Advent started today, and tomorrow, November 30th is the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle. Associated with the Feast is an old tradition known as the St. Andrew Christmas Novena. To do this, you say 15 times a day from St. Andrew’s Day until Christmas:

“Hail and blessed be the hour and moment at which the Son of God was born of a most pure Virgin at a stable at midnight in Bethlehem in the piercing cold. At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, to hear my prayers and grant my desires. (Mention your intentions here) Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother. Amen.”

Fifteen times a day?!?! It’s not really that hard, when you break it down. Say it five times during Morning Prayers and five more times during the Three O’clock Divine Mercy Hour, and the remaining five during Evening Prayers. Another good time is at bedtime, if, for example, you don’t have sufficient time at 3PM.

It also isn’t really that long a prayer.

I have never done this, but will do so this year.

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