“Advent” meaning “coming” is derived from the Latin word adventus, a translation of the Greek word Parousia. Advent is the season of preparation for oneself towards the birth of Jesus.
Advent is the period reflecting on the onset of Christmas. It starts on the Sunday nearest to 30 November and ends on the fourth Sunday before 25 December.
Through, St. Andrew Christmas Novena or St. Andrew Advent Novena a devout can meditate on Our Lord and get closer to His Kingdom.
This season is spent meaningfully by Christians all over the world by preparing internally to welcome Christ into their hearts. It is celebrated with devotion, hymns, lighting candles, hanging wreaths, and giving offerings.
The Christian calendar anticipates the Advent season as the “coming of Christ” and describes the physical nativity in Bethlehem, the reception of Christ in the heart of the believer, and the eschatological Second Coming. The period starts four Sundays before Christmas and is observed in prayer and fasting.
The 4th and 5th centuries observed Advent as the season of the baptism of new Christians which was done in preparation of spending 40 days in penance, prayer, and fasting. In the 6th century, Advent was tied to the second coming of Christ.
During the Middle Ages Christ’s first coming at Christmas became the meaning of Advent. The New Testament in the Holy Bible quotes Advent as the season of “The Second Coming of Christ”.
Facts
Novena Starts: November 30th
Feast Day: December 25th
Significance of St. Andrew Christmas Novena
Unlike the traditional novenas, St. Andrew Christmas Novena lasts for 25 days and is recited 15 times in a day.
The preparation and practices following Advent include the preparation of the Advent calendar, Advent wreath, Christmas tree, Christingle, and Christmas decorations as a custom done to welcome the birth of Christ.
The liturgical color of Advent is purple meaning royalty. It is a symbol of looking forward to welcoming the birth of a King. Gold is also used as an alternative color.
The Advent wreath is created out of evergreens which symbolizes everlasting. The circle is a symbol of God’s unending love and eternal life. The red color in the decorations is used to portray Jesus’ sacrifice and death. Pinecones symbolize the new life through resurrection.
Advent candles are a set of four candles representing hope, faith, joy, and peace. The first, second, and fourth candles are purple in color and the third candle is rose-colored.
The candles can also be represented in red, blue, or white. A fifth white candle is lit on Christmas Day to celebrate Jesus’ birth.
Advent readings for each Sunday have different themes such as Hope, Preparation, Joy, and Love.
During Advent, the Gloria song in mass is not sung, and the return of the angels’ song at Christmas is sung to embark on the season of Christmas.
Read more: Novena to Our Lady of Fatima
St. Andrew Novena
Day 1
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Recite 15 times
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,
<<insert your special request>>
Through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ and of His blessed Mother.
Amen.
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Day 2
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Recite 15 times
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,
<<insert your special request>>
Through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ and of His blessed Mother.
Amen.
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Read more: Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Day 3
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Recite 15 times
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,
<<insert your special request>>
Through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ and of His blessed Mother.
Amen.
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Day 4
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Recite 15 times
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,
<<insert your special request>>
Through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ and of His blessed Mother.
Amen.
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Day 5
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Recite 15 times
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,
<<insert your special request>>
Through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ and of His blessed Mother.
Amen.
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Read more: St. Anthony Novena
Day 6
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Recite 15 times
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,
<<insert your special request>>
Through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ and of His blessed Mother.
Amen.
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Day 7
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Recite 15 times
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,
<<insert your special request>>
Through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ and of His blessed Mother.
Amen.
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Day 8
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Recite 15 times
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,
<<insert your special request>>
Through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ and of His blessed Mother.
Amen.
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Day 9
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Recite 15 times
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,
<<insert your special request>>
Through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ and of His blessed Mother.
Amen.
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Read more: Boondock Saints Prayer Meaning and Biblical Origin
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