The Emergency Novena: When You Need Help Right Now
Sometimes life gives us no time to prepare.
A frightening phone call comes.
Someone we love becomes ill.
A family crisis suddenly develops.
We are waiting for important news.
We need an answer quickly.
Or perhaps fear simply overwhelms us and we don't know what to do.
In those moments, there is a beautiful Catholic practice known as the Emergency Novena.
A holy nun, known for her deep confidence in Our Lady's intercession, would pray nine Memorares in a row whenever an urgent need arose.
And then she did something beautiful.
She prayed a tenth Memorare in thanksgiving.
She thanked Our Lady before she even knew how the situation would turn out.
That is trust.
What Is the Emergency Novena?
This holy nun frequently encountered situations requiring immediate help.
When an urgent need arose, she would turn immediately to Our Lady.
She would pray the Memorare nine times for the intention and then a tenth time in thanksgiving for Mary's intercession.
This beautiful practice became known as the "Flying Novena" or "Emergency Novena."
It was simple.
It was immediate.
And above all, it was filled with confidence in God.
How to Pray the Emergency Novena
First, make the Sign of the Cross.
Then clearly place your intention before Our Lady.
You might say:
"Blessed Mother, I place this situation into your hands. Please bring my intention to your Son, Jesus."
Then pray the Memorare nine times for your intention.
Afterward, pray a tenth Memorare in thanksgiving, entrusting the outcome completely to God.
The Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known
that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help,
or sought thy intercession
was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence,
I fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.
To thee do I come,
before thee I stand,
sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.
Pray this nine times for your intention and once more in thanksgiving.
Why the Tenth Memorare Is So Beautiful
Perhaps the most powerful part of this holy nun's practice was the tenth Memorare.
She didn't wait until she received the answer she wanted before thanking God.
She gave thanks immediately.
In doing so, she was essentially saying:
"Lord, I trust You. Blessed Mother, I trust your intercession. Whatever happens, I know this situation is now in God's hands."
That is the kind of confidence we should ask God to give us.
Testimonies of the Emergency Novena
Accounts of this devotion tell of the holy nun turning to the Emergency Novena during many urgent situations.
One well-known account concerns a time when the nun and her companions needed to obtain tickets for an important trip, but there appeared to be no availability. She began her nine Memorares, confidently entrusting the problem to Our Lady. The needed arrangements reportedly became available.
Other recollections describe her using the novena when facing urgent difficulties involving travel, people needing assistance, or seemingly impossible circumstances.
These stories reveal something important.
Her first response to a problem was often prayer.
She didn't pray because she believed she could control God.
She prayed because she trusted Him.
Testimonies from the Faithful
Many Catholics who have adopted the Emergency Novena speak about experiencing unexpected help after praying it.
Some tell of:
A difficult situation suddenly resolving.
Receiving important news they had been awaiting.
Help arriving at exactly the right moment.
A family situation beginning to improve.
Finding peace while awaiting medical news.
Receiving clarity about an important decision.
Experiencing an overwhelming sense that they were not alone.
Not every prayer ends with the outcome we hoped for.
Sometimes the answer is yes.
Sometimes it is not yet.
And sometimes God's answer is completely different from what we expected.
But prayer is never wasted.
Sometimes the greatest answer is the grace to trust God when circumstances have not changed.
When Should You Pray the Emergency Novena?
You can pray it whenever an urgent need arises.
Perhaps:
Someone is going into surgery.
You are waiting for medical results.
Your child or grandchild needs help.
A loved one is traveling.
You are facing a financial emergency.
Someone has lost their job.
A marriage or relationship is struggling.
You need guidance about an important decision.
Someone you love has left the Faith.
You are frightened and don't know what to do.
Don't wait until you find the perfect words.
Pray.
Ask Others to Pray It With You
One of the most beautiful things we can do during an emergency is ask others to pray.
Call a family member.
Text a friend.
Ask another parishioner.
Say:
"Would you pray an Emergency Novena with me?"
Imagine the power of families and parish communities immediately turning to prayer whenever someone is in need.
Don't Forget to Say Thank You
Whether your prayer is answered exactly as you hoped or differently than you expected, continue thanking God.
Say:
"Jesus, I trust in You."
"Blessed Mother, thank you for praying for me."
Gratitude keeps our hearts focused not merely on receiving favors, but on loving God and trusting His providence.
Make This a Prayer You Remember
You don't need a prayer book.
You don't need to wait until you get to church.
You don't need an hour of free time.
When something happens and you don't know what to do:
Stop.
Pray nine Memorares.
Pray the tenth in thanksgiving.
Then place everything into God's hands.
And continue with your day saying:
"Jesus, I trust in You."
The Emergency Novena isn't about forcing an answer from Heaven.
It is about running immediately to Our Blessed Mother and asking her to bring us to Jesus.
This holy nun understood something we sometimes forget:
Our first response doesn't have to be fear.
Our first response can be prayer.
Our Lady, Help of Christians, pray for us.
St. Catherine of Siena, pray for us.
