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The practice of novena includes pious prayers for nine days before a feast in honor of a saint identified on a liturgical calendar. By the 11th century, the novena practice had become a means in Christianity of praying to petition spiritual or personal favor through a saint. After the Reformation and Counter-reformation era, the Catholic Church formally approved novenas, in particular through the papal approvals of a large number of novenas by Pope Pius IX.
By standard liturgical norms, novenas are performed in church, at home, or anywhere where solemn prayers are appropriate. Within the Roman Catholic tradition, novena prayers typically include a praise of the Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ or a saint, acknowledgment of the Christian doctrines, and a personal petition. Novenas have been a widespread practice in Catholic history.