The St. Andrew Christmas novena is a prayer said from November 30, the Feast of St. Andrew, through Christmas Eve. Traditionally, it is recited 15 times each day.

The Gospel of John tells us that St. Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist who heard John call Jesus “the Lamb of God.” Andrew followed Jesus, curious about him, and realized that he was the Messiah, so he quickly found his brother, Peter, and the two became the first disciples.

In praying this novena, Christians follow the example of Andrew’s prescient faithfulness throughout the season of Advent.

The prayer of the novena reads: “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 through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.”

©LPi