Also known as the Saint Andrew Novena, as it begins on his Feast (Nov. 30), the Christmas Novena is a good way to prepare for Christmas and remind us of our intentions during Advent.

The Novena consists of saying the below prayer 15 times daily from the Feast of Saint Andrew (Nov. 30) to Christmas. I remember the joy I had on Christmas while reciting the prayer the first time I devoted myself to praying this Novena prayer. How beautiful it is to place ourselves humbly before the Manger of Our Lord on Christmas in the silence of the night. What joy!

I will be praying this Novena for guidance concerning how I shall continue to move forward in forming a traditional monastic community according to the tradition of Saint Paul of the Cross among other intentions. I ask you to keep this intention in mind during this Advent season and beyond.

The Saint Andrew Christmas Novena 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, through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.