Christmas Novena

Novena for Christmas.

1. O GOD and Saviour of our souls, sweet Infant Jesus, Whom the angels and shepherds adored in the stable of Bethlehem on that holy night when Thou wert born of the Virgin Mary, we offer Thee our profound adoration and our most earnest thanksgiving for having become man for our redemption and salvation; grant that we may apply all our powers to fulfil Thy gracious designs, that we may become perfectly renewed in heart and inflamed with Thy holy love.

   Pater; Ave; Gloria. Sweet Jesus, be my love.

2. O merciful Redeemer, Who didst vouchsafe to remain in the chaste cloister of Mary's womb, hidden and unknown, though Thou wast the Eternal Word, and the wisdom of the Father; grant that we may learn from Thee to love solitude and silence, and escape the evils that are found in the tumult and distractions of the world; grant us greater purity of mind and of heart; grant that we may glorify Thee, and edify others by our purity and modesty.

   Pater; Ave; Gloria, etc.

3. O Infant God, Who, from the moment of Thy conception in holy Mary's womb, didst offer Thyself to Thine eternal Father for the salvation of our souls, vouchsafe to give us a lively sense of the one thing necessary, so that we may labor zealously for others, and work out our own salvation in fear and trembling, yet with confidence in Thy love

   Pater; Ave; Gloria, etc.

4. O sweetest Jesus, Who didst go up to Bethlehem in the womb of Mary, to obey the commands of Cæsar, who had ordered all his subjects to be enrolled; grant us grace to obey with alacrity the most arduous commands from those who hold Thy place over us.

   Pater; Ave; Gloria, etc.

5. O most adorable Jesus, Who, upon Thy arrival at Bethlehem, wast rejected by all men; grant us to follow Thy example in sufferings and contempt, that we may welcome Thee joyfully into our hearts, when Thou seekest an entrance there, either by holy inspirations or by Thy divine Sacraments.

   Pater; Ave; Gloria, etc.

6. O Divine Infant, Who, when excluded from Bethlehem, didst inspire Thy holy Mother to retire to a poor and wretched stable, in which obscure and humble place it was Thy will to be born, in order to confound our pride, and to teach us humility. O grant that henceforward, conforming ourselves to Thy will, we may renounce all pomp and pride, and become truly meek and humble of heart.

   Pater; Ave; Gloria, etc.

7. O Divine Word, Who for the love of us, Thy poor creatures, wast pleased to be born under the most lowly roof, to be wrapped in the meanest swaddling-bands, and to be laid in a vile manger, amongst beasts, and to suffer a thousand evils. O grant that we also may renounce all worldly vanities, and embrace poverty of spirit, and mortification of the flesh, so necessary for our perfection. Grant that we may be thoroughly detached from creatures, and poor in all things save in Thy love and Thy grace.

   Pater; Ave; Gloria, etc.

8. O divine Saviour, O King of peace, Who wast pleased to make Thy appearance amongst us when the whole world was in peace; vouchsafe to send us Thy peace, so that all our powers being brought into subjection to Thee, Thou mayest at the approaching solemnity be born anew in our souls.

   Pater; Ave; Gloria, etc.

9. O divine Saviour, O King of immortal glory, Who, in Thy great mercy, didst come into the world to redeem us and to make us holy; grant that, denying all ungodliness and love of this world, we may live soberly in ourselves, justly toward our neighbor, and piously before Thee, that so we may be happy with Thee for all eternity.

   Pater; Ave; Gloria, etc.

1. We are indebted to Pagani and to the Sisters of Mercy "Choir Manual" for many novenas. ↩