Anticipating Christmas, Beginning with Saint Andrew and the Immaculate Conception, by Jennifer Gregory Miller

By Jennifer Gregory Miller, Catholic Culture, Nov. 29, 2021

 Jennifer Gregory Miller is an experienced homemaker, mother, CGS catechist and authority on living the liturgical year. She is the primary developer of CatholicCulture.org’s liturgical year section. See full bio.

From the archives, originally published November 29, 2016:

November 30 is the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle and also the pivotal date for the beginning of Advent, starting the Sunday closest to November 30

Also on November 30 starts the tradition to begin two traditional novenas: 1) the Novena to the Immaculate Conception of Mary honoring the patroness of the United States in preparation for her feast day on December 8, and 2) the Christmas Anticipation Prayer, traditionally prayed fifteen times each day before Christmas. The origins of the latter prayer are unknown, but it is older: …

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