The Strenna Novena or Christmas Novena is the tradition that has been celebrated throughout these days, beginning from December 16 to December 24. Deeply Catholic inspired, this practice calls on families and friends to share moments of prayer and reflection, seeking to prepare the heart to commemorate the birth of Jesus.
The ninth day of the Novena has a special meaning, as it coincides with Christmas Eve. On this date, homes are spiritually prepared to welcome the Christ Child, remembering the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus in the simplicity of a manger. On this last day of the Novena of Strennaprayers take on an even deeper meaning, since it is an opportunity to open the heart and home to receive the Christ Child with faith and joy, trusting that his arrival will renew our lives with peace, love and abundant blessings.
Day 9 of the Novena of Strenna
Initial blessing: In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Prayer for every day
Most Benign God of infinite charity, who loved men so much, that you gave them in your Son the best pledge of your love, so that, made man in the womb of a Virgin, he would be born in a manger for our health and remedy; I, on behalf of all mortals, give you infinite thanks for such a sovereign benefit. In return for him I offer you the poverty, humility and other virtues of your humanized Son, begging you for his divine merits, for the discomforts in which he was born and for the tender tears he shed in the manger, that you dispose our hearts with deep humility, with burning love, with such contempt for everything earthly, so that the newborn Jesus may have his cradle in them and dwell eternally. Amen. (Glory to the Father is prayed three times)
- Glory to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
- As it was in the beginning, now and forever and ever. Amen.
Consideration of Day 9
Night has completely closed in the countryside of Bethlehem. Discarded by men and finding themselves without shelter, Mary and Joseph left the inhospitable town and took refuge in a cave at the foot of the hill. The donkey that had served as her horse during the trip followed the Queen of the Angels and in that cave they found a gentle ox, probably left there by one of the travelers who had gone to look for lodging in the city.
The Divine Child, unknown to his creatures, is going to have to go to the irrational so that they can warm the frozen atmosphere of that winter night with their warm breath and with this manifest their humble attitude, the respect and adoration that Bethlehem had denied him.
The reddish lantern that Joseph has in his hand dimly illuminates that very poor area, that manger full of straw that is a prophetic figure of the wonders of the altar, and of the intimate and prodigious Eucharistic union that Jesus will contract with men. Mary is in adoration in the middle of the grotto and thus the hours of that night full of mystery pass silently.
But midnight has arrived and suddenly we see inside that manger, shortly before empty, the Divine Child expected, predicted, desired for four thousand years with ineffable longing. At his feet his Holy Mother prostrates, in the transports of an adoration of which nothing can give an idea. Joseph also approaches and pays him the homage with which he inaugurates his mysterious and imponderable office as adoptive father of the Redeemer of men.
The multitude of angels that descend from the heavens to contemplate this unparalleled wonder, let their joy explode and make the harmonies of that Gloria in Excelsis vibrate in the air, which is the echo of the adoration that occurs around the Almighty, made perceptible for an instant to the ears of the poor earth. Summoned by them, the shepherds of the region come in droves to worship the newborn and present their humble offerings.
The mysterious star of Jacob is already shining in the east and the splendid caravan of the Three Wise Men is already setting off towards Bethlehem, who in a few days will come to deposit gold, incense and myrrh, which are symbols of charity, adoration and mortification, at the feet of the Divine Child.
Oh beloved Child! We too, those of us who have made this novena to prepare for your Christmas Day, want to offer you our poor adoration. Don't reject it! Come to our souls, come to our hearts full of love!
Ignite in them devotion to your holy childhood, not intermittent and only limited to the time of your Christmas, but always and at all times; devotion that faithfully practiced and zealously propagated, leads us to eternal life, freeing us from sin and sowing us all the Christian virtues.
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin
Sovereign Mary, because of your great virtues and especially your humility, you deserved that a true God chose you as his mother. I beg you that you yourself prepare and dispose my soul and that of all those who make this novena at this time, for the spiritual birth of your beloved Son. Oh sweetest Mother! Communicate to me something of the deep recollection and divine tenderness with which you awaited him, so that you may make us less unworthy of seeing him, loving him and adoring him for all eternity. Amen. (The Hail Mary is prayed nine times)
- Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among all women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
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Prayer to Saint Joseph
Oh Most Holy Joseph, husband of Mary and adoptive father of Jesus! I give infinite thanks to God because he chose you for such high ministries and adorned you with all the gifts provided for such excellent greatness. I beg you, for the love you had for the Divine Child, embrace me with fervent desires to see him and receive him sacramentally, while in his divine essence I see him and enjoy him in heaven. Amen.
- Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our trespasses, as we also forgive those who trespass against us. Do not lead us into temptation and deliver us from evil. Amen.
- Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among all women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
- Glory to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, now and forever and ever. Amen.
Representative image Pixabay
Joys for every day
- My sweet Jesus, my adored child, come to our souls! Come don't take so long!
- Oh, Supreme Wisdom of the sovereign God, that to childish reach you lower yourself sacred! Oh, Divine Child, come to teach us the prudence that makes true wise men!
- Oh, powerful Adonai, Moses speaking, from Israel to the people you gave the commands! Ah, come quickly to rescue us, and let a weak child show a strong arm!
- Oh, sacred root of Joseph who on high presents your fragrant nard to the world! Sweetest Child who has been called Lily of the valley, Beautiful flower of the field.
- Key of David that opens the closed doors of the royal palace to the exiled! Take us out, oh Child, with your white hand, from the sad prison that sin has carved!
- Oh, light of the East, sun of eternal rays, may we see your splendor among the darkness! Such a precious child, the joy of a Christian, let the smile of your sweet lips shine.
- Spotless mirror, holy of holies, unequaled image of the sovereign God! Erase our guilt, save the exiled and in the form of a child, give the miserable protection!
- King of the nations, Emmanuel illustrious, of Israel longing Shepherd of the flock! Child that you feed with a gentle staff, now the unruly sheep, now the meek lamb!
- Let the heavens open and rain from above, beneficent dew like holy irrigation! Come beautiful Child, come human God! Shine, Star God! Sprout, flower of the field!
- Come, Mary now protects her arms, so that her child can see, in close time! Come, now Joseph, with sacred longing, is preparing to obtain your sacred love!
- Of the weak help, of the suffering, protection of the sad, light of the exiled! Life of my life, my adored owner, my constant friend, my divine brother!
- Come before my eyes, in love with you! Kiss your plants now! Kiss your hands now! Prostrate on the ground, I extend my arms to you, and even more than my phrases, my tears speak to you!
- Come our Savior for whom we sigh Come to our souls, Come, do not delay so long!
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Prayer to the Child Jesus
Remember, oh sweetest Child Jesus!, that you said to the venerable Margaret of the Blessed Sacrament, and in her person to all your devotees, these very consoling words for our poor, overwhelmed and suffering humanity: “Everything you want to ask for, ask for the merits of my childhood and nothing will be denied you.” Full of confidence in you, oh Jesus, who are the same truth, we come to expose all our misery to you. Help us to lead a holy life, to achieve a blessed eternity. Grant us, through the infinite merits of your childhood, the grace of which we need so much. We give ourselves to you, O omnipotent Child!, certain that our hope will not be frustrated, and that, by virtue of your divine promise, you will receive and favorably dispatch our supplication. Amen.
Final blessing: In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Novena of bonuses 2025 and Christmas carols
ANDRÉS FELIPE ADAMES RESTREPO
SNAIL NEWS
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