St. Andrew Novena

November 30th marks the beginning of one of the most powerful novenas that can be prayed until Christmas. It's called the St. Andrew Christmas Novena, or more simply, The Christmas Novena. It's a wonderful way to enter the Advent season which is marked by a time of anticipation, penance, and prayer.

According to the Catholic Company, the origins of the novena are unknow, but it is believed to be at least over 100 years old. There are two ways to pray it.

First “If the St. Andrew novena was prayed as a regular nine-day novena, it would end on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th.” Second, the novena is prayed from the feast of St. Andrew (November 30th) until December 24th.  If prayed faithfully during that time, will obtain the favor requested.

Here is the beautiful 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, I beseech Thee,
O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires

(Mention your request here)
through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ,
and of His blessed Mother.
Amen.