NOVENA IN PREPARATIOn FOR CHRISTMAS
To be Said Daily
O LORD Jesus Christ, who for our sake didst vouchsafe to descend from Thy throne of glory to this vale of tears and woe; who wast conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, and was made Man; make, we beseech, Thee, our hearts a fit habitation for Thyself. Beautify and fill them with all spiritual graces, and possess them wholly by Thy power. Give us grace to prepare for Thy coming with deep humility, to receive Thee with burning love, and to hold Thee fast with a firm faith; that we may never leave Thee nor forsake Thee, who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen.
Here say one of the according to the day. Then say the concluding prayers below.
The Daily Antiphons
December 16
SHEPHERD that rulest Israel, Thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep, come to guide and comfort us.
December 17
WISDOM that comest out of the mouth of the Most High, that reachest from one end to another, and orderest all things mightily and sweetly, come to teach us the way of prudence.
December 18
ADONAI, and Ruler of the house of Israel, Who didst appear unto Moses in the burning bush, and gavest him the law in Sinai, come to redeem us with an outstretched arm!
December 19
ROOT of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at Whom the kings shall shut their mouths, Whom the Gentiles shall seek, come to deliver us, do not tarry.
December 20
KEY of David, and Sceptre of the house of Israel, that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth, come to liberate the prisoner from the prison, and them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death.
December 21
DAYSPRING, Brightness of the everlasting light, Son of justice, come to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death!
December 22
KING of Gentiles, yea, and desire thereof! O Corner-stone, that makest of two one, come to save man, whom Thou hast made out of the dust of the earth!
December 23
EMMANUEL, our King and our Law-giver, Longing of the Gentiles, yea, and salvation thereof, come to save us, O Lord our God!
December 24
THOU that sittest upon the cherubim, God of hosts, come, show Thy face, and we shall be saved.
The Daily Conclusion
Our Father. Hail, Mary. Glory be.
O MERCIFUL Jesus, who didst in Thy early infancy commence Thy office of Saviour by shedding, Thy precious Blood and assuming for us that name which is above all names; we, thank Thee for such early proofs of Thy infinite love. We venerate Thy sacred name in union with the profound respect of the angel who first announced it to the earth and unite our affections to the sentiments of tender devotion which the adorable name of Jesus has in all ages enkindled in the hearts of Thy saints.
Animated with a firm faith in Thy unerring word, and penetrated with confidence in Thy mercy, we now humbly remind Thee of the promise Thou hast made, that where two or three should assemble in Thy Name, Thou Thyself wouldst be in the midst of them. Come, then, into the midst of us, most amiable Jesus, for it is in Thy sacred Name we are here assembled; come into our hearts, that we may be governed by Thy holy Spirit; mercifully grant us, through that adorable Name, which is the joy of heaven, the terror of hell, the consolation of the afflicted and the solid ground of our unlimited confidence, all the petitions we make in this novena.
O blessed Mother of our Redeemer, who didst participate so sensibly in the sufferings of thy dear Son when He shed His sacred Blood and assumed for us the name of Jesus, obtain for us, through that adorable Name, the favours we petition in this novena.
Beg also, that the most ardent love may imprint on our hearts that sacred Name, that it may be always in our minds and frequently on our lips; that it may be our defense and our refuge in the temptations and trials of life, and our consolation and support in the hour-of death. Amen.