15. Nine Days of Religious Devotion

Novena del santísimo sacramento, donde el devoto de tan admirable misterio hallará motivos eficaces para amarlo, y especiales obsequios para servirlo. México: Impr. de Luís Abadiano y Valdés, 1845. (Pamphlet [2], 36 p., [2], 15cm x 10cm)

Novenas, along with daily prayers and acts of contrition, were popular expressions of everyday piety and devotion.  Pamphlets such as these were provided for the faithful who would complete the prayers or acts of contrition specified for each day of the nine day period.  Such actions were designed to increase pious devotion in those who completed the novena, as well as increase their chances of reducing their time in purgatory and advancing to heaven.  In fact, many novenas guarantee this benefit of pious devotion, for they often include clerically-approved statements of indulgence, or time that will be automatically deducted from their stay in purgatory.  On the final page, bishop José María de Jesús Belaunzarán concedes 200 days of indulgence for every word contained in this novena to those who read it faithfully.

Most of the novenas in the Mexican Religious Imprints collection are in honor of one of the many representations of the Virgin Mary, and they are used to pray for her intercession on their behalf.  This novena is primarily dedicated to Jesus, but there are also prayers to God the Father, the Holy Spirit, the Virgin Mary, and the Holy Priest.

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