ABOUT THIS NOVENA:
Saint Andrew was St. Peterโs brother, one of the 12 Apostles and one of Jesusโ first disciples. He was martyred on an X-shaped cross, and his feast day is November 30th.
While a novena is normally a nine-day prayer, the term is sometimes used for any prayer that is repeated over a series of days. The Saint Andrew Christmas Novena is often called simply the “Christmas Novena” or the “Christmas Anticipation Prayer,” because it is prayed 15 times every day from the Feast of St Andrew the Apostle (November 30) until Christmas.
It is believed that whoever recites the following prayer with a pious heart 15 times a day will obtain whatever is asked if it is God’s will. This Christmas prayer carries an Imprimatur from Archbishop Michael Augustine of New York City during the Pontificate of Pope Leo XIII on February 6, 1897.
The novena is not actually addressed to Saint Andrew but to God Himself, asking Him to grant our request in the honor of the birth of His Son at Christmas. You can say the prayer all 15 times at once; or divide up the recitation as necessary (perhaps five times at each meal). It is recommended that you memorize it so you can say it wherever you are or clip or paste it wherever you would see it the most.
SAINT ANDREW, Pray for us that we may prepare our hearts and souls for Christ’s coming….!
The Saint Andrew Christmas 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, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, (Insert your request) through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother.
Amen.
