This sounds like a religious question, but I don't really think it is - so am hoping Rooster will feel free to chime in also...because a novena is nine days of special prayers, six times per day.
I actually suspect that we will someday discover that prayer is something scientific, and prayer connects in with basic dynamics of life that are not really understood at the present time...thus you have Einstein saying that time is just a very persistent illusion, and quantum theory also does not always obey the laws of time...
So, will the prayers still be effective if I do the novena after the need is over? Or is the timing important, and do I need to do the prayers at the time they are needed?
I need to know because I want to do a novena for someone and short of time right now but if novenas are not time-sensitive, then I don't need to hurry, if you see what I mean? The effect will happen right now even if I don't get around to the novena until some future time?
(I actually think I already know the answer, I think novenas are NOT time-sensitive, however I often change my mind or at least learn more from everyone's answers on the Q/A sites!)