Washington (CNS) — The U.S. bishops are encouraging Catholics to pray a novena for life, justice and peace before the November election.
An Aug. 19 news release said the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has made available for download from the Internet a podcast of a “Novena for Faithful Citizenship” at www.faithfulcitizenship.org/resources/podcasts. It will be available until the Nov. 4 election.
The special novena is part of “the bishops’ campaign to help Catholics develop well-formed consciences for addressing political and social questions,” said Joan Rosenhauer, associate director of the USCCB’s Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development.
The bishops adopted the document “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility” in November 2007.
The “Novena for Faithful Citizenship” runs for nine days and can be used consecutively, one day each week, for nine days prior to the election, or “in any way that works best for a community or individual,” said Rosenhauer.
“Novena” comes from the Latin word “novem,” meaning nine, and the prayer form first appeared in the Middle Ages in France and Spain. A novena is usually held prior to a special feast or for a special intention.
The USCCB Web site suggests ways Catholics can pray the “Novena for Faithful Citizen-ship”:
— Start Sept. 2 and pray for nine consecutive Tuesdays, up until the general election.
— Start the novena on any day of the week, whenever people gather, and pray on that day every week.
— Begin praying the novena Oct. 26, nine days before the election, and continue each consecutive day.
— Create any combination “and feel free to pray the novena more than once.”
Helen Osman, USCCB communications secretary, expressed hope the novena could help “Catholics enter into prayerful reflection as they prepare to vote.”
Osman said the USCCB wants to support Catholics as they weigh pre-election issues and that “providing a prayer resource on the Web can help us focus on our common values and identity as Catholics.”