One sweet and simple way to incorporate the season of Advent by a small act of prayer and raising your heart to God is through the St. Andrew novena. This relatively new devotion is said to have originated in Ireland over 100 years ago. The devotion begins on November 30th and ends on Christmas Eve. 15 times a day, you recited 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 Savior Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.
Graces are given through this beautiful and easy recitation that directs our hearts and our minds to the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ at Christmas.
Can’t remember to pray to this beauty 15 times a day? Here are a couple of tricks to make it happen and bring faith into everyday life:
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Print and tape the prayer to the fridge. Every time you grab a snack, cold beverage, or are feeding a little mouth, raise your heart and your voice to heaven whilst opening that fridge door.
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Pray the novena every time you get into the car. School pick ups, practice, holiday parties? Turn those moments of travel into a prayer
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Do you have stairs in your home? When headed down, say the prayer uniting your heart with Mary’s during this season of preparation.