St. Andrew: A fisherman, a feast, an Advent novena

For the last couple of years, I’ve been reciting the St. Andrew novena, which begins on his feast day (November 30th) and leads up to Christmas Eve. I always find this prayer to be like a rosary for the season of Advent. Its calming rhythm as we repeat it daily seems to draw us out of the hustle and into the more reflective side of Advent. Come Christmas morning, I can’t help but be struck by the overwhelming gift of the Incarnation.

The first Sunday of Advent is always the Sunday that falls closest to the feast of St. Andrew on November 30th, and this year the 30th falls smack dab on Sunday. What better year to begin this tradition?

Though I’ve made this novena my own, I want to bring my family on board this year. Here is what I have planned to help that cause.

A Feast for St. Andrew

St. Andrew was a fisherman, so I’ll be serving up a fish feast the 30th. Tilapia fillets, a drizzle of butter, and a sprinkling of herbs and Parmesan cheese baked to perfection sounds fitting. Pair the fish with a salad, homemade bread, and a fruit salad makes a complete meal!

Printable St. Andrew Novenas

As you recite this prayer fifteen times for 25 days, you will quickly find yourself memorizing it. Until that happens, it doesn’t hurt to have a copy printed off and hung around the house. Even if you don’t need the words, seeing the prayer will help you and your family remember to say the prayer.

Here are 3 versions you are welcome to print and use.

I don’t expect the kids to get all 15 prayers in each and every day of Advent, but I do want to encourage them to make an effort.

St. Andrew Chaplet Bracelets

I’ve been longing for a St. Andrew chaplet bracelet ever since I saw one a few years back and I’d decided this is the year to make one. I’ve never done beading or jewelry work, but I just knew I could do it!

I ended up going to Hobby Lobby to find my supplies, but I couldn’t find exactly what I wanted and needed. After tallying up what it would cost, I decided it was actually CHEAPER to purchase a St. Andrew chaplet bracelet from Loreto Rosaries. If you have supplies on hand, by all means, make your own, but if not, don’t be afraid to buy one or ask for one as a gift (which I might do!). You’ll save yourself a lot of time! Isn’t it beautiful? (I didn’t even get paid for that!)

Let me know if you make one and how you fared!

St. Andrew Abacus

After my chaplet bracelet let down, I came across these beautiful Rosary abacuses available on Etsy from SweetOakGallery. I realized that this would be perfect for our family’s St. Andrew novena project.

I contacted the shop owner, Lauren, and asked if she could make me one just like it but with the St. Andrew Novena and 15 purple beads instead. It’s on its way to me and I’m so excited to share it with you when I get it!

Actually Saying the Prayer

I love to say bits of the Rosary or other novenas while I putting Little Butchie down for a nap, but since I’m bringing my family in on this devotion, I had to come up with a different method. 15 times divided by 5 different time slots means saying it 3 times in a row at each different slot. I feel like this is as much as I can ask of my little ones before they get distracted from the prayer. We’ll be saying it 3 times each at breakfast, morning basket time/ feast table time, lunch, supper, and bedtime.

Do you say the St. Andrew Chaplet?