St. Andrew Christmas Novena - Dates, Meaning, & How to Pray
|
|
On November 30, we celebrate the feast day of St. Andrew. This is also the first day of the St. Andrew Christmas novena. People have been praying this special novena for over a century. Read on to learn the history behind this prayer and how to say it!
Table of contents
Who is St. Andrew?
St. Andrew was one of the 12 Apostles. He is the patron saint of fishermen and several countries, such as Scotland, Russia, and more. We first hear of St. Andrew in the Gospel of Matthew:
"As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, 'Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.'”
St. Andrew left everything behind to follow Christ. He had no hesitation at all and followed Christ all the way to his death. After the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus, Andrew spent the rest of his life devoted to spreading the gospel to all corners of the world. Ultimately, he would be crucified for his faith. When it came time for him to be crucified, he requested that his hands and feet be tied to an x-shaped cross, so that would suffer for longer. He lived his life fully for Christ all the way to his dying breath.
Origin of the Novena
Due to St. Andrew's many travels around the globe, many countries have a strong devotion to him. In fact, people trace back the Christmas novena to 19th century Ireland. Over the years, it was passed down and grew in popularity. Now, it is one of the most popular novenas to prepare for the Christmas season. People all over the world say this novena 15 times a day over the course of 25 days.
How to Say the Novena
Advent is a season of preparation. Prayer and fasting is a crucial part of this season. This is the perfect time to open our hearts to the coming of Christ through focused daily prayer. Every year, the novena begins on St. Andrew's feast day: November 30. It is prayed 15 times a day until Christmas Eve. The St. Andrew Novena provides a steady rhythm of devotion amidst the busyness of the holiday season. By reciting this brief prayer throughout the day, we can anchor our minds on the mystery of the Incarnation, offer personal intentions, and enter into the joy of the Nativity with renewed faith and quiet expectation for the coming of Christ.
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.
Why Pray the Novena?
Leading up to Christmas, schedules tend to get hectic. It's easy to get swept up in the noise. Praying the St. Andrew Christmas Novena offers a simple yet powerful way to ground yourself in the true spiritual meaning of the season. Tradition holds that the St. Andrew Novena is a powerful prayer for specific, heartfelt intentions. If you piously pray the entire novena, your prayer request will be answered. Bringing your personal requests to God each day reinforces trust in His providence as you prepare to celebrate the gift of His Son.
