St. Andrew Christmas 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 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

Our good friends Andy and Amanda Wegryzn gave me a St. Andrew Chaplet for my birthday. I have never actually consistently prayed a novena, since they always seemed to me to lean towards "bargaining" - "if you do this then God will do this" sort of thing. But, like I learned with the Rosary, a novena can be a beautiful way of offering our prayer and focusing our hearts on God. Elizabeth Foss comments on this particular novena here and expresses beautifully how a novena turns our eyes from ourselves to Christ.
Christmastime has been very hard for me the past few years. I feel the emptiness of our home and the barrenness of my womb more acutely during the holidays. After all, what we celebrate is a birth - a conception, 9 months of waiting, gestation, and finally, the arrival of a long awaited child . . . A long awaited child.
This year it was a bit easier. I was reminded every time I fingered the little beads that the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. The baby we welcome is the Prince of Peace, Emmanuel, God with us. Who can comprehend such Love? Hail and blessed be that moment - the moment in which the Son of God emptied himself (not considering equality with God something to be grasped) and came in the form of a helpless babe to save and redeem us from the curse.
It was also easier because every day, for a few minutes, I offered up a prayer, a cry of utter dependence, like a child. It's one thing to cry out in occasional moments of pain or desperation; it's another thing to lift one's voice every day, consistently, obediently, realizing one has nothing to bring - no bargaining power whatsoever - just a cry of dependence. "Through the merits of Our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of his Blessed Mother." It helps dispose the heart towards trust and a simpler faith. Also, St. Andrew is the patron of those trying to conceive. It was a comfort asking him daily to intercede on our behalf.

Thanks for the gift Andy and Amanda!