Last year beginning on November 30th, the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, I prayed the St. Andrew Christmas Novena. If this novena was a traditional nine-day novena, it would end on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th. However, this novena is actually prayed much longer. It is prayed throughout all four weeks of Advent! “It is piously believed that whoever recites the St. Andrew Christmas prayer fifteen times each day from the feast of St. Andrew until Christmas day will obtain the favor requested.”
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.
You can find a beautiful printable Holy Card with the novena over at JOYfilled Family. (I just finished printing them out and laminating one for each of us for this year.)
With our little Bud due on Christmas (or New Year’s depending on which ultrasound you went by) I prayed for a
safe delivery and healthy baby… This year we are celebrating his very first nameday today! Yes, even though it wasn’t even
considered before he was born, we ended up naming Bud after this great saint. We were also so excited to learn that it also happens to be his Godfather’s Confirmation name! (Coincidence? I don’t think so!)
I’ve been flipping through my cookbooks and looking for ways to celebrate this feast, and have tucked aways a few ideas that I’d like to try someday. (A heart shaped waffle maker to make Andreasherzen is definitely going on my wish list!) However, this year, we are keeping it simple and going with Mary’s Fishers of Men Snack. It is perfect for our pretzel rod loving little man! (Update: I posted a few pictures here.)
Happy Feast of St. Andrew!
Prayer of Mothers
Father in heaven, grant me the grace to appreciate the dignity which you have conferred on me. Let me realize that not even the Angels have been blessed with such a privilege—to share in your creative miracle and bring new Saints to heaven. Make me a good mother to all my children after the example of Mary, the Mother of your Son. Through the intercession of Jesus and Mary I ask your continued blessings on my family. Let us all be dedicated to your service on earth and attain the eternal happiness of your kingdom in heaven. Amen.
We did the same thing last year, Jessica! …the laminating the holy cards from Lena's blog. They are so beautiful! I did one for each of us in the family. Over the past few years this prayer has become my most favorite Advent tradition/observance.
your laminated job looks great. do you cut the cards first then laminate? i'm a bit lazy, laminate first then cut. maybe i should take the time for one more step. 😉
I did cut them out before laminating, but only because that is the only way that the laminating sheet I was using works – it needs to be able to seal together around the edges.