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The 54-Day Rosary Novena
The 54-Day Rosary Novena is one of the most powerful and effective devotions in the Catholic tradition. This extraordinary prayer combines persistence, faith, and gratitude in a unique spiritual journey spanning nearly two months. Unlike the typical nine-day novena, it consists of two distinct parts—27 consecutive days of petition followed by 27 consecutive days of thanksgiving.
This beautiful devotion originated from the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary in Pompeii, Italy, and has been the source of countless miracles and answered prayers for those who have faithfully prayed it with perseverance and trust.
Origin and History
The 54-Day Rosary Novena has its roots in 19th century Italy and is connected to two remarkable figures: Blessed Bartolo Longo and a young woman named Fortunatina Agrelli.
Blessed Bartolo Longo's "Novena of Petition"
In July 1879, Blessed Bartolo Longo—a former Satanist who had converted to Catholicism and became a Third Order Dominican—composed the "Novena of Petition" while suffering from typhoid fever. Every day, despite his illness, he would go before the image of the Virgin of the Rosary in Pompeii to perfect his prayers. When his condition worsened, he had the picture moved to his bedroom and prayed to St. Catherine of Siena to intercede for him with Our Lady. He was miraculously healed, and the novena he wrote became a powerful means for obtaining graces through Mary's intercession.
The Miraculous Cure of Fortunatina Agrelli
The specific 54-day structure originated in 1884 with the case of Fortunatina Agrelli, a young woman from Naples who was suffering from an incurable disease. She and her family began a novena to Our Lady of Pompeii for her healing. During this time, the Blessed Virgin appeared to Fortunatina and instructed her: "Whenever you wish to obtain graces from me, make three novenas of petition in honor of the rosary, and three novenas of thanksgiving." Following these instructions precisely—27 days of petition followed by 27 days of thanksgiving—Fortunatina was completely cured of her illness.
Our Lady of Pompeii and St. Catherine of Siena
In 1894, in Arpino, Italy, St. Catherine of Siena (who is represented at the feet of the Virgin in the Pompeii icon) appeared to a dying young girl and invited her to recite the Novena written by Bartolo Longo, offering to pray it with her. Upon completion of the prayers, the young girl was perfectly healed.
Church Approval
Pope Leo XIII officially approved the Novena on November 29, 1887, and the devotion has since spread throughout the world, bringing countless graces and answered prayers to the faithful who persevere in this powerful prayer.
Structure of the 54-Day Novena
The 54-Day Rosary Novena consists of two distinct phases that together form a complete spiritual journey of petition and gratitude:
Phase 1: 27 Days of Petition
The first 27 days are dedicated to asking for the grace or favor you seek. During this phase, you pray the appropriate Rosary mysteries for each day, preceded by the prayers of the Novena of Petition. You continue this pattern for three complete novenas (27 days), offering your prayers with faith and perseverance.
Phase 2: 27 Days of Thanksgiving
The second 27 days are devoted to thanksgiving, regardless of whether your petition has been granted yet. This act of faith and gratitude acknowledges that God's timing is perfect and that your prayer has been heard. During this phase, you follow the same pattern of Rosary mysteries, but precede each decade with the prayers of the Novena of Thanksgiving.
The key to this novena is perseverance and faith—completing all 54 days without interruption, and offering thanksgiving even before seeing the results of your petition.
How to Pray the 54-Day Novena
To pray this novena correctly, follow these steps:
- Choose your intention - Decide on the specific grace or favor you are asking for. It's best to focus on one main intention throughout the entire 54 days.
- Determine your start date - You can begin the novena at any time, but many people choose to start on meaningful dates such as feast days or at the beginning of liturgical seasons.
- Follow the daily mystery schedule - Each day, pray the appropriate mysteries according to the schedule below:
- Day 1: Joyful Mysteries
- Day 2: Luminous Mysteries
- Day 3: Sorrowful Mysteries
- Day 4: Glorious Mysteries
- Repeat this pattern throughout the 54 days
- Petition Phase (Days 1-27):
- Begin with the Sign of the Cross
- Pray to St. Catherine of Siena (provided in the novena text)
- For each decade: First recite the appropriate petition prayer, then pray the decade of the Rosary
- Complete the five decades this way
- Conclude with the prayer to St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena
- Thanksgiving Phase (Days 28-54):
- Begin with the Sign of the Cross
- For each decade: First recite the appropriate thanksgiving prayer, then pray the decade of the Rosary
- Complete the five decades this way
- Conclude with the final thanksgiving prayer
- Persevere without interruption - It's recommended to start over.
54-Day Schedule of Mysteries
27 Days of Petition
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joyful | Luminous | Sorrowful | Glorious |
Continue this 4-day pattern for 27 days, ending on Day 27 with the Sorrowful Mysteries.
27 Days of Thanksgiving
| Day 28 | Day 29 | Day 30 | Day 31 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joyful | Luminous | Sorrowful | Glorious |
Continue this 4-day pattern for 27 days, ending on Day 54 with the Sorrowful Mysteries.
The Novena Prayers
Introductory Prayer to St. Catherine of Siena
O Saint Catherine of Siena, my Protectress and Teacher, who from heaven assist your devotees as they recite Mary's Rosary, come to my aid in this moment and deign to recite along with me the Novena to the Queen of the Rosary who has established the throne of her graces in the Valley of Pompeii, that through your intercession I may obtain the grace I desire. Amen.
Opening for Each Day
V. O God, come to my aid.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Petition Prayers
During the first 27 days, recite one of these five prayers before each corresponding decade of the Rosary:
I. (Before the 1st decade)
O Immaculate Virgin and Queen of the Holy Rosary, in these times of dead faith and triumphant impiety you have desired to establish your throne of Queen and Mother in the ancient land of Pompeii, the resting place of deceased pagans. From this place in which idols and demons were worshipped, you today, as the Mother of divine grace, shower the treasures of heavenly mercy far and wide.
O Mary, from this throne upon which you graciously reign, turn upon me as well your benign eyes, and have mercy on me who am so greatly in need of your help. Show yourself to me, just as you have shown yourself to so many others, as the true Mother of mercy: while I with all my heart greet you, and invoke you as my Sovereign and Queen of the Holy Rosary.
II. (Before the 2nd decade)
Prostrate before your throne, O great and glorious Lady, my soul venerates you amidst the groans and sighs which afflict it beyond measure. In this state of anguish and affliction in which I find myself, I confidently lift up my eyes to you, who have deigned to choose the land of poor and abandoned peasants as your dwelling-place. And there, before the city and amphitheatre where there reign silence and ruin, you, the Queen of Victories, have raised your powerful voice to call from every part of Italy and the Catholic world your devoted sons and daughters, to build a Temple to you. May you now be moved to pity for this soul of mine that lies here humiliated in the mud.
Have mercy on me, O my Lady, have mercy on me who am overwhelmingly covered in misery and humiliation. You, who are the extermination of demons, defend me from these enemies besieging me. You, who are the Help of Christians, deliver me from these tribulations which wretchedly oppress me. You, who are our Life, triumph over death which threatens my soul in these dangers to which it is exposed; grant to me peace, serenity, love and health. Amen.
(The full text of the petition prayers can be found in the complete novena booklet)
Thanksgiving Prayers
During days 28-54, recite one of these five prayers before each corresponding decade of the Rosary:
I. (Before the 1st decade)
Here am I at your feet, O Immaculate Mother of Jesus, who delight in being invoked as Queen of the Rosary of the Valley of Pompeii. Rejoicing in my heart, my soul overwhelmed by the most ardent gratitude, I return to you, my generous Benefactress, my sweet Lady, the Queen of my heart, to you who have truly shown yourself as my Mother, the Mother who so dearly loves me.
In my laments you heard me, in my afflictions you comforted me, in my anguish you gave me peace. Sorrows and the pains of death were besieging my heart, and you, O Mother, from your throne in Pompeii, by your compassionate gaze, offered me relief. Who has ever turned to you with confidence and has not been heard? If all the world only knew how good you are, how compassionate with those who suffer, all creatures would turn to you. May you for ever be blessed, O Sovereign Virgin of Pompeii, by me and by everyone, by humanity and by the Angels, by Heaven and by earth. Amen.
(The full text of the thanksgiving prayers can be found in the complete novena booklet)
Spiritual Significance
The 54-Day Rosary Novena contains several profound spiritual principles that make it especially powerful:
Faith Through Thanksgiving
By giving thanks for 27 days—even before seeing the results of your petition—you exercise a profound act of faith in God's goodness and His promise to hear our prayers. This approach embodies St. Paul's instruction to "give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Perseverance in Prayer
The lengthy duration of the novena cultivates spiritual discipline and perseverance. Jesus taught that we "ought always to pray and not lose heart" (Luke 18:1), and this novena embodies that teaching perfectly.
Marian Intercession
Through this novena, we invoke Mary's powerful intercession before her Son, Jesus Christ. As she demonstrated at the wedding feast of Cana, Mary's requests to her Son are especially effective (John 2:1-11).
Meditation on Christ's Life
Throughout the 54 days, you will meditate on the complete life of Christ through the mysteries of the Rosary multiple times, deepening your understanding of salvation history and drawing closer to Jesus through Mary.
Testimonies of Grace
Throughout the years, countless testimonies have emerged from those who have prayed the 54-Day Rosary Novena with faith and perseverance. These include:
These testimonies remind us that while God always hears our prayers, His answers come in His perfect timing and according to His divine wisdom, which often exceeds our limited understanding of what we truly need.
Tips for Successfully Completing the Novena
- Set a specific time each day - Choose a consistent time that works with your schedule to pray the novena daily.
- Use a calendar or tracking system - Mark off each day as you complete it to stay on track.
- Find an accountability partner - Consider praying the novena with a friend or family member who can help keep you accountable.
- Prepare for challenges - Anticipate that obstacles may arise to prevent you from completing the novena and plan accordingly.
- Focus on one primary intention - While you may have multiple prayer needs, focusing on one main intention throughout the 54 days helps maintain clarity and focus.
- Be specific in your petition - The more specific your request, the more clearly you'll be able to recognize when and how it's been answered.
- Journal your experience - Consider keeping notes about insights, challenges, and graces received during the 54 days.
Downloadable Resources
To help you pray this powerful novena, we offer several resources:
Printable Novena Guide
A complete guide with all prayers, instructions, and tracking calendar.
54-Day Tracking Calendar
A simple calendar to help you track your progress through all 54 days.
Begin Your 54-Day Journey
Are you facing a seemingly impossible situation? Do you need a special grace or blessing in your life? The 54-Day Rosary Novena has been the source of countless miracles for those who have prayed it with faith and perseverance.