The St. Andrew Christmas Novena, a.k.a the Christmas Anticipation Prayer. Never heard of it until two years ago. The tradition begins on the feast day of St. Andrew, November 30.
Choose one thing for which to ask the Lord. Pray the prayer 15 times daily along with your request, up until Christmas. Last year, I balked at the 15 times - feeling like it suggested superstition. So, I just prayed it once per day, and still found it deeply beautiful. But this year, I not only am saying it 15 times, but afterwards I say a request for each person in my family. I am asking for a list of seven things!
Sometimes I feel like a little child sitting on Santa's lap saying, "I want this and this and this..." And yet, isn't that what Christ wants? He wants us to come to Him like children and promises not to withhold good things from those who ask.
Best of all is the joy and hope which pervades my soul in prayer. The moment in which the Son of God was born... Think of it, the very moment when Jesus entered this world!
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