54 Day Novena

I have prayed this 54-day novena when I was asking for God's grace and mercy. I remember I promised I will pray the rosary everyday whether or not my prayer be granted. I wasn't able to fulfill that promise but I will try to make it up. Here's sharing how the 54-day novena works.

The Miraculous 54-Day NovenaOn March 3, 1884, Our Lady of Pompeii appeared before the gravely ill daughter of an Italian military officer and, through her, gave the world a new devotion of tremendous power.

For over a year, Fortuna Agrelli had been in great distress and even near-death. Indeed, her case had been given up as hopeless by the most celebrated physicians. In desperation, on February 16, the afflicted girl
and her family began a novena of Rosaries.

Two weeks later, the Queen of the Holy Rosary appeared before Fortuna one evening. Sitting upon a high throne, surrounded by luminous figures, Our Lady was holding the Divine Child on Her lap and a Rosary in
Her hand. Both were arrayed in golden garments and were accompanied by Sts. Dominic and Catherine of Siena.

“Child, your faith has pleased Me.” Our Lady said to Fortuna, “Whoever desires to obtain favors from Me should make three novenas of the prayers of the Rosary, and three novenas in thanksgiving.”

Obedient to Our Lady’s command, Fortuna and her family completed he six novenas whereupon the young girl was restored to perfect health and her family showered with many blessings.

How to Say the Miraculous Rosary Novena

 

Traditionally a novena is nine days. Thus, Our Lady’s words to young Fortuna “make three novenas of the prayers of the Rosary in petition, and three novenas in thanksgiving.”

The novena consists of five decades of the Rosary (one set of mysteries) each day for twenty-seven days in petition; then immediately five decades each day for an additional twenty-seven days in thanksgiving, regardless of whether or not the request has been granted yet.

So began six novenas of Rosaries — which became known as the 54-day Rosary Novena.

To do the novena properly — one must pray the Rosary for 54 consecutive days, without missing a day, and must pray the particular Mystery indicated for that day following the correct sequence.

That is, the first day of the novena always begins with the Joyful Mysteries (regardless of what day of the week the novena started); the second day, the Sorrowful Mysteries are prayed; and the third day of the novena, the Glorious Mysteries are prayed.

The fourth day of the novena begins again with the Joyful Mysteries and continues on in that sequence throughout the 54 days of the novena.

People have asked over time about the Luminous Mysteries — this novena was given by Our Lady as noted above in 1884 and only allows for the Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries.


Source: http://www.fatima.org
 

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