Autumn Rain

A Novena with Mary

Our Lady of Sorrows

After praying for 9 days, we have followed Mary into the valley of tears where Our Blessed Mother has shown us that suffering is a part of following Jesus. 

She teaches us that Jesus has opened up a new dimension to our pain. Because of His love on the cross, suffering can now become an expression of our deep and abiding desire for God. It expresses our faith, our hope, and our love.

It’s important for us to remember that our suffering is only as good as the love it produces. The goal for the Christian is not to discover new creative ways to suffer but to hand our pain over to the Lord so that He can transform it into something beautiful.

Suffering can be a blinding, disorienting experience and it is something that we all must go through. Let us never forget that the Lord is good, even in these dark times.

He sends down His autumn rain on those who journey through the valley of tears so that we won’t settle for a mediocre life of fear, but will embrace our cross and our salvation.

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us, that we may receive the Lord’s grace as we travel through this valley of tears toward our eternal home.

    More From reCatholic

    Our mission is to create resources that help groups and individuals rediscover their faith, rekindle a love for it, and let it renew their lives.

    It is our deep conviction is that only radical holiness can bring renewal in the Church.

    With this second Novena in Honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we are continuing the mission that the Holy Spirit has inspired in our hearts. As God allows, we plan to create more resources that can be used with parishes, families, prayer groups, catechism classes, etc.

    We are looking for others to get involved with our team. If you feel you might be called, please take a look at the types of talent and experience that might be able to support our work.

    Feedback – Marian Novena

    How Did You Feel About the Novena?

    As of day 1 feedback has been pouring in about how this simple prayer has inspired, touched and challenged the lives of individuals, families, and even Catholic organizations. We’d love to hear from you too!

    Please share your story in the comments below! Did you look forward to each day? Did you pray it alone or as a group? Were there “God moments” that moved your heart?

    31 Comments

    1. Eliot Bassett

      I prayed it alone. I love the times for personal prayer and reflection within the Novena. It allowed me to enter a little deeper with our Lady than just reading and repetition. I think all novenas should be more like this.

      Reply
    2. David

      My son is leaving home for military service. As a father, I am filled with a wide range of memories and painful emotions as I say goodbye to him. At times it has been overwhelming. He is pursuing a dream and I have to accept that the time has come. I prayed this Novena in the days leading up to his departure. Our only hope is Jesus, and these meditations and prayers helped me to embrace that hope with Mary, who loved her son and so too suffered greatly and accepted God’s plan. Thank you for making this available. It has helped me to number the days and turn to Jesus with our Blessed Mother.

      Reply
    3. Joyce Leko

      Many years ago, as a freshman in college, my dormitory prefect advised me to pray for suffering on earth rather than in purgatory. I believe that my prayer was answered. So many times, I have been tempted to ask God to take the suffering away, but then I remember that the suffering is my prayer being answered. Thank you, God.

      Reply
    4. Sylvia

      The electronic Novena was Beautiful and Perfect, especially as it was sent early in the hours of the day to start the morning contemplating on our Holy Family journey and our Mothers sorrow. Provided intimate time with ourselves to recognize everything our Blessed Mother had to endure that allowed us to feel her experience as that of being heartfelt.

      I prayed this Novena alone and loved it so much as it was personal without interruptions and at my pace. It allowed me to review the Novena and meditate on its reflections as many time as I preferred.

      Thank you so very much for sharing and allowing spiritual growth availability for all!

      Reply
    5. Sylvia

      Our Lord sends his Autumn Rain and here in Texas it’s raining, not heavy yet but nevertheless raining.

      All the previous day no rain until this blessed morning, very symbolic of the Autumn Rain Novena!

      Just Beautiful

      Reply
    6. Faith

      Praying this Novena has helped me on my spiritual path. I take my First Vows as a Nun and have felt a closer connection with our Mother Mary through prayer this Novena along with my daily Rosary prayers.

      Thank you for sharing with others.

      Reply
    7. Meg Higham

      I looked forward to the Autumn Rain novena every. It helped me remind me that Christ is ever present in my life. To follow Christ I must remain open to His word, to pick up my cross and follow him. To trust in His ways always and my ways are not His ways. To love and serve Him as I walk towards eternal life with Christ.
      Thank you for this beautiful novena leading me closer to Christ and his first disciple, Mary our mother.

      Reply
    8. Trice Davis

      I love this novena, so peaceful and helpful. The multiple resources helped me to understand the teaching of each day. Thank you and God bless.

      Reply
    9. Tricia

      I appreciated the prompts for personal reflection on each day’s theme. I also loved the various ancient prayers to Our Lady from throughout Christian history. This novena helped me to remember the very human love of Our Lady and her special care for all of her children through her Son, Jesus Christ.

      Reply
    10. Linda Todd

      I really enjoyed this novena. I would like to draw closer to our mother and closer to Jesus through her. I really like the prayers and the extra study and the times for quiet reflection.

      Reply
    11. Karen Grothouse

      The Novena was not only truly meaningful yet also peaceful when prayed. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
    12. Dorothea

      I loved this novena and looked forward to it each day. It helped me to find that quiet place inside, and I felt calm. Whoever wrote the words of the novena is surely blessed!
      So, thank you!
      I look forward to future novenas!

      Reply
    13. Joanne

      I prayed alone. I enjoyed the Novena because it was different than ones I have prayed in the past. I liked additional information on the Novena. Great Prayers!

      Reply
    14. Steven

      I’m glad that I was able to pray this Novena. I’m going through a rough patch in my marriage and praying the Novena has helped me get through it. Reflection, meditation and personal prayer with Our Mother Mary has brought me peace. Jesus i pray that with the intercession of Mary your mother may my marriage journey be filled with our focus on You

      Reply
    15. Agnes Tai

      It’s the first time I felt so much help in going through all the readings, praying and meditating.
      It had help me to love our Mother more. I also felt the closeness of our Lord as I do this each day.
      Thank you

      Reply
    16. Marie Rediske

      I prayed it alone every day. I really enjoyed the prayers. And the time of reflection in silence brought me closer to the sufferings of our Lady of Sorrows.

      Reply
    17. Luz Maria Engineer

      This Novena was unique for me since it led me to pray, reflect and apply what God pointed out to me that needed growth or change. At other times i would just read the novena, say the prayers and present my petitions and that was that. I look forward to more such Novenas that will challenge me to deepen my desire to grow in holiness and my devotion to our dearest Mother. May the Lord continue to bless this ministry.

      Reply
    18. Lynda Colesworthy

      This novena was beautiful. I am a convert to the Catholic faith. Being from a pProtestant faith I have always had a little problem with Mary. Now I feel that that I am learning about Mary and her part in our salvation. The most important thing in my life is loving and serving the Holy Trinity. I will try to rely to Mary for guidance.

      Reply
    19. John Troso

      Looked forward to this on my phone every morning. I have said countless prayers however words cannot explain this love of the Marian prayers. Please send more never stop.

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    20. Cristina Caruana

      This novena helped me to enter into a deeper awareness of Mary’s suffering and it taught me what my response to suffering should be. I enjoyed all the reflections and the peace they brought.

      Reply
    21. Christina M. Carlos

      I prayed it alone. I really treasured the guided reflection questions. I’d love to repeat the Novena especially during Advent and Lent

      Reply
    22. Nancy Hoffman

      I did pray it alone and yes I really did look forward to receiving it everyday. The novena prayers were very informative and especially inspirational.

      Reply
    23. Carol

      I loved this novena. I liked that I didn’t have to ask for anything. It lets you go into a deeper place within yourself and realize and contemplate and spend time with our Blessed Mother and her intercession with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, her son. ❤️

      Reply
    24. Rose Marie

      After I finished following and reading the Novena everyday I felt the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY’S pain and agony. How I wish that more kind of this Novena can be shared and explained as clear as this Autumn Rain.
      Thank you!

      Reply
    25. ann m forester

      I really enjoyed this novena. it touched my heart. as prayer does it came at a time I needed it. God is good he supplies all our needs. I did not get the book I really would like to purchase it if still available.

      Reply
    26. Charlotte Peters

      I prayed the novena with my mother who turned 100 in June. We both looked forward to saying the prayers every evening before going to bed. It was so beautiful.

      Reply
    27. Zsuzsó

      I pray a lot of Novenas. They’re all very meaningful to me, and I learn a lot about our amazing saints. This Novena was really special because it was more like a mini Bible study. It really brought me closer to our Blessed Mother. I loved it.

      Reply
    28. Carmen Raymundo

      I love this Novena. I pray it for my daughter. She has a set of twins; at eight years old, they have not been baptized yet.

      Reply
    29. Janet Hughes

      This novena was so very peaceful. I looked forward to it everyday. I bought the book and will do this novena again.

      Reply
    30. Maureen

      I prayed alone
      Needed to feel the words
      Talked to Mary about her life
      and mine privately
      I keep crazy hours so I loved the flexibility

      This novena was beautifully done.

      Thank you

      Reply
    31. Michael

      It accompanied my Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows verry appropriately.

      Reply

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