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.

Although Many Times

The opening paragraph of QUAMQUAM PLURIES an ENCYCLICAL OF POPE LEO XIII given on August 15th, 1889 is as relevant today as the day it was issued. Encyclicals are known by the opening lines, written in Latin, as this one became known. A literal translation of QUAMQUAM PLURIES into English is Although Many Times.

This encyclical is rather short, just seven paragraphs, which is directed at the subject of a devotion to Saint Joseph. The opening paragraph is what I find so significant today as it was 130 years ago.

“ Although We have already many times ordered special prayers to be offered up in the whole world, that the interests of Catholicism might be insistently recommended to God, none will deem it matter for surprise that We consider the present moment an opportune one for again inculcating the same duty. During periods of stress and trial - chiefly when every lawlessness of act seems permitted to the powers of darkness - it has been the custom in the Church to plead with special fervour and perseverance to God, her author and protector, by recourse to the intercession of the saints - and chiefly of the Blessed Virgin, Mother of God - whose patronage has ever been the most efficacious. The fruit of these pious prayers and of the confidence reposed in the Divine goodness, has always, sooner or later, been made apparent. Now, Venerable Brethren, you know the times in which we live; they are scarcely less deplorable for the Christian religion than the worst days, which in time past were most full of misery to the Church. We see faith, the root of all the Christian virtues, lessening in many souls; we see charity growing cold; the young generation daily growing in depravity of morals and views; the Church of Jesus Christ attacked on every side by open force or by craft; a relentless war waged against the Sovereign Pontiff; and the very foundations of religion undermined with a boldness which waxes daily in intensity. These things are, indeed, so much a matter of notoriety that it is needless for Us to expatiate on the depths to which society has sunk in these days, or on the designs which now agitate the minds of men. In circumstances so unhappy and troublous, human remedies are insufficient, and it becomes necessary, as a sole resource, to beg for assistance from the Divine power.”

Novena in honor of The ASSUMPTION OF MARY

A Novena of Masses in honor of

The ASSUMPTION OF MARY

August 7 – 15:

TO BE OFFERED FOR THE INTENTIONS OF ALL CONFRATERNITY MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS

NOVENA:

The word Novena is rooted in the Latin word for nine. Over time, members of Roman Catholic faith began to associate novena with Christian themes. The Church Fathers also assigned special meaning to the number nine, seeing it as symbolic of imperfect man turning to God in prayer. The practice of novena grew by the Middle Ages to include pious prayers for nine days before a feast in honor of a saint identified on a liturgical calendar.

NOVENA PRAYER:

O Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Mother of men, we believe with all the fervor of our faith in your trimphal Assumption into Heaven, body and soul, where you are acclaimed as Queen of all the choirs of Angels, and the countless multitude of saints. We unite with them in thanking and praising God who has exalted you above all the heavenly hosts.

In your mercy, dearest Mother, look down upon our miseries and our sorrows, upon our struggles and our weaknesses. Help us to remain pure in mind and body, to bear the crosses of life, and to live and die in close union with your Divine Son. Intercede with Him on our behalf, and obtain the graces and favors we ask in this Novena.

(Here make your requests)

THE MEMORARE:

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful; O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petition, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

(Add your daily Rosary)

How to Pray the Rosary:

https://www.rosarycenter.org/homepage-2/rosary/how-to-pray-the-rosary/

The CONFRATERNITY OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY

The CONFRATERNITY OF

THE MOST HOLY ROSARY

,the members of which strive to pray the entire Rosary during the course of one

The Rosary Confraternity is a spiritual association of the Catholic Church, the members of which strive to pray the entire Rosary during the course of one week.

The CONFRATERNITY OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY brings its members under the special protection of Our Lady, QUEEN OF THE ROSARY, and places their spiritual welfare in her hands. Too, it enables them to share in the Masses, Prayers, Acts of Penance and Apostolic works of over 100,000 members of the Family of St. Dominic. To this is added the prayers of hundreds of thousands of members of the Rosary Confraternity throughout the world who pray for one another.
Speaking of this, Pope Leo XIII wrote: “Whenever a person fulfills his obligation of reciting the Rosary according to the rule of the Confraternity, he includes in his intentions all its members, and they in turn render him the same service multiplied many times over.” The Confraternity asks its members to pray the entire Rosary each week. This does not bind under sin.

Since the Holy Father St. John Paul II added the five luminous mysteries, it would seem that members of the Confraternity should strive to include that extra weekly Rosary. Those who recite only the fifteen traditional mysteries will continue to share in the benefits of the Confraternity until some official source declares the contrary.  Commenting on the great fruitfulness of the Rosary devotion, and on the “healing power” it possesses for the ills of society, Pope Leo XIII added: “these advantages will be secured in a higher and fuller measure by those who band themselves together in the Confraternity of the Rosary, and who are thus more than others united by a special and brotherly bond of devotion to the Most Holy Virgin. They are, so to speak, the battalions which fight the battle for Christ, armed with His sacred mysteries and under the banner and guidance of the Heavenly Queen.” 

The Rosary Center P.O. Box 3617 Portland, Oregon 97208 USA

www.rosary-center.org