The St. Andrew Christmas Novena is a beloved traditional prayer recited fifteen times each day from the Feast of St. Andrew (November 30th) until Christmas Eve. This devotion, also called the Christmas Anticipation Prayer, is not twenty distinct prayers, but one powerful prayer repeated with profound faith, symbolizing a soul in eager anticipation of the Incarnation. It centers on the beautiful mantra: “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.” The following guide explores 20 St Andrew Christmas Novena Prayers, each anchored in Scripture, to enrich your recitation of this novena, turning repetition into a deepening meditation on the coming of Christ.
20 St Andrew Christmas Novena Prayers
1. Prayer for Patient Waiting
As we begin this long journey of prayer, we ask for the grace of patient, hopeful waiting, like the prophets and faithful of old.
“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.” (Psalm 130:5)
2. Prayer for Purification
Prepare our hearts, O Lord, to be a worthy dwelling place for Your Son. Burn away all that keeps us from You.
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)
3. Prayer in the Spirit of St. Andrew
Inspired by your apostle, who immediately brought others to Christ, fill us with his missionary zeal.
“The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah.’” (John 1:41)
4. Prayer of Marian Devotion
Through the intercession of Mary, who pondered all things in her heart, may we welcome the Word with her perfect ‘yes.’
“And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.’” (Luke 1:38)
5. Prayer for the Light of Christ
Dispel the darkness in our world and in our souls. May the approaching dawn of Christ’s birth illuminate our path.
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9:2)
6. Prayer for Humility
Teach us the humility of the Bethlehem stable, that we may recognize God not in power, but in vulnerability.
“He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.” (Luke 1:52)
7. Prayer for Joyful Expectation
Replace our anxiety with the joyful expectation of the shepherds, who eagerly went to see the sign given them.
“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.’” (Luke 2:10)
8. Prayer for the Poor and Lowly
As Your Son chose poverty, turn our hearts to those in need, recognizing Christ in them.
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)
9. Prayer for Family Unity
Bless our families during this season. May the Holy Family of Nazareth be our model of love and sacrifice.
“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10)
10. Prayer for Peace
You are the Prince of Peace. Grant peace to our hearts, our homes, and our war-torn world.
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14)
11. Prayer for a Simpler Heart
Free us from the clutter of materialism. Help us to seek only the one true gift: Jesus Himself.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)
12. Prayer in Times of Spiritual Cold
When our faith feels like the “piercing cold” of Bethlehem, warm our hearts with the fire of Your love.
“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” (Luke 12:49)
13. Prayer of Contemplation
Grant us the grace to pause amidst the season’s rush and contemplate the mystery of God made man.
“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)
14. Prayer for the Gift of Faith
Like the Magi, help us to believe without seeing, trusting in the promise of His star.
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)
15. Prayer for the Church
Bless and guide Your Church, that it may always faithfully proclaim the good news of this holy birth.
“You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18)
16. Prayer for the Grace of the Present Moment
Blessed be the hour and moment… Teach us to find You in the present, where Your grace is always found.
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34)
17. Prayer for a Grateful Heart
Instill in us a spirit of profound gratitude for the immeasurable gift of Your Incarnation.
“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)
18. Prayer for the Courage to Witness
Having encountered Christ in prayer, give us courage to share this joy with others.
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3:15)
19. Prayer on Christmas Eve
As the hour draws near, fill us with a holy awe and final preparation for the celebration of His Nativity.
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)
20. Prayer for the Fruit of the Novena
Through the merits of Jesus and His Blessed Mother, we humbly present our deepest desires, trusting in Your will.
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7)
Conclusion
The journey of the St. Andrew Christmas Novena is much more than a ritual of repetition; it is a spiritual pilgrimage of the heart. By anchoring our daily recitation in these scriptural reflections, we transform a simple prayer into a transformative dialogue. We do not merely ask for gifts; we allow ourselves to be conformed to the Giver. We walk with the prophets, wait with Mary, and wonder with the shepherds, allowing the ancient story to become intimately present in our own lives.
This 20 St Andrew Christmas Novena Prayers great power lies in its persistent focus on the pivotal moment of human history—the birth of our Savior. By pledging to remember that “hour and moment” dozens of times each day for twenty-five days, we perform a powerful act of reorientation. It pulls us back from the distractions of the season and centers us, again and again, on the stark, glorious reality of Emmanuel: God with us. This practice has the power to quiet our spirits and align our deepest desires with God’s will, making our hearts a true Bethlehem.
As Christmas dawns, the novena does not simply end; it culminates. The accumulated longing, the whispered hopes, and the meditative patience find their fulfillment at the manger. We arrive not as strangers, but as well-prepared guests, our inner space cleared and warmed by weeks of prayer. Having kept vigil with St. Andrew’s prayer, we can now gaze upon the Christ Child with a sharper joy, a deeper gratitude, and a more resilient faith that will carry us into the new year. The prayer’s final “Amen” on Christmas Eve is thus both an ending and a beginning—the joyful start of our celebration of the Word made Flesh, who dwells among us.
