Christmas Anticipation Prayer and Novena to the Immaculate Conception

Today marks the beginning of both the Christmas Anticipation Prayer (or Christmas Novena, also known as the St. Andrew Novena) and the Novena to the Immaculate Conception.

 

Beginning on November 30, the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, the following prayer is traditionally recited frequently daily until Christmas. 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.

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.

My favorite prayer book, Handbook of Prayers edited by Father James Socias has a most beautiful novena to the Immaculate Conception. Each day is different, rich with meditative readings and prayers. I've included the first day on O Night Divine and the entire novena is in .pdf form on this page.