Today is the feast of St. Andrew, one of the first Apostles and patron saint of Scotland, Greece, Russia, and fishermen.
The traditional St. Andrew Novena — sometimes called the Christmas Novena — begins today and unlike traditional nine-day novenas, it is prayed for 25 days until Christmas Eve.
Offering a simple but powerful image of the night of Jesus’ birth, the prayer is recited 15 times each day. The words are brief, easy to memorize, and puts us in a more reflective state of mind as we imagine what it was like on that winter night when Christ was born.
Consider adding the Christmas Novena to your daily devotions this Advent.
Saint Andrew Novena
Hail and blessed be the hour and moment
In which the Son of God was born
Of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight,
In Bethlehem, in piercing cold.
In that hour, vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God
To hear my prayer and grant my desires,
Through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ,
And of His Blessed Mother.
Amen.
(Pray 15 times a day from Nov. 30-Dec. 24.)
