Every year on November 30, a quiet but powerful prayer challenge begins across the Catholic world. It isn't a long prayer. It doesn't take hours to pray. But it is one of the most intense and rewarding spiritual commitments of the liturgical year.
It is the St. Andrew Christmas Novena.
Unlike a traditional nine-day novena, this one is prayed for 25 consecutive days—from the Feast of St. Andrew (Nov 30) until Christmas Eve. And the most unique part? It is traditionally prayed 15 times every single day.
Here is the history, the wording, and the theology behind the prayer that centers the heart on the "piercing cold" of Bethlehem.
1. The Mystery: Why St. Andrew?
The first thing to clarify is that this is not actually a prayer to St. Andrew. It is a prayer to God the Father, through the merits of Jesus and Mary. It is named after St. Andrew simply because his feast day (Nov 30) marks the beginning of the "Advent season" in the Church's calendar. St. Andrew was the first apostle called by Jesus, and it is fitting that his day calls us to begin our final preparation for the Messiah.
2. The Prayer Text: Meditating on the "Moment"
The beauty of this novena lies in its brevity and its sensory details.
"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 Savior Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen."
Breaking Down the Words:
- "The Hour and Moment": The prayer locks your mind onto a specific second in history. The exact moment when God—the Creator of the stars—took His first human breath.
- "At Midnight": Symbolizing the light shining in the deepest darkness.
- "In Piercing Cold": A reminder of the poverty and humility of the Incarnation. God didn't choose a palace; He chose a cave. He chose to be cold so that we could be warm in His love.
- "Vouchsafe": An old-fashioned way of saying "graciously grant."
3. The 15-Times-a-Day Challenge
Why 15 times? In the spiritual life, repetition is a form of love. Just as we repeat "I love you" to a spouse, or "Hail Mary" in the Rosary, the repetition of this prayer acts as a constant "pulse" throughout our day.
It serves as a "reminder system." In the middle of the busyness of gift-shopping, office parties, and grocery lists, praying this 15 times forces you to check in with Bethlehem every couple of hours.
How to manage the 15:
- 5-5-5: Use the natural breaks of your day. 5 repetitions at breakfast, 5 at lunch, and 5 before bed.
- The Commute: Pray it on your way to work or while stuck in traffic.
- The Beads: Some people use a small "15-bead" string or a decade of their Rosary plus five to keep track.
- The App: Set 15 reminders on the MyPrayerTower app to space them out throughout the day.
4. The "Impossible" Favors
There is a long-standing tradition that those who faithful pray this novena for the full 25 days will obtain whatever favor they ask, provided it is for their spiritual good.
Many people use this novena to ask for "big" things: the return of a fallen-away child, a job in a time of crisis, or the healing of a broken relationship. Because it requires a daily sacrifice of time and memory, it is seen as a very powerful way to show God that you are serious about your petition.
5. The History: An Irish Heart?
The exact origin of the St. Andrew Novena is a bit of a mystery, but it is believed to have originated in Ireland in the 19th century. It was a "lay devotion"—something designed for families to pray together by the hearth. At a time when life was physically cold and hard, the imagery of the "piercing cold" of Bethlehem resonated deeply with the faithful. It spread through the United States via Irish and European immigrants and has become a staple of the "Slow Advent" movement today.
6. Tips for a Successful Novena
- Start on time: Set a reminder for Nov 30. If you start a day late, don't quit! Just add it on.
- Write down your intention: Be specific. What are you asking for "through the merits of Our Savior"?
- Don't worry about perfection: If you realize at 11 PM that you only did 10, just pray the last 5 then. God is not a bookkeeper; He is a Father.
- Visualize: As you say the words "piercing cold," think of the steam of the animals' breath in the cave and the silence of the Judean hills.
Conclusion: A Chain of Light
The St. Andrew Novena is like a bridge. It starts in the dark of late November and ends in the ablaze-with-light joy of Christmas Eve. By praying it, you are weaving a "garment" of prayer to offer the Christ Child on His birthday.
Will you take the 25-day challenge?
Join thousands of others in the 15-a-day challenge. Get the daily prayer card and tracking tools on the MyPrayerTower app.