post
Christmas Novena
The Christmas Novena prayed December 16 to 24: daily prayers to prepare for the Nativity, with the pattern used by families and parishes.
Part of the Novenas prayer collection.
In brief
📿 Pray it as a 9-day novena? The free tracker keeps your streak — privately, in your browser.Start the 9-day tracker →
Prayer: Christmas Novena
Lord Jesus, the day of Your coming is near. Hurry to make my heart a place You would recognize: swept of excuses, warmed with welcome, lit with expectation. Come for me as You came for the shepherds — ordinary and unannounced. Come for my family: gather the far, strengthen the weak, gladden the sad. And where the world still has no room, start with the small space I clear today. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Source note: Original
A daily Christmas Novena prayer
Lord Jesus, the day of Your coming is near. Hurry to make my heart a place You would recognize: swept of excuses, warmed with welcome, lit with expectation. Come for me as You came for the shepherds — ordinary and unannounced. Come for my family: gather the far, strengthen the weak, gladden the sad. And where the world still has no room, start with the small space I clear today. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.Original
The pattern for each day
Light the Advent wreath if you have one, then pray together: "O Lord, open my lips and my mouth shall declare Your praise…" the day's reading or intention, the prayer below, and O Antiphon of the day (from Dec 17, the "O Wisdom / O Adonai / O Root of Jesse…" anthems of Advent). End with: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
With children
One candle, one verse, one intention each night; let a different child lead. On the 24th, end by praying around the empty manger of the Nativity set — the crib finally gets its meaning at midnight.
Keep praying
- Christmas Day's prayer
- What is a novena?
- Printable prayer cards for the season
Pray a Christmas novena with the season in view
A Christmas novena helps a household prepare for the Nativity through repeated prayer, Scripture and an intention across nine days. Begin by checking the dates used by this particular tradition, then pray the day's text and make room for a concrete act of charity or attention to someone who needs care.
Christmas novenas do not all use the same wording or calendar. This page identifies its tradition, keeps each day's prayer easy to read and avoids presenting a seasonal devotion as a guarantee of a desired Christmas outcome.