Saint Andrew Christmas Novena

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Brother to Simon Peter, Saint Andrew was a fisherman who heroically died — martyred on a saltire, or x-shaped cross, where he is said to have preached from for two days. For this reason, the x-shaped cross is often called the Saint Andrew cross and is featured on the flag of Scotland of which he is the patron saint.

An Advent tradition for many is to begin praying the Saint Andrew Christmas Novena on November 30, the day the Catholic church celebrates the feast of Saint Andrew. 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. It is attributed to Saint Andrew given the prayers traditionally begin on his feast day. It is also often called the Christmas Anticipation Novena. While a novena is normally a nine-day prayer, the term can be used for any prayer that is repeated over a series of days.

I have read that many pray the Saint Andrew Novena 15 times a day from November 30 until Christmas Day (perhaps five times at each meal). For some of us, 15 times a day may simply be a bit much and one time at each meal may be more feasible. As stated at Catholic.com, when prayed as a family, the Saint Andrew Christmas Novena is a good way to help focus the attention of your children on the Advent season.

Here’s the prayer. Join us? Between November 30 and December 25, the words of the prayer will be displayed in the upper right corner of the home page.

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 (mention your intentions here), through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.

St. Andrew Novena Printable

Image Credit: Pinterest

14 Comments

  1. angelo caramoan

    meron po ba novena prayer booklet for st. andrew??? if meron san po pwede makaavail ng novena prayer to st. andrew?..

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  3. […] Friday is the feast of St Andrew the Apostle. His feast is used to determine the beginning of the Advent Season. The Church’s instruction says, “Advent is a period beginning with the Sunday nearest to the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle (30 November) and embracing four Sundays.” That means that the First Sunday of Advent can fall as early as November 27 or as late as December 3. St. Andrew was in the first group of disciples who went to see where Jesus lived after hHe was baptized. Andrew ran to tell his brother, Simon (who would be called Peter) saying, “We have found the Messiah” (Jn 1:40). The Messiah – the long anticipated Savior that the Jewish nation had been waiting for over the centuries! There is a lovely prayer that many say beginning on the feast of St. Andrew to help to prepare for the Birth of Jesus, “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, through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.” Here is a link to learn a bit more about it: http://thepracticingcatholic.com/2011/11/30/saint-andrew-christmas-novena/. […]

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  9. David Murphy

    My mother taught me this wonderful prayer about fifty five years ago. It truly represents what the meaning of Christmas is about.

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  12. Theresa

    I forgot to start the Christmas prayer this year! It’s now December 5th! Is it too late to start? Do I need to back track the previous days? Also, do you ask for your hearts desire at the end of the 15 prayers or after each prayer?

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    • Liz

      I usually mention it during each prayer, so I try to say it 15 times. I think God gets the idea:) Sometimes, I miss a day(s), then I add more the next time. God knows our hearts ♥️ and I believe He understands.

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