Q: In the Surrender Novena, we are to surrender ourselves to Jesus and let him take care of everything? I have the impression that we are not supposed to ask for specific help with an issue or problem we may be facing. On the other hand, there are many novenas along with verses in the Bible (like Mark 11:24) and Matthew where Jesus says to ask for what you need in prayer and believe to receive. How would one use the Surrender Novena if there is a specific need in which one is seeking God’s help on? Thank you. — Claudio

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC:

I don’t think this is a case of “either-or” — either you make a general act of surrender to God or you ask for something specific.

You can do both: ask for something specific from God as well as make a general act of surrender to his will.

Sometimes God will answer our prayers, not by giving us what we want but by giving us what we most need.

In this sense we can imitate Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, who prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

Jesus at a human level didn’t want the cross, but he was willing to accept it as his Father’s will. This is where he surrendered himself to the Father … which is what we should do, too.