Christmas Novena: Day 3

Starting on December 16 each year, Catholics pray the traditional Christmas gift novena, a custom that commemorates the months prior to the birth of Jesus and ends with his arrival in the Bethlehem manger. In addition to the religious meaning, the novena is a social space where family members, workers and communities in general gather to share a time of harmony and peace.

3 empanada recipes to delight your guests in the Christmas Novena

1. It starts with a Christmas carol

2. Prayer for every day

Love of my loves, tender and innocent,

Infant Jesus, charm of shepherds and kings.

Delight of the Heart of Mary,

lullaby of Joseph’s dream,

savior of me and of the world,

born in a manger and wrapped in swaddling clothes:

We want in this novena,

that prepares us to celebrate your birth,

walk the path of love that is your life

following in the footsteps of your eternal Father’s love

and the love of wonderful husbands,

that begot you in faith

who lived in his home in Nazareth

every day.

We ask that as you contemplate these love stories,

let us fall deeply in love with You, Incarnate Word.

Amen.

3. Bible Reading: Genesis 2, 18-24

4. Reflection of the day

The third day dedicated to respect, a quality of love that moves us to accept others as they are.

Thanks to respect, we value the great dignity of every human person made in the image and likeness of God, even if that person is wrong. Respect is a source of harmony because it encourages us to value differences. A respectful love prevents us from judging others, manipulating them or wanting to mold them to our convenience. Jesus always acts as a good shepherd and teaches us to be respectful if we really want to understand each other.

5. Christmas Carol

6. Attendees’ requests

7. Final prayer for every day

Lord, Christmas is the memory of your birth among us, it is the presence of your love in our family and in our society. Christmas is the certainty that the God of heaven and earth is our Father, that you, Divine Child, are our Brother.

May this meeting with your manger increase our faith in your goodness, commit us to truly living as brothers, give us courage to kill hatred and sow justice and peace. Oh Divine Child, teach us to understand that where there is love and justice, there you are and there it is also Christmas. Amen. (I)