One of the prayer traditions of the Church is the novena. The word novena comes from the Latin word novem, which means ninth. A novena is a prayer recited for nine days in a row. It can be done either privately or publicly, alone or with others. This custom may have come from the Greeks and Romans who held special feasts on the ninth day after a death or burial.
In the Christian world, we find the concept of the novena in the New Testament book of Acts. When Jesus ascended into Heaven, his apostles, Mary, and others gathered to pray. They knew they would need the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Their prayers were answered when they were filled with the Holy Spirit and gained the courage needed to go out and preach the Gospel. Following Easter, you will find that there are nine days between our celebrations of Jesus’ Ascension and Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit
So why are we talking about novenas during Advent? In the Middle Ages, in Spain and France, Christians observed a novena of preparation. This had its origins in the nine months Our Lord was in his Blessed Mother’s womb. This novena was practiced by celebrating nine Masses on each of nine days before Christmas, with specific anthems and incense, along with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
In Old Mexico, this nine day celebration became Las Posadas, which is Spanish for the inn. This traditional festival re-enacts Joseph’s search for a suitable place for Mary to give birth. At Risen Savior, Las Posadas begins on the evening of December 15th at the home of one of our parishioners. Inside the home are the hosts and invited guests, usually friends, relatives, and neighbors. Outside, a group of people which includes a priest and others carrying carved wooden statues of Mary and Joseph, come seeking lodging for the night. A poetic dialogue begins between the inside people and the outside people which culminates in Mary and Joseph being invited inside. Mass is celebrated, followed by refreshments and fellowship. The following evening, this tradition is repeated at a different home, with different people, and so it continues for the nine evenings before Christmas Eve. The carved statues of Mary and Joseph make one last appearance at Midnight Mass, where all of the Las Posadas hosts have come to celebrate the birth of our Savior.
In addition to spreading the real Gospel message of Christmas - God coming into the world to save us - the novena of Las Posadas opens our eyes to the plight of the homeless and the immigrant, and leads us to opens our hearts to our brothers and sisters for whom there is “no room at the inn.”
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