Novena of the Sacred Heart-what is all that about?
These messages that appear in the thankyou bit in the star classifieds. You say for 3 days and promise publication and the favour will be granted.

What favour? Anybody tried it? Might I wake up one day and find my lawn cut or fenced painted?:confused:

It'll only work if you are Catholic ;)

As a lapsed catholic I have done it once or twice when I have been desperate and got what I wanted. This was yrs ao.
When I think of it now I think I must have been mad.
Perhaps it's power of thhe mind.
hazel

I second what Herbert says though! Not being a catholic, I don't understand what it's all about, can someone tell me?

Is it actually asking for a favour? And is it right that they're doing it in a newspaper? What did they do for favours before there were newspapers?

I'm truly curious...

Have also seen 'Thanks to St Jude for prayers answered' in Star columns.

I mean is St Jude supposed to read it or what?


Must cost a fortune!

A novena is nine consecutive days of private or public prayers to obtain special graces or favours (can be for something general or for a specific intention). The novena one makes would depend on his or her special intentions/needs. For example, someone who is very ill or has a loved one in need of healing might pray the St. Jude Novena (St. Jude is the patron saint of desperate causes/hopelessness). If he or she lost something important and wants to find it, the St. Anthony (of Padua) Novena would be appropriate. The "thank yous" that appear in newspapers are placed by people who want to publicly acknowledge that their novenas have been answered.

While they are widely associated with Catholics, a person does not have to be Catholic to make a novena. Hope that helps to clear things up a bit. :)

Thanks Bobbi,
that is very interesting info. It is interesting to note also that in some devoutly catholic countries/communities (E.G. Goa), they often have pages and pages of family announcements about praying for some family member who died years ago, and how many years ago it was, as well of some other unfathomable announcements too.
I once read with fascination and bewiderment the mixture of english & portuguese, and pictures of dead people in their coffins. Above symolic praying hands.

My pleasure, muddycoffee. :)

And thank you for sharing some very interesting info, as well. The way some people pray and remember family members who have passed on can often be a combination of religious beliefs and cultural traditions/influences (as with Dia de los Muertos [Day of the Dead], a blend of ancient traditions indigenous to Mexico and Hispanic Catholic traditions).

Hiya Bobbi, and welcome!

Thanks for answering that, it's something that's intruieged me for a long time.

:)

Hi, BoroughGal! Glad I was able to shed some light on the subject. And thank you for the lovely welcome. It's nice being here. :)