novena

noun

no·​ve·​na nō-ˈvē-nə 

: a Roman Catholic period of prayer lasting nine consecutive days

Examples of novena in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Looney suspected that his mother was the only Catholic from County Clare to say a novena for Angela Davis and the Black Panthers. — Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 2 Feb. 2026

The procession is seen as a devotional prayer — a walking prayer — and is also called a novena. — Holly Andres, Daily News, 24 Dec. 2025

To celebrate and honor the faith, friendships and memories that have shaped the parish community, there is a nine-day novena running through Oct. 26 that will culminate with a weekend full of events for alumni, parishioners and friends. — Andrea Manes, Oc Register, 23 Oct. 2025

Her mother started a novena, a nine-day period of prayer to ask for Casey's intercession on Mary's behalf. — Kristen Jordan Shamus, Freep.com, 3 July 2025

Around 350 to 400 people had gathered at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes in downtown Spokane on Tuesday for the second night of novena, a tradition of gathering for prayer for nine days or nine weeks, when the man, identified as Joshua James Sommers, allegedly attacked the priest. — Megan Forrester, ABC News, 7 Feb. 2025

Simbang Gabi is a nine-day novena to Mary, who Catholics revere as the blessed mother, and it is traditionally celebrated in a series of pre-dawn masses by Filipino Catholics worldwide. — Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 17 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin, from Latin, feminine of novenus nine each, from novem

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

novena

noun

no·​ve·​na nō-ˈvē-nə 

plural novenas or novenae

-nē

: a Roman Catholic devotion in which prayers are said for the same intention on nine days in a row