The Christmas Anticipation Prayer

Also known as the

St. Andrew Christmas Miracle Novena

 

Source: EWTN.com:

“Beginning on St. Andrew the Apostle’s feast day, November 30, the following beautiful prayer is traditionally recited fifteen (15) times a day until Christmas [ed.: Vigil, the 24th; inclusive]. This is a very meditative prayer that helps us increase our awareness of the real focus of Christmas and helps us prepare ourselves spiritually for His coming.”

It is piously held that whosoever recites this beautiful, short, prayer fifteen (15) times daily, from the Feast of St. Andrew on November 30th until the Christmas Vigil (inclusive), will obtain the grant of his petition. One can pray them all-together or throughout the day, though best practice would suggest recitation in just one sitting and ideally at a regular time, e.g. as part of one’s evening prayers.

A succinct history of the devotion can be listened to here, which gives imprimatur details and a brief explanation of the significance of St. Andrew, whereby it is reasoned that as he was the first Apostle called by our Lord, it is therefore most fitting that this ‘opening’ devotion of Advent should commence on his feast day. It is suggested that original duration was just the standard nine (9) days, which saw completion on 8th December, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. It may interest the reader to learn that pious legend holds that the much venerated statue of the Holy Infant was at one time owned by St. Teresa of Avila, who gifted it to a friend (or god-daughter) and through whom it made its way to Prague.

The prayer is produced below and Your correspondent has taken the liberty of adorning it with pious invocations appropriate to the season and has also located a Latin rendering  (slightly adjusted*) which seems to be credible. As is widely appreciated, prayers prayed in the Church’s language are imbued with increased efficacy. He has also suggested the conventional Pater noster – Ave Maria – Gloria Patri offering, typically recited at the end of novena prayers. The Miraculous Litany of the Infant of Prague has also been appended.

God bless you one and all in these our modern times. St. Andrew, pray for us.

•••••••

Christmas Anticipation Prayer

Et Verbum caro factum est et habitávit in nobis.
(And the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us.)

To be recited fifteen times, daily:

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:

~ Mention your request ~

… through the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.

– – –

Pater ..  Ave .. Gloria ..

Deus visitávit plebem suam.
(God hath visited His people. [St. Luke 7:16])

Sancte Andrea, ora pro nobis.

 

The Litany of the Miraculous Infant of Prague

(Private use only)

KYRIE eléison.
Christe eléison.
Kyrie eléison.

Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us. 

God the Father of heaven, ~ have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, ~
God the Holy Ghost, ~
Holy Trinity, One God, ~

O miraculous Infant Jesus, * have mercy on us.
Infant Jesus, true God and Lord, *
Infant Jesus, Whose omnipotence is manifested in a wonderful manner, *
Infant Jesus, Whose wisdom searches our hearts and minds, *
Infant Jesus, Whose goodness continually inclines to aid us, *
Infant Jesus, Whose providence leads us to our last end and destiny, *
Infant Jesus, Whose truth enlightens the darkness of our hearts, *
Infant Jesus, Whose generosity enriches our poverty, *
Infant Jesus, Whose friendship consoles the afflicted, *
Infant Jesus, Whose mercy forgives our sins, *
Infant Jesus, Whose strength invigorates us, *
Infant Jesus, Whose power turns away all evils, *
Infant Jesus, Whose justice deters us from sin, *
Infant Jesus, Whose power conquers hell, *
Infant Jesus, Whose lovely countenance attracts our hearts, *
Infant Jesus, Whose greatness holds the universe in its hand, *
Infant Jesus, Whose miraculous hand raised in benediction fills us with all blessings, *
Infant Jesus, Whose glory filleth the whole world, *

Be merciful,
Spare us O Jesus.
Be merciful,
Graciously hear us, O Jesus.

From all evil, ^ deliver us, O Jesus.
From all sin, ^
From all distrust of Thy infinite goodness, ^
From all doubts in Thy power of miracles, ^
From all lukewarmness in Thy veneration, ^
From all trials and misfortunes, ^
Through the mysteries of Thy holy Childhood, ^

Through the intercession of Mary, Thy Virgin Mother and St. Joseph Thy foster father, # we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst pardon us, #
That Thou wouldst bring us to true repentance, #
That Thou wouldst preserve and increase in us love and devotion to Thy sacred Infancy, #
That Thou wouldst never withdraw Thine miraculous hand from us, #
That Thou wouldst keep us mindful of Thy numberless benefits, #
That Thou wouldst inflame us more and more with love for Thy Sacred Heart, #
That Thou wouldst graciously hear all who call upon Thee with confidence, #
That Thou wouldst preserve our country in peace, #
That Thou wouldst free us from all impending evils, #
That Thou wouldst give eternal life to all who act generously toward Thee, #
That Thou wouldst pronounce a merciful sentence on us at the judgement, #
That Thou wouldst in Thy miraculous Image remain our consoling refuge, #
Jesus, Son of God and of Mary, #

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Jesus.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Jesus. 
Lamb of God Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

V/. Infant Jesus, hear us.
R/. Infant Jesus, graciously hear us.

Our Father, ..
.. and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen. 

Let us pray.
O MIRACULOUS Infant Jesus, prostrate before Thy sacred Image, we beseech Thee to cast a merciful look on our troubled hearts. Let Thy tender Heart, so inclined to pity, be softened at our prayers, and grant us that grace for which we ardently implore Thee. Take from us all affliction and despair, all trials and misfortunes with which we are laden. For Thy sacred Infancy’s sake hear our prayers and send us consolation and aid that we may praise Thee, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, forever and ever. Amen.

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