by Frater S.C.F.V.

Last night, on Monday, September 17, 2018, I completed the first day of my Novena—a nine-day series of rituals and prayers–culminating, on the 10th Day, in Saint Cyprian’s Feast Day on Wednesday, September 26, 2018.

I began by writing out my petition of intention for the Novena:

I then anointed it with saliva in the Sign of the Cross, and placed within it some locks of my hair to link it to me sympathetically.

I folded and taped the petition to the bottom of the Novena candle and fixed the candle with Saint Cyprian oil, cinnamon, and all-spice and then dressed it downwards, pulling additional oil down towards the petition so that not only the candle itself, but also the glass was anointed with my intention.

Next, I formally lit the Novena candle on the Altar after making offerings of Frankincense, Church wafer, and water to Saint…