Join in the St. Andrew's Christmas Novena.

Today begins the traditional Christmas novena to St. Andrew. Rather than the usual nine days, it lasts for 25, but what a blessed opportunity to get to know St. Andrew better. I hope you'll join me in praying it until Christmas. St. Andrew is one of my favorite saints. I want him to bring me to Jesus like he did with his brother, St. Peter. Benedictus has a wonderful meditation in this month's issue. I'll share just a bit:

When St. Andrew first caught sight of the gibbet on which he was to die, he greeted the precious wood with joy. "O good cross!" he cried, "made beautiful by the limbs of Christ, so long desired, now so happily found! Receive me into they arms and present me to my Master, that He Who redeemed me through thee may now accept me from thee." Two whole days the martyr remained hanging on this cross, alive, preaching, with outstretched arms from this chair of truth, to all who came near, and entreating them not to hinder his passion.

Are you carrying a heavy cross this Advent? What a blessing if you can say with St. Andrew, "O good cross! made beautiful by the limbs of Christ." Every act of immolation on the altar of sacrifice offers incredible blessings, and those who inflict those crosses are our greatest benefactors. I pray that every cross I welcome will be the means of reducing my exile in Purgatory. 

St. Andrew, my Christmas novena desire is to welcome with joy every cross I experience during the Advent and Christmas season and beyond.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

St. Andrew, great apostle of Jesus, pray for us.

And now...the novena:

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 Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.

Recite the above prayer 15 times a day from November 30 to December 24