Friday, December 4, 2009

The Upcoming Christmas Novena

I feel a little stupid looking over the antiphons for the Magnificat for the Liturgy of the Hours during Dec. 17-23. As it turns out, they already have the "O" antiphons. I don't know why I never realized this.

If doing the novena according to the specifications of the Directory of Popular Piety, there may be a problem for me putting it on this site. For one thing, it would be using the text of Vespers (Evening Prayer) from the Liturgy of the Hours.

The full text of what the Directory says on this novena are as follows:

103. The Christmas novena began as a means of communicating the riches of the Liturgy to the faithful who were unable easily to grasp it. It has played a very effective role and can continue to play such a role. At the same time, in current conditions where the faithful have easier access to the Liturgy, it would seem desirable that vespers from the 17-23 of December should be more solemn by adopting the use of the "major antiphons", and by inviting the faithful to participate at the celebration. Such a celebration, held either before of after which the popular devotions to which the faithful are particularly attached, would be an ideal "Christmas novena", in full conformity with the Liturgy and mindful of the needs of the faithful. Some elements, such as the homily, the use of incense, and the intercessions, could also be expanded within the celebration of Vespers.

Therefore, since I don't have permission from ICEL, it might be best to only do a traditional Christmas Novena. This would consist of the "O"Antiphon for the day, followed by one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be, from December 16-24. I also hope to add an original hymn for Las Posadas during this same period. A description of this devotion will be given later.

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