The St. Andrew Novena

One Advent custom that is special to some of our Sisters is the "St. Andrew Novena." It begins on the feast of St. Andrew and is prayed daily, 15 times a day until Christmas day. Even if you don't wish to pray it 15 times a day it is a beautiful way to prepare one's heart for the coming of our Savior at Christmas. It's not really a novena since a novena is by definition for 9 days but this beautiful prayer can help you, through all the bustle and distractions of the day, contemplate the mystery of the Incarnation and Birth of our Lord.

It really doesn't take long to learn, especially if you hang it in key places where you'll see it. One year, one of the novices hung it on the door of the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. (We don't have mirrors in the bathrooms so she couldn't hang it there!) After a few days of brushing your teeth you'll have it memorized in no time!

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, [here mention your request] through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.