How to pray for 54 Days? [Praying the Novena Rosary]

What's a Novena Rosary?

A Novena Rosary is a traditional Catholic practice of praying the Rosary for a specific petition each day, for nine days in a row. The word novena comes from the latin word 'novem' meaning nine.

This length of prayer is modeled after the apostles and Jesus. After his ascension, Jesus asked his disciples to pray together, and for nine days the Apostles and Mary prayed in the upper room. The ninth day the apostles received the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

A 54 day Novena then, is simply 6 novenas said in a row.

New to praying the Rosary? Here's an easy guide to get started. 

54 Days seems long...

It might be, but Mary asked us to do it! The 54 day Novena Rosary originated in the late 19th century. Its origin is attributed to a girl from Naples, Italy who had been suffering from an chronic illness. It was thought to be incurable. She asked Mary for her help, and Mary appeared to her and promised her healing if she made 3 novenas. The girl did so, and was miraculously healed.

In a later apparition, Mary specified that the full 54 day prayer should have 3 novenas in petition, and 3 novenas in thanksgiving. That structure 27 days of asking, and 27 days of giving thanks (regardless of if you receive what you asked for) is such a wonderful way to pray. Think about something you are really hoping to happen in your life - or in the life of someone you love. Are you committed enough to that desire that you'd be willing to give 54 days of prayer to it? This prayer reveals your heart's commitment.

Here's a list of popular novena's to check out as well.

This is not a Magic Trick.

This prayer can get weird if you don't go into it with the right attitude. Jesus told us to ask of our Holy Father, and Catholic's believe that this prayer is powerful. The Father want's to hear the longing of your heart! But a novena is not a magical incantation that will automatically get you what you want - you should know our Faith doesn't work that way. When you start a novena, I suggest asking for graces to trust in him and his will.

How to Pray a Novena Rosary (Step by Step)

This is a powerful prayer, but can be complicated to follow. Below, we’ve laid out how to pray in a simple straight-forward guide.

The essential breakdown:

• 54 days, praying The Holy Rosary each day
• 6 novenas: 3 in petition, 3 in thanksgiving
• 3 sets of mysteries: for each novena you’ll say each set of mysteries 3 times in this order: 1st Joyful, 2nd Sorrowful, 3rd Glorious (and repeat)
• Add extra opening and closing prayers (outlined below)
• Add ending prayers to each Mystery (outlined below)

Free Printable PDF on how to pray the Novena Rosary - Download here. 

Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary

Opening prayers:

This Prayer is recited before you begin the Rosary each day.

Novena in Petition (first 27 days)
Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, snow white buds to remind thee of thy joys, each bud recalling to thee a holy mystery, each 10 bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God’s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee, thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my petition; from thy bounty thou wilt give me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly seek. I despair of nothing that I ask of thee. Show thyself my Mother! 

Novenas in Thanksgiving (last 27 days)
Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I gratefully kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, snow white buds to remind thee of thy joys, each bud recalling to thee a holy mystery; each ten bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, Dispenser of God’s graces. and Mother of all who invoke thee! thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my thanksgiving; from thy bounty thou hast given me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly sought. I despaired not of what I asked of thee, and thou hast truly shown thyself my Mother.

Mystery concluding prayers:

At the end of each decade, there is a unique prayer to conclude the Mystery. You'll announce the Mystery, Say the Our Father, 10 Hail Mary's, the Glory Be, and end with the following prayer. Here's an guide to all the Mysteries of the Rosary. 

The Annunciation
I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of humility and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Visitation
I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of charity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Nativity
I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of detachment from the world and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Presentation
I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of purity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

Finding the Child Jesus in the Temple
I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of obedience to the will of God and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

Closing prayers:

After the completion of the Hail Holy Queen, end the Novena Rosary with the following prayer.

Novenas in petition (first 27 days)
Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this spiritual communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow. O my Mother! Look with favor upon my gift, and in thy love obtain for me my request.

Novenas in thanksgiving (last 27 days)
Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this Spiritual Communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow in thanksgiving for my request which thou in thy love hast obtained for me.

Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary

Opening prayers:

Novena in Petition (first 27 days)
Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, blood red roses to remind thee of the passion of thy divine Son, with Whom thou didst so fully partake of its bitterness, each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery, each 10 bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God’s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! Thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my petition; from thy bounty thou wilt give me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly seek. I despair of nothing that I ask of thee. Show thyself my Mother!

Novenas in Thanksgiving (last 27 days)
Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I gratefully kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses blood red roses to remind thee of the passion of thy divine Son, with Whom thou didst so fully partake of its bitterness each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery; each ten bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God’s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! Thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my thanksgiving; from thy bounty thou hast given me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly sought. I despaired not of what I asked of thee, and thou hast truly shown thyself my Mother.

Mystery concluding prayers:

The Agony in the Garden
I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of resignation to the will of God and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Scourging at the Pillar
I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of mortification and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Crowning with Thorns
I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of humility and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Carrying of the Cross
I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of patience in adversity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Crucifixion
I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of love of our enemies and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

Closing prayers:

Novenas in petition (first 27 days)
Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this spiritual communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow. O my Mother! Look with favor upon my gift, and in thy love obtain for me my request.

Novenas in thanksgiving (last 27 days)
Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this Spiritual Communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow in thanksgiving for which thou in thy love hast obtained for me.

Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary

Opening prayers:

Novena in Petition (first 27 days)
Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, full-blown white roses, tinged with the red of the passion, to remind thee of thy glories, fruits of the sufferings of thy Son and thee, each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery, each 10 bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God’s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! Thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my petition; from thy bounty thou wilt give me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly seek. I despair of nothing that I ask of thee. Show thyself my Mother!

Novenas in Thanksgiving (last 27 days)
Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I gratefully kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses full blown white roses, tinged with the red of the passion, to remind thee of thy glories, fruits of the sufferings of thy Son and thee each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery; each ten bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my thanksgiving; from thy bounty thou bast given me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly sought. I despaired not of what I asked of thee, and thou hast truly shown thyself my Mother.

Mystery concluding prayers:

The Resurrection
I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of faith and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Ascension
I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of hope and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Descent of the Holy Spirit
I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of charity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Assumption of Mary
I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of union with Christ and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Coronation of the Blessed Mother
I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of union with thee and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

Closing prayers:

Novenas in petition (first 27 days)
Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this spiritual communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow. O my Mother! Look with favor upon my gift, and in thy love obtain for me my request. Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.

Novenas in thanksgiving (last 27 days)
Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this Spiritual Communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow in thanksgiving for my request which thou in thy love hast obtained for me.

Free Printable PDF on how to pray the Novena Rosary - Download here. 

The Rosary Card - Use to pray your Novena Rosary! 

As you learn to pray the Rosary, check out our Rosary Cards. They are designed for convenience (same size as a Credit Card) and make it much easier to pray the Rosary often. We have both Men's Rosaries and Women's Rosaries.

See more options here.

Connect

Please let me know how your journey with the Novena Rosary is going, I'd love to hear from you. Send me a message an email at: brennan@everydayprayerco.com

Need a Rosary to get started? Check out our Wallet Rosary Cards. It'll make sure you are never without the Rosary.

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Other great prayers: Catholic Prayers to help with Distractions Before Mass

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