First day – Strenna Novena – Christmas: complete with prayers, joys, considerations and more

He December 16 marks the beginning of the Strenna Novenaa Colombian tradition that is celebrated until December 24. Below, we share the steps to make it at home.

What does the Ninth mean?

The Novena has its roots in the colonial era, when the Catholic Church played a fundamental role in the daily life of society. In the 18th century, the Ecuadorian priest Fray Fernando de Jesús Larrea introduced this custom in Colombiabased on a text that he wrote to explain to the teachers and students of the Colegio de la Compañía de María de la Enseñanza, founded by María Gertrudis Clemencia de Caycedo, the true meaning of Christmas.

Also read: Strenna Novena – Christmas 2024: complete with prayers, joys, considerations and more

As time went by, this text was modified, and it was the mother María Ignacia, writer and poet, who incorporated the traditional “gozos” which are sung at the end of the ninth.

During this celebration, which takes place in homes, churches or community halls, prayers are recited and Christmas carols are sung that narrate the birth of Jesus. Every day a candle is lit in front of the manger and typical dishes such as buñuelos, custard and tamales are shared. In addition, it is common to give small gifts, known as bonuses.

First day of the Novena of Strenna – Christmas

In the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen.

• Prayer for every day

“Most gracious God of infinite charity, who loved men so much, that you gave them in your son the pledge of your love, so that man in the womb of a Virgin was born in a manger for our health and remedy; I, on behalf of all mortals, give you infinite thanks for such a sovereign benefit. In return for him I offer you the poverty, humility and other virtues of your humanized son, begging you for his divine merits, for the discomforts in which he was born and for the tender tears he shed in the manger, that you dispose our hearts with profound humility, with burning love, with such contempt for everything earthly, so that Newborn Jesus may have his cradle in them and dwell eternally.. Amen. (Glory to the Father is prayed three times).”

• Prayer to the Blessed Virgin

“Sovereign Mary, because of your great virtues and especially your humility, you deserved that a true God chose you as his mother, I beg you that you yourself prepare and dispose my soul and that of all those who at this time make this novenafor the spiritual birth of your beloved son. Oh sweetest mother! Communicate to me something of the deep recollection and divine tenderness with which you awaited him, so that you may make us less unworthy of seeing him, loving him and adoring him for all eternity. Amen. (The Hail Mary is prayed three times).”

“O most holy Joseph, husband of Mary and adoptive father of Jesus! I give infinite thanks to God because he chose you for such sovereign mysteries and adorned you with all the gifts proportioned to such excellent greatness. I beg you, for the love you had for the Divine Child, embrace me with fervent desires to see him and receive him sacramentally, while in his divine essence I see him and enjoy him in heaven. Amen”. (An Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be are prayed).”

“Remember, Oh sweetest Child Jesus! What did you say to the venerable Margaret of the Blessed Sacrament?and in his person to all your devotees, these very consoling words for our poor overwhelmed and suffering humanity: “Everything you want to ask for, ask for the merits of my childhood and nothing will be denied you.” Full of confidence in you, oh Jesus!, that you are the same truthwe come to expose you all our misery. Help us to lead a holy life, to achieve a blessed eternity. Grant us for the infinite merits of your childhoodthe grace of which we so need. We give ourselves to you, oh omnipotent Child!, certain that our hope will not be frustrated, and that by virtue of your divine promise, you will receive and favorably dispatch our supplication. Amen”.

• Joys of the Novena of Strenna – Christmas
• Oh, supreme wisdom of the sovereign God, that to childish reach you lower yourself sacred! Oh, Divine Child, come to teach us the prudence that makes true wise men! Come to our…
• Oh, powerful Adonai, Moses speaking, from Israel to the people you gave the commands! Ah, come quickly to rescue us, and let a weak child show his arm strong! Come to our…
• Oh, sacred root of Joseph who on high presents your fragrant nard to the world! Sweetest Child who has been called Lily of the valley, Beautiful flower of the field. Come to our…
• Key of David that opens the closed doors of the royal palace to the exiled! Take us out, oh Child, with your white hand, from the sad prison that sin has carved! Come to our…
• Oh, light of the East, sun of eternal rays, may we see your splendor among the darkness! Such a precious child, the joy of a Christian, let the smile of your sweet lips shine. Come to our…
• Spotless mirror, holy of holies, unequaled image of the sovereign God! Erase our faults, save the exiled and in the form of a child, give the miserable protection! Come to our…
• King of the nations, Emmanuel illustrious, Israel’s longing Shepherd of the flock! Child who feeds with a gentle staff, now the unruly sheep, now the meek lamb! Come to our…
• Let the heavens open and rain from above, beneficent dew like holy irrigation! Come beautiful Child, come human God! Shine, Star God! Sprout, flower of the field! Come to our…
• Come, let Mary now protect her arms, so that her child may see her in near times! Come, now Joseph, with sacred longing, is preparing to obtain your sacred love! Come to our…
• Of the weak help, of the suffering, protection of the sad, light of the exiled! Life of my life, my adored owner, my constant friend, my divine brother! Come to our…
• Come before my eyes, in love with you! Kiss your plants now! Kiss your hands now! Prostrate on the ground, I extend my arms to you, and even more than my phrases, my tears speak to you! Come to our…
• Come our Savior for whom we sigh Come to our souls, come do not take so long!

Consideration for the first day of the Novena – December 16

In the beginning of time the word rested in the bosom of its father in the highest heavens; there it was the cause, as well as the model of all creation. In those depths of a incalculable eternity remained the Child of Bethlehem before he deigned to descend to Earth and visibly took possession of the Bethlehem grotto. That is where we must look for its principles that have never begun; From there we must date the genealogy of the eternal, which has no ancestors, and contemplate the life of infinite complacency that he led there.

The The life of the eternal word in the bosom of his father was a wonderful life and yet, sublime mystery! He seeks another dwelling, a created mansion. It was not because in his eternal mansion something was missing from his infinite happiness, but because his infinite mercy longed for the redemption and salvation of the human race, which without him could not be verified.

He Adam’s sin had offended God and that infinite offense could not be condoned except by the merits of God himself.. Adam’s race had disobeyed and deserved eternal punishment; It was therefore necessary to save her and satisfy her guilt, that God, without leaving heaven, took the form of man on Earth and, by obedience to his father’s designs, atoned for that disobedience, ingratitude and rebellion.

It was necessary, in the sights of his love, that he take the form, the weaknesses and systematic ignorance of man; that it would grow to give it spiritual growth; that he suffered, to teach him to die to his passions and his pride. And that is why the eternal word, burning with desire to save man, resolved to become man too and thus redeem the guilty.