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Hi, Susan —
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you!
I'm not familiar with the novena but God does not "get" us on technicalities; he is loving and merciful and responds to the smallest openings of our hearts. It is Satan who is legalistic, who nails us on technicalities and says "ah ha, you didn't do thus-and-such." God knows your intention and your heart.
My recommendation is that you do it going forward the way that:
- eases your conscience and
- doesn't worry about the past.
If you want to pray it, by all means, do so. Remember prayers are not magic incantations that we have to get "right" to "work"; they are conversation with God, who is personal. Prayer is not like feeding a vending machine where we are guaranteed to get what we want if we do the
"right thing"; all is dependent on the will of God and the purity of our intention.
Eric
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