With Saint Charbel as Witness
How to Pray This Novena
This novena is intended for personal prayer during the days leading to the Nativity of Our Lord, according to the Maronite tradition.
Each day follows the rhythm of Scripture and hymnody proper to the Season of the Glorious Birth.
The Gospel is read in full. The Epistle is indicated by reference with a key verse.
Syriac incipits are provided as a link to the ancient prayer of the Church.
The Teaching That Comes from the Father
“For God is able to graft them in again.” (Romans 11:23)
O Word of the Father, sent into the world in humility, open our hearts to Your teaching and lead us to the glory of Him who sent You.
And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him. For some said: He is a good man. And others said: No, but he seduceth the people.
Yet no man spoke openly of him, for fear of the Jews.
Now about the midst of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.
And the Jews wondered, saying: How doth this man know letters, having never learned?
Jesus answered them, and said: My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
If any man will do the will of him, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh the glory of him that sent him, he is true, and there is no injustice in him.
The Light clothed Himself in flesh, and His majesty was hidden.
By humility He revealed the Father and sought not His own glory.
and to the High Word that became flesh.
O Saint Charbel, who lived from the Word of God alone, pray that we may receive Christ with humility and remain faithful to His truth.
“Father of Truth, behold Your Son, a sacrifice pleasing to You. Accept this offering of Him who died for me; behold His blood shed on Golgotha for my salvation. It pleads for me. For His sake, accept my offering. Many are my sins, but greater is Your mercy. When placed on a scale, Your mercy prevails over the weight of the mountains known only to You. Consider the sin and consider the atonement; the atonement is greater and exceeds the sin. Your beloved Son sustained the nails and the lance because of my sins so in His sufferings You are satisfied and I live.”
Our Father…
Hail Mary (three times)…
Glory Be…
Known Yet Unknown
“O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God!” (Romans 11:33)
O Christ, hidden from the proud and known to the Father alone, reveal to us the mystery of Your coming.
And behold, he speaketh openly, and they say nothing to him. Have the rulers known for a truth that this is the Christ?
But we know this man whence he is: but when the Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.
Jesus therefore cried out in the temple, teaching and saying: You both know me, and you know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom you know not.
I know him, because I am from him, and he hath sent me.
They sought therefore to apprehend him: and no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.
They heard Him and did not understand.
The Lord stood among them, yet His glory was veiled.
hidden from the wise.
O Saint Charbel, hidden in life and revealed by God, pray that we may recognize Christ in His lowliness.
“Father of Truth, behold Your Son, a sacrifice pleasing to You. Accept this offering of Him who died for me; behold His blood shed on Golgotha for my salvation. It pleads for me. For His sake, accept my offering. Many are my sins, but greater is Your mercy. When placed on a scale, Your mercy prevails over the weight of the mountains known only to You. Consider the sin and consider the atonement; the atonement is greater and exceeds the sin. Your beloved Son sustained the nails and the lance because of my sins so in His sufferings You are satisfied and I live.”
Our Father…
Hail Mary (three times)…
Glory Be…
The Time of Visitation
“Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing unto God.” (Romans 12:1)
O Lord who comes at the appointed hour, awaken our hearts before the day of Your visitation passes.
The Pharisees heard the people murmuring these things concerning him: and the rulers and Pharisees sent ministers to apprehend him.
Jesus therefore said to them: Yet a little while I am with you: and then I go to him that sent me.
You shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither you cannot come.
The Jews therefore said among themselves: Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? Will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?
The Door was opened, yet few entered.
Blessed are those who recognize the hour.
O Saint Charbel, vigilant servant of God, pray that we may not delay repentance.
“Father of Truth, behold Your Son, a sacrifice pleasing to You. Accept this offering of Him who died for me; behold His blood shed on Golgotha for my salvation. It pleads for me. For His sake, accept my offering. Many are my sins, but greater is Your mercy. When placed on a scale, Your mercy prevails over the weight of the mountains known only to You. Consider the sin and consider the atonement; the atonement is greater and exceeds the sin. Your beloved Son sustained the nails and the lance because of my sins so in His sufferings You are satisfied and I live.”
Our Father…
Hail Mary (three times)…
Glory Be…
Christ, Deliverer from the Night
“Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil by good.” (Romans 12:21)
O Christ, Fountain of life, drive away our darkness and quench our thirst.
He that believeth in me, as the scripture saith, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Now this he said of the Spirit which they should receive who believed in him: for as yet the Spirit was not given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Of that multitude therefore, when they had heard these words of his, some said: This is the prophet indeed.
Others said: This is the Christ. But some said: Doth the Christ come out of Galilee?
and to the high and sacred Word which became embodied.
It was heard by the ear, seen by the eye,
touched by the hand and eaten by the mouth.
Glory be to the Word, the great sacrament,
He who adopted our bodies, the ancient God.
Coming to save us from the terror of hell,
distancing us from every dark night.
Our guest Jesus has enriched us for all time.
O Saint Charbel, man of prayer and healing, pray that Christ may bring light to those who live in darkness.
“Father of Truth, behold Your Son, a sacrifice pleasing to You. Accept this offering of Him who died for me; behold His blood shed on Golgotha for my salvation. It pleads for me. For His sake, accept my offering. Many are my sins, but greater is Your mercy. When placed on a scale, Your mercy prevails over the weight of the mountains known only to You. Consider the sin and consider the atonement; the atonement is greater and exceeds the sin. Your beloved Son sustained the nails and the lance because of my sins so in His sufferings You are satisfied and I live.”
Our Father…
Hail Mary (three times)…
Glory Be…
Never Has Anyone Spoken Like This Man
“Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 13:14)
O Word of authority and mercy, speak again to our hearts.
The ministers answered: Never did man speak like this man.
The Pharisees therefore answered them: Are you also deceived?
Hath any one of the rulers believed in him, or of the Pharisees?
But this multitude, that knoweth not the law, are accursed.
Nicodemus said to them (he that came to him by night, who was one of them):
Doth our law judge any man, unless it first hear him, and know what he doth?
They answered, and said to him: Art thou also a Galilean? Search the scriptures, and see that out of Galilee a prophet riseth not.
O Saint Charbel, whose holiness spoke without words, pray that our lives may proclaim Christ.
“Father of Truth, behold Your Son, a sacrifice pleasing to You. Accept this offering of Him who died for me; behold His blood shed on Golgotha for my salvation. It pleads for me. For His sake, accept my offering. Many are my sins, but greater is Your mercy. When placed on a scale, Your mercy prevails over the weight of the mountains known only to You. Consider the sin and consider the atonement; the atonement is greater and exceeds the sin. Your beloved Son sustained the nails and the lance because of my sins so in His sufferings You are satisfied and I live.”
Our Father…
Hail Mary (three times)…
Glory Be…
The Word Enters History
“Separated unto the gospel of God.” (Romans 1:1)
O Lord of generations, You entered human history to save us.
Abraham begot Isaac. And Isaac begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Juda and his brethren.
And Juda begot Phares and Zara of Thamar. And Phares begot Esrom. And Esrom begot Aram.
And Aram begot Aminadab. And Aminadab begot Naasson. And Naasson begot Salmon.
And Salmon begot Booz of Rahab. And Booz begot Obed of Ruth. And Obed begot Jesse.
And Jesse begot David the king. And David the king begot Solomon, of her that had been the wife of Urias.
And Solomon begot Roboam. And Roboam begot Abia. And Abia begot Asa.
And Asa begot Josaphat. And Josaphat begot Joram. And Joram begot Ozias.
And Ozias begot Joatham. And Joatham begot Achaz. And Achaz begot Ezechias.
And Ezechias begot Manasses. And Manasses begot Amon. And Amon begot Josias.
And Josias begot Jechonias and his brethren in the transmigration of Babylon.
And after the transmigration of Babylon, Jechonias begot Salathiel. And Salathiel begot Zorobabel.
And Zorobabel begot Abiud. And Abiud begot Eliacim. And Eliacim begot Azor.
And Azor begot Sadoc. And Sadoc begot Achim. And Achim begot Eliud.
And Eliud begot Eleazar. And Eleazar begot Mathan. And Mathan begot Jacob.
And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
So all the generations, from Abraham to David, are fourteen generations. And from David to the transmigration of Babylon, fourteen generations. And from the transmigration of Babylon to Christ are fourteen generations.
The Timeless One accepted a lineage.
O Saint Charbel, son of a humble village, pray that our lives may be woven into God’s saving plan.
“Father of Truth, behold Your Son, a sacrifice pleasing to You. Accept this offering of Him who died for me; behold His blood shed on Golgotha for my salvation. It pleads for me. For His sake, accept my offering. Many are my sins, but greater is Your mercy. When placed on a scale, Your mercy prevails over the weight of the mountains known only to You. Consider the sin and consider the atonement; the atonement is greater and exceeds the sin. Your beloved Son sustained the nails and the lance because of my sins so in His sufferings You are satisfied and I live.”
Our Father…
Hail Mary (three times)…
Glory Be…
Lord and Son
“God will render to every man according to his works.” (Romans 2:6)
O Christ, Son of David and Lord of David, reveal to us Your kingship.
Saying: What think you of Christ? whose son is he?
They say to him: David’s.
He saith to them: How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying:
The Lord said to my Lord: Sit on my right hand, until I make thy enemies thy footstool?
If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
And no man was able to answer him a word; neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
O Saint Charbel, servant of the true King, pray that we may obey Christ alone.
“Father of Truth, behold Your Son, a sacrifice pleasing to You. Accept this offering of Him who died for me; behold His blood shed on Golgotha for my salvation. It pleads for me. For His sake, accept my offering. Many are my sins, but greater is Your mercy. When placed on a scale, Your mercy prevails over the weight of the mountains known only to You. Consider the sin and consider the atonement; the atonement is greater and exceeds the sin. Your beloved Son sustained the nails and the lance because of my sins so in His sufferings You are satisfied and I live.”
Our Father…
Hail Mary (three times)…
Glory Be…
Whoever Humbles Himself Will Be Exalted
“The doers of the law shall be justified.” (Romans 2:13)
O Lord who chose the cave and the manger, teach us humility.
Saying: The scribes and the Pharisees have sitten on the chair of Moses.
All therefore whatsoever they shall say to you, observe and do: but according to their works do ye not; for they say, and do not.
For they bind heavy and insupportable burdens, and lay them on men’s shoulders: but with a finger of their own they will not move them.
And all their works they do for to be seen by men. For they make their phylacteries broad, and enlarge their fringes.
And they love the first places at feasts, and the first chairs in the synagogues,
And salutations in the market place, and to be called by men, Rabbi.
But be not you called Rabbi. For one is your master: and all you are brethren.
And call none your father upon earth; for one is your Father, who is in heaven.
Neither be ye called masters; for one is your master, Christ.
He that is the greatest among you shall be your servant.
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
O Saint Charbel, model of humility, pray that we may follow Christ.
“Father of Truth, behold Your Son, a sacrifice pleasing to You. Accept this offering of Him who died for me; behold His blood shed on Golgotha for my salvation. It pleads for me. For His sake, accept my offering. Many are my sins, but greater is Your mercy. When placed on a scale, Your mercy prevails over the weight of the mountains known only to You. Consider the sin and consider the atonement; the atonement is greater and exceeds the sin. Your beloved Son sustained the nails and the lance because of my sins so in His sufferings You are satisfied and I live.”
Our Father…
Hail Mary (three times)…
Glory Be…
Vigil of the Glorious Birth (Night)
“Has spoken to us by his Son.” (Hebrews 1:1)
O Christ our God, Light from Light, born in the night for our salvation, scatter every darkness.
This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus, the governor of Syria.
And all went to be enrolled, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: because he was of the house and family of David,
To be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child.
And it came to pass, that when they were there, her days were accomplished, that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds watching, and keeping the night watches over their flock.
And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the brightness of God shone round about them; and they feared with a great fear.
And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people:
For, this day, is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David.
And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God, and saying:
Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will.
And it came to pass, after the angels departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another: Let us go over to Bethlehem, and let us see this word that is come to pass, which the Lord hath shewed to us.
And they came with haste; and they found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.
And seeing, they understood of the word that had been spoken to them concerning this child.
And all that heard, wondered; and at those things that were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God, for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
and to the high and sacred Word which became embodied.
Coming to save us from the terror of hell,
distancing us from every dark night.
O Saint Charbel, who passed from this world on Christmas Eve, intercede for us as we welcome the Savior born for us.
“Father of Truth, behold Your Son, a sacrifice pleasing to You. Accept this offering of Him who died for me; behold His blood shed on Golgotha for my salvation. It pleads for me. For His sake, accept my offering. Many are my sins, but greater is Your mercy. When placed on a scale, Your mercy prevails over the weight of the mountains known only to You. Consider the sin and consider the atonement; the atonement is greater and exceeds the sin. Your beloved Son sustained the nails and the lance because of my sins so in His sufferings You are satisfied and I live.”
Our Father…
Hail Mary (three times)…
Glory Be…