Blog, Deity, Prayers & Requests
Offering Praise or Novena Candles to Saints
Oct
The novena is a spiritually rewarding prayer experience that is generally practiced within the Catholic Church. The word novena is a Latin word which means nine.
Novenas are used to call upon specific saints to intercede for us. People praying a novena often recite a certain prayer or a series of specific prayers with a certain intention or request in mind. This prayer is repeated for nine days or nine hours.
I will also tell you the way that I offer candles to Saints. So I hope you enjoy this article and if you have any comments please leave them in the section below.
There are certain rules to follow, although there is no one right way to pray a novena. The novena can also be performed by voodoo worshippers. During the time of slavery when the white men tried to force Christianity on the blacks, these slaves joined in practicing different Christian traditions like calling out to the saints who were actually syncretized with their different traditional deities.
The Novena Candles
These candles are usually tall glass candles also called vigil candles, sanctuary lights or devotional candles. While some are plain others have pictures of saints on them. Some of these candles can last between 4-5 days so you would need two to complete your nine days prayers.
The novena candles have different saints’ prayers so you can choose the saint you wish to petition according to your intention. While the candle burns, read out your prayers.
The Novena prayers can also be said in conjunction with a 7-day candle which is encased in glass and designed to burn for seven consecutive days. When praying your novena, you should start by making the sign of the cross then say:
“In the Name of the Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Amen”.
Repeat those lines before and after your novena prayers. Also, during the days of the novena prayer, make your petition to the saints and when it has been granted, make sure you fulfill any vow you might have made.
Novenas to Different Saints
St. Barbara –
Oh St. Barbara, As your last words to Christ Jesus, before the sword severed your head from your body, were that all those who invoked His Holy Name in memory of you, may find their sins forgotten on the Day of Judgment. Help me in my tribulations; console me in my afflictions and intercede for me and for my family in our needs. Amen † (Concentrate on your petition).
St. Expedito –
Oh, Glorious Martyr and Protector, St. Expedito! We humbly ask to have fortune and prosperity for our country, that the sick get well, the guilty get pardoned, the just be preserved and those who abandon this valley of tears rest in the Light of The Lord and the souls of the dearly departed rest in peace. † (Mention your request). Amen.
St. Jude –
Most Holy Apostle, St. Jude, Faithful Servant And Friend Of Jesus, pray for me who am so despaired in this hour of great need. Bring visible and speedy help for I promise you, O Blessed St. Jude to be ever mindful of this great favor. I will never cease to honor you as my most special, most powerful patron. † Amen.
St. Lazarus –
Oh Blessed Saint Lazarus, Patron of the Poor, I believe in you and call on your most holy spirit to grant me my favor. † In The Name Of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. I trust in your infinite goodness to intercede for me through Jesus Christ, Our Lord to grant me this petition (mention petition). Amen.
Miraculous Mother
Oh, Miraculous Mother! With inspired confidence, I call upon thee to extend thy merciful, loving kindness so that thy powers of perpetual help will protect me and assist me in my needs and difficulties.
Please grant me my desire. Amen (make your petition).
St. Michael –
Oh Glorious Archangel St. Michael, watch over me during all my life. Defend me against the assaults of the demon. Assist me, especially at the hour of my death. Obtain a favorable judgment and help me in all my needs.
Amen.
O.L.-Perpetual Help –
Oh Mother of Perpetual Help, grant that I may ever invoke thy most powerful name.
O purest Mary, O sweetest Mary, let thy name henceforth be ever on my lips.
Delay not, O Blessed Lady, to help me whenever I call on thee. For in all my needs, in all my temptations, I shall never cease to call on thee, ever repeating thy sacred name, Mary, Mary.
I will not be content with merely pronouncing thy name, but let my love for thee prompt me ever to hail thee, Mother Of Perpetual Help. Amen.
Seven African Powers –
Oh, Seven African Powers, who so close to Our Divine Savior, with great humility I kneel before you and implore your intercession before The Almighty.
Hear my petition that I may glory in your powers to protect me, to help me and provide for my needs. Amen.
If you wish to have your requests granted then ensure that you perform your novena prayers with a sincere heart and great faith. During those nine days, you are advised to perform the prayers at the same time.
If you miss any day, you can either skip the missed day, perform the prayers for the missed day and be just one day behind or perform two daily prayers in one day to catch up. It all depends on your choice.
How to Offer a Candle to a Saint
Offering a candle to a Catholic saint is a common practice within the Catholic tradition and is often done as a form of devotion, prayer, or supplication.
Here’s how to do it and the reasons behind this practice.
- Choose the Saint:
- Select a saint you feel a connection with or one who represents the specific intention you have (e.g., St. Jude for hopeless cases, St. Anthony for lost items).
- Purchase or Prepare the Candle:
- You can buy a candle specifically meant for saints, often available in religious shops or churches. These candles are usually labeled with the name of the saint.
- Alternatively, you can use a plain candle, but you might want to dress it with oils or herbs associated with the saint.
- Set Your Intention:
- Before lighting the candle, take a moment to reflect on your intention. This could be a prayer for guidance, healing, protection, or gratitude.
- Pray:
- Say a prayer to the saint. This can be a formal prayer, a personal petition, or simply speaking from the heart. You might also recite a novena or other prayers associated with that saint.
- Light the Candle:
- Light the candle while focusing on your intention. As you do so, you can say something like:
- “Saint [Name], I offer this candle as a symbol of my prayers and intentions. Please intercede on my behalf.”
- Place the Candle:
- If you’re at home, place the candle in a safe spot, perhaps on an altar or a special place of reverence. If you’re in a church, many have designated areas for lighting candles.
- Allow the Candle to Burn:
- Let the candle burn as long as it’s safe. It can be left to burn completely, or you can extinguish it after your prayer time, knowing the intention remains with the saint.
Why Offer a Candle to a Saint?
- Symbol of Prayer:
- The candle represents your prayers being lifted to heaven. It’s a physical manifestation of your intentions and devotion.
- Seeking Intercession:
- Catholics believe that saints can intercede on their behalf. Lighting a candle can be a way to ask for the saint’s help in specific situations.
- Devotional Practice:
- Offering candles is a form of devotion that can strengthen your spiritual connection to the saint. It fosters a sense of community with the saints and reinforces personal faith.
- Reflection and Meditation:
- The act of lighting a candle can provide a moment of reflection, allowing you to meditate on your intentions and your relationship with the divine.
- Offering of Light:
- Light is often seen as a symbol of Christ and the divine. Offering a candle can signify your desire for spiritual enlightenment or guidance.
In summary
Offering a candle to a saint is a meaningful practice that combines intention, prayer, and devotion. It serves as a way to express faith, seek intercession, and deepen your spiritual life. As with any spiritual practice, the sincerity of your heart and intention is what matters most.
