St. Andrew is a popular saint around here. For us, he’s the harbinger of Christmas … and that’s a very good thing.

A few years ago, I listened to a dear online (and now IRL) friend, Elizabeth, about the efficacy of praying the St. Andrew Christmas Novena prayer. This is a pious devotion that has been around for over 100 years (the prayer carries the imprimatur of New York Archbishop Michael Augustine from 1897:

“It is piously believed that whoever recites the above prayer 15 times a day from the Feast of St. Andrew (Nov 30) until Christmas (Dec 24) will obtain what is asked.”

I have many prayer petitions in my heart … for miraculous cures for young people who are dying, for the economy and situation of America, for peace in the world and for those who are fighting for our freedom (especially a dear friend’s husband who is getting ready to deploy … and thus missing his son’s first Christmas!). There is so much to pray for … to ask for intercessions and help …

But I do have a particular, personal intention for which I will pray during this Novena. I firmly believe that God, thru the intercessions of His saints, ALWAYS answers our prayers (even if we may not always see the answer … or like it when we do). God is always GOOD and LOVING and all things are possible through Him.

So, I will pray this Novena 15 times each day from today through Christmas Eve. Would you like to join me?