Advent Customs--The St. Andrew Novena

Today begins the tradtional St. Andrew Novena for Christmas. Below is the prayer that is said 15 times a day from today until Christmas. It is a beautiful way to meditate on the mystery of the Incarnation throughout this time of preparation for the coming of our Savior. If you memorize it (and after a few days you do) you can easily pray it throughout the day. A wonderful way to bring you back to the meaning of Advent if you are out shopping for Christmas! This prayer is a favorite especially in the novitiate!

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.

(It is piously believe that whoever recites the above prayer 15 times a day from the feast of St. Andrew (Nov. 30th) until Christmas will obtain what is asked.) Imprimatur: Michael Augustine, Archbishop of New York, February 6, 1897