San Jose Christmas Novena

SAN JOSE CHRISTMAS NOVENA

OPTION 1

General Intercessions

Presider: Filled with joyful longing at coming of the Savior, we raise our prayers and petitions to God as we say,

Lord, hear our prayer.

For the Church, that we may always wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ as we continue his mission here on earth. We pray.

For our nation, that this Advent and Christmas season may be a springtime of faith and love for our communities and families. We pray.

For an increase of priestly and religious vocations, that the Lord may call more generous and sincere men and women to be bearers of his glad tidings and witnesses of his love to their brothers and sisters. We pray.

For the intentions recommended to us for this novena, and for all the friends and benefactors of San Jose Seminary, that the Lord may bless them with peace and joy during this season and the coming year ahead. We pray.

For all of us gathered here, that our hearts may always remain open to welcome the Lord and to embrace him with the love and devotion of his mother Mary and Saint Joseph. We pray.

Presider: God of love,

your beloved Son is the only gift

that truly fills our deepest desires.

Prepare a dwelling place in our hearts

eager and longing with love to receive him.

We ask this through the same Christ our Lord.

OPTION 2

Prayers before and After Mass

To be used when presiding at a public Mass outside the seminary where the special intentions of San Jose are not opportune to impose

PRAYER BEFORE THE MASS

Our holy patron, Saint Joseph,
in this season when we await and celebrate the coming of Christ,
we honor your special role in the story of the Incarnation.

You obeyed the angel’s word with trust and confidence,
help us to imitate your faith in God’s plan.
You took Mary and Jesus into your care,
help us to care genuinely for those in need.
You led your family through long and difficult journeys,
help us to follow Jesus on the way of the Cross.

We contemplate you now cradling the Child in your arms,
whisper a special prayer to him in our behalf,
for ourselves and our community,
our families and friends,
and for the benefactors of this seminary,
especially those recommended to our prayers
during this Christmas novena.

Lead us into the manger,
and allow us to enter into that beautiful love
with which you and Mary embraced Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAYER AFTER THE MASS

Dear Saint Joseph,
with what great joy and love you must have received
the sacred body of the Lord at his birth!
As we have now received the sacrament of the Body
of your dear foster Son,
so fill us and all our family, friends and benefactors
with the joy and love that he only can bring
and obtain for us the special grace we ask of you. Amen.