Novena de Navidad

The novena is an exercise of devotion that is practiced for nine days to obtain some grace or ask for a certain intention. It may be dedicated to Christ himself in some invocation, or to some canonized saint whose intercession is more powerful before God, due to the merits achieved during his life. For example the Virgin Mary and the saints. It can be nine consecutive days or nine times a given day of the week (nine Fridays, for example).

When we ask for the intercession of a saint, we seek to imitate his virtues and holiness, since otherwise the novena would be meaningless if it is not practiced with faith and determination to change. Unlike octaves, which are festive in nature, novenas are made with an intention or to pray for a deceased person.

The novenas agree with the Bible in that it is known that between the Resurrection and the Ascension there are 40 days; and there are nine days between the Ascension and Pentecost; time in which the apostles and other Christians gathered remained in prayer, although they are only connections created by theologians, it could be more than just a coincidence, or not, and be just that; they are also inspired by certain customs of Greek and Roman cultures who celebrated nine days of mourning for the dead or to appease the gods. Jesus Christ taught to pray insistently (Luke 18:11) and asked the Apostles to prepare themselves in prayer for the coming of the Holy Spirit, after his Ascension to Heaven (Acts 2:1-41). From this ecclesial experience emerges the Pentecost novena. Although the first Christians followed the custom regarding the number of days, the content of the novenas was completely new: they consisted of fervent Christian prayers performed, initially in a communal manner. Pope Alexander VII grants the first indulgence to a novena, in honor of Saint Francis Xavier.

Saint Augustine warned Christians not to fall into pagan customs during novenas. Saint Jerome said that the number nine indicates suffering and pain in the Bible.

In the Middle Ages it was said that Jesus Christ died at the ninth hour and that, thanks to the Holy Mass, the deceased would be elevated to heaven on the ninth day. Preparation novenas also appear at this time, inspired by the Virgin's nine months of pregnancy, which are celebrated during the nine days before an important holiday, for example, Christmas.

In this App you will find the Christmas Novena as well as the Christmas story.