The novena is a devotional exercise that is practiced for nine days to obtain some grace or ask for a certain intention. It can be dedicated to Christ himself in some dedication, or to some canonized saint whose intercession is more powerful before God, due to the merits achieved during his life. For example the Virgin Mary and the saints. They can be nine consecutive days or nine times a given day of the week (nine Fridays, for example).

When the intercession of a saint is requested, one seeks to imitate his virtues and holiness since otherwise the novena would be meaningless if it is not practiced with faith and determination to change. Unlike the eighths, which are festive in nature, the novenas are made with an intention or to pray for a deceased person.

The novenas agree with the Bible in that it is known that there are 40 days between the Resurrection and the Ascension; and there are nine days between Ascension and Pentecost; time in which the apostles and other gathered Christians remained in prayer, although they are only connections created by theologians it could be more than just a coincidence, or not, and be just that; they are also inspired by certain customs of the Greek and Roman cultures who celebrated nine days of mourning for the deceased or to appease the gods. Jesus Christ taught to pray with insistence (Luke 18,11) and asked the Apostles to prepare themselves in prayer for the coming of the Holy Spirit, after his Ascension to Heaven (Acts 2, 1-41). From this ecclesial experience arises the novena of Pentecost. Although the first Christians followed the custom in terms of the number of days, the content of the novenas was completely new: they consisted of fervent Christian prayers performed, initially in a communal way. Pope Alexander VII grants the first indulgence to a novena, in honor of Saint Francis Xavier.

Saint Augustine warned Christians not to fall into pagan customs during the novenas. Saint Jerome said that the number nine indicates suffering and pain in the Bible.

In the Middle Ages it was said that Jesus Christ died at the ninth hour and that, thanks to the Holy Mass, the deceased would be elevated to heaven on the ninth day. The preparation novenas also appear at this time, inspired by the Virgin's nine months of pregnancy, which are celebrated during the nine days before an important holiday, for example, Christmas.

In this App you will find the Novena to San Antonio María Claret as well as the history of San Antonio María Claret.