Typical celebration of the Christmas period, the Christmas novena it symbolizes the nine months that Jesus spent on Mary's womb. It is therefore an accompaniment to Christmas, which begins on 16th December and ends on 24th December.
The story of the Christmas Novena
It is not the "official" Christmas prayer, but it is one of the most heartfelt and loved. Ever since, in 1720, it was performed for the first time in a home of Vincentian missionaries in Torino, in the church of the Immaculate Conception (next to the Ecclesiastical Boarding School, where the missionaries formed the clergy). Among them was father Carlo Antonio Vacchetta, a "master of sacred ceremonies and prefect of church and song". Together with Sebastiano Valfré, the future blessed, Vacchetta had a purpose: to invite the faithful to adore the mystery of the Incarnation and the Nativity of Christ, moved by pity for the Lord Jesus. Christmas it was born precisely in that context, with Vacchetta who - according to tradition - composed its lyrics and music. The missions spread it in Piedmont, and from there throughout Italy.
A special role in the history of the Christmas Novena was played by the Marquise of Caluso Gabriella Marolles from Lanze. Who, after a carefree youth, became the widow of Carlo Agostino of Sale delle Lanze. And then, having married the Marquis of Saluzzo, she went to live in the house of the Vincentians in Torino. Here he chose the superior, Father Domenico Amosso, as spiritual director. And, moved in front of the preparatory celebrations for Christmas, in will he wrote that it was done "the aforementioned Novena every year and in perpetuity".
The meaning
It is not a single prayer, the novena, but nine (as its name suggests):
- 16 December: Come, Child Jesus
- 17 December: Our Heart rejoices
- 18 December: Let's Prepare The Ways For The Lord
- 19 December: Testimony
- 20 December: A very high mission
- 21 December: The Handmaid Of The Lord
- 22 December: He Made Himself Meat
- 23 December: Love That Saves
- 24 December: We walked in the darkness
The meaning of the Christmas Novena is to be found in theOld Testament, especially in the passages of the prophet Isaiah.
The prophecies about the birth of Jesus tell of the desire for God to present himself on Earth. This is a hope that is also reflected in the novenas. In those songs about the coming of Jesus, as an eternal gift given to men. The Christmas Novena sings the gioia of Jesus who arrives. The purpose is to involve the faithful, so that they stop and adore Jesus at his birth. The first day is dedicated to the invocation of the Child Jesus, the second to God who announces future salvation to the people, the third prepares the way for his arrival. They follow God's plan of salvation, the handmaid of the Lord, the rebirth of Emmanuel. On the seventh day, the prayer reads "Honor and glory to You, Lord Jesus“, The eighth focuses on saving love. Finally, the ninth day is dedicated to walking in darkness until reaching the light of God.
Featured photo taken from Wikipedia (credit Didier Descouens and one more author - Public Domain)
