Devout clients of our Blessed Lady will perhaps desire to know what is the meaning of a Novena, or when such a pious practice was first introduced? The practice of making a Novena, or nine days' prayer, dates back to the time when our Blessed Lady and the Apostles, after the ascension of our Lord into heaven, remained nine days in prayer, in preparation for the coming of the Holy Ghost. Ever since that time it has been a pious custom of the faithful to make Novenas in commemoration of some mystery in the life of our Lord, or in honor of the Blessed Virgin, or some Saint for whom they have particular devotion, hoping thereby to obtain some special grace or favor, through the intercession of these privileged friends of God. During the last quarter of a century, perhaps the most popular Novena among all classes of the faithful throughout the entire Christian world, is in honor of our dear and Immaculate Mother, under the sweet and consoling title of "Our Lady of Perpetual Help," and Mary, on her part, has ever shown herself to justify that beautiful title, as thousands in all parts of the globe can testify, who have received extra ordinary favors, both spiritual and temporal, when invoking her intercession.