The St. Andrew Christmas Series of Prayers Begins Today

[Shin]

THE SAINT ANDREW CHRISTMAS ANTICIPATION 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 piercing cold.  
In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God to hear my prayer and grant my desires,
 (mention your intentions here if you wish)
through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother.
Amen. (15x)
 
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 Saint Andrew the Apostle (November 30) until Christmas.  
 
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, all at once; or divide up
the recitation as necessary (perhaps five times at each meal).  
Prayed as a family, the Saint Andrew Christmas Novena is a very good way to
help focus the attention of your children on the Advent season.
 
 
- Thanks to Our Lady of the Rosary Library

[odhiambo]

I have just noticed this! I wished I had seen it yesterday but these days I rest from internet, etc, on Sundays. I hope it is not too late to start.
I have never come across this novena Shin. I would like to make it part of my advent prayers. Thank you for brining it to our attention.

[Shin]

I was afraid it was a little late but I am sure it is good to begin the day after too, that is an honor after all as well.

I find the prayer quite moving, saying it more than once, one doesn't wish to stop. 

[odhiambo]

I think that midnight, the time the Lord was born, is an ideal time to say this novena.
I have checked in my book of novena, it is not present, I wonder why.

[Shin]

Good question!  

I really like the midnight vigil use of the prayer Odhiambo. What a splendid inspiration!

Midnight vigils are wonderful ways to pray, they are full of reverence and a good sacrifice to offer the Lord.

I edited the title of the thread a bit so folks don't mistake it as only 9 days.

 

[Shin]

Another midnight vigil practice I know of is praying with one's arms extended in the form of a cross.