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1. The  soul  must  be  in  the  state  of  grace;  for the devotion  of  a  sinful  heart  pleases  neither  God nor the  saints.

2. We  must  persevere,  that  is,  the  prayers  for each day  of  the  novena  must  never  be  omitted.

3. If  possible,  we  should  visit  a  church  every day, and  there  implore  the  favor  we  desire.

4. Every  day  we  ought  to  perform  certain specified acts  of  exterior  self-denial  and  interior mortification, in  order  to  prepare  us  thereby  for the reception  of  grace.

5. It  is  most  important  that  we  receive  holy communion when  making  a  novena. Therefore prepare yourself  well  for  it.

6. After  obtaining  the  desired  grace  for  which the novena  was  made,  do  not  omit  to  return thanks to  God  and  to  the  saint  through  whose intercession your  prayers  were  heard.