Emergency Novenas
Video of this novena coming soon….
Audio of this novena coming soon….
In praying a novena, we should recognize that it is God who is in control of the situation. While we earnestly and persistently present our needs to Him, we acknowledge that ultimately, God knows what is best for us. Novenas are not magic spells or ways to manipulate God, but rather, like the desperate widow who kept asking the judge for an answer (Lk 18:1-7), we are putting our trust in a loving Father who does all things for our greater good. Certain novenas can be powerful and sometimes lead to miraculous results, but there are no “guarantees.”
There may be times when we encounter an emergency and we don’t have nine days to wait for an answer. That’s when we can say an Emergency novena, popularized by St. Teresa of Calcutta. Mother Teresa would often have many intentions that needed a quick answer, and so she would say her “Flying Novena” (sometimes called the Express Novena). She would pray nine consecutive Memorare prayers to Our Lady, and then add a tenth Memorare prayer in thanksgiving. These prayers (or other novena prayers like the Sacred Heart Novena) can be said either once every hour for nine consecutive hours during a day, or nine times in a row, followed by a prayer of thanksgiving.
St. Teresa of Calcutta Emergency Novena
One of St. Teresa of Calcutta’s favorite prayer was the Memorare, and when she needed a favor quickly, she turned this prayer into a 9-hour “express” novena. In cases of a real emergency, she would simply say the Memorare nine times in a row, meditating on the words she was saying.
Memorare of the Virgin Mary
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
Memorare of St. Joseph
Remember, O most chaste spouse of the Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who implored your help and sought your intercession was left unassisted. Full of confidence in your power, I fly unto you and beg your protection. Despise not, O Guardian of the Redeemer, my humble supplication, but in your bounty, hear and answer me. Amen.
Infant Jesus of Prague Powerful Novena
Devotion to Jesus as a child is a long-standing tradition going back to the early Church Fathers, like St. Athanasius and St. Jerome, and later saints helped increase this devotion. Meditation on “the hidden life [of Jesus] at Nazareth allows everyone to enter into fellowship with Jesus by the most ordinary events of daily life.” (CCC 533).
The statue known as the “Infant of Prague” is about 18 inches tall, and has a rich history and numerous miracles attributed this devotion to the child Jesus (click here for more information). As Jesus told Fr. Cyril who repaired the statue: “The more you honor Me, the more I will bless you.” There are two prayers that are commonly used for this special novena:
Efficacious Prayer to the Holy Child Jesus
This prayer was revealed by the Blessed Mother to Father Cyril.
O Child Jesus, I have recourse to You through Your Holy Mother; I implore You to assist me in this necessity, for I firmly believe that Your Divinity can assist me. I confidently hope to obtain Your holy grace. I love You with my whole heart and my whole soul. I am heartily sorry for my sins, and entreat You, O good Jesus, to give me strength to overcome them.
I am firmly resolved never to offend You again and to suffer everything rather than displease You. Henceforth, I wish to serve You faithfully. For love of You, O divine Child, I will love my neighbor as myself. O Jesus, omnipotent Child, I entreat You again to come to my assistance in this necessity (mention it).
Grant me the grace of possessing You eternally with Mary and Joseph and of adoring You with Your Holy Angels and Saints. Amen.
Infant of Prague Urgent Novena
This Novena is to be said at the same time every hour for nine consecutive hours in one day.
O Jesus, Who has said, “ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you”, through the intercession of Mary, Your most Holy Mother, I knock, I seek, I ask that my prayer be granted. (Make Your Request)
O Jesus, Who has said, “all that you ask of the Father in My Name, He will grant you”, through the intercession of Mary Your Most Holy Mother, I humbly and earnestly ask Your Father in Your name that my prayer be granted. (Make Your Request)
O Jesus, Who has said, “Heaven and Earth shall pass away but my word shall not pass”, through the intercession of Mary, Your Most Holy Mother, I feel confident that my prayer will be granted. (Make Your Request)
O Divine Child of Prague, and still the great omnipotent God, I implore through Your Most Holy Mother’s most powerful intercession and through the boundless mercy of Your omnipotence answer to the Intention I so earnestly ask for in this Novena. O Divine Child of Prague, hear my prayer and grant my petition. (Say Three Times)
Say 1 Our Father and 1 Hail Mary