Novena to the Magi

Our “action items” from our Advent preparation through The Joy of the Gospel were: to savor, to un-wrap and to present what we learned as we reflected on the beautiful words of Pope Francis over the 24 days leading up to Christmas. In an effort to do that, I invite you to join me over the next nine days in a novena to the Magi. To me, this is the beauty of the Communion of Saints! We have those who have gone before us —the Church Triumphant— to intercede on our behalf, to help us on our journey to union with God!

Now, I’ll admit, I have prayed to Biblical figures that probably aren’t as bombarded by prayer as some commonly known saints. I have prayed to Moses many times before having to give a talk, and I have even prayed to Noah’s wife when faced with a situation in which I think my husband is nuts; but truth be told, I have never thought to pray to the Magi until my friend Thomas Smith posted this novena. What a fabulous idea on the heels of this great reflection on Evangelli Gaudium to pray to those who followed the star, who presented gifts to the Lord and to whom the manifestation of God-with-us was made known!

December 28 is the beginning of the Novena to the Magi, in anticipation for the Epiphany of the Lord. What a wonderful way to allow the message of  The Joy of the Gospel to infiltrate our lives over the Christmas Season. Let us follow Mary, the Star of the New Evangelization these next nine days as we anticipate, just as she did, God-with-us. Let us ask for the guidance of the Magi as we offer our gifts of our prayers of thanksgiving, of supplication and of praise to the Lord and let us ask those three wise men, Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, to help us prepare our hearts for a new manifestation of God-with-us this coming year.

The following prayer was found on Fish Eaters and each day I will post that day’s Novena to the Magi prayer here:

28 December:

O holy Magi! You were living in continual expectation of the rising of the Star of Jacob, which would announce the birth of the true Sun of justice; obtain for us an increase of faith and charity, and the grace to live in continual hope of beholding one day the light of heavenly glory and eternal joy. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

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