Saint Andrew
The Saint Andrew Novena is begun on the feast of Saint Andrew. He was one of Our Blessed Lord’s 12 Apostles. He was the brother of the Great Apostle and First Pope, Saint Peter. This holy Saint was martyred for the Catholic Faith and preached from the cross which he eventually died on.
The Traditional Saint Andrew Novena
Advent is a time for us to prepare for the great feast of Christmas. This preparation consists of prayer and penance and it reminds us of the time before the coming of Our Divine Redeemer into the world to save us from the oppression of sin. The Saint Andrew Novena is traditionally said from the feast of Saint Andrew , the 30th of November until Christmas Eve on the 24th of December.
This Novena helps us meditate on the birth of Our Blessed Lord in Bethlehem. It is tradition that Our Blessed Lord was born at midnight in the freezing cold. This is also supported by the Sacred Scriptures, as we read in the book of Wisdom:
“For while all things were in quiet silence, and the night was in the midst of her course, Thy almighty word leapt down from heaven from thy royal throne, as a fierce conqueror into the midst of the land of destruction.” – Wisdom 18: 14-15
In order to pray the Novena the prayer below is said 15 times every day during this Novena
The 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 the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, 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.
Saint Andrew, pray for us
