Saint Andrew Christmas Novena

St. Andrew Christmas Novena

The Feast Day of Saint Andrew, The Apostle, is celebrated on November 30^th . Unlike most novenas which are said for nine days or nine weeks this one is said for twenty-five days. One would start it on November 30^th,  Saint Andrews' Feast Day and continue to say it during the Advent season up till and including Christmas Eve, December, 24^th. It is known by a few different names; Saint Andrew's Novena, The Christmas Novena or the Advent Novena.

It is believed to have originated in either Ireland or Scotland over a hundred years ago. There are beads specifically for this novena consisting of fifteen beads connected in a loop onto a Saint Andrew medal.

It is a very simple one prayer repeated fifteen times over the course of a day. It is convenient to break it up into three segments such as before each meal or morning, mid day and night time. 

Some believe that reciting this prayer fifteen times a day until Christmas Eve that whatever favor requested will be granted. I prefer to think of it as a way to prepare ones heart and spirit to welcome the baby Jesus into the world. The spirit of Christmas is about the coming of Christ, Our Savior. 

THE PRAYER

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 the 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.