For Various Needs and Intentions
Devotion to St Jude: Patron of Hopeless Cases
A Book of Novenas
...
Catholic Traditionalism
The Dowry of Mary
Handbook of Novena to the Saints
Handbook of Novenas for Feasts and Seasons
Handbook of Scriptural Novenas for Various Needs and Intentions
J.R.R. Tolkien - His Life, Work & Faith
Prayer on the Go
A Simple Glossary of Catholic Terms
Stories of World War I
The Miraculous Medal
The Reformation in England
Tolkien
A Book of Novenas
...
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