Apart from Christmas extravaganza, the Catholic Church prays the Christmas Novena (Latin word ‘novem’ means ‘nine’) and most of the parishes pray this devotion early in the morning. This devotion contains singing of 16 stanzas of ‘Bemdita Sejaes’ and Holy Eucharist. Devotees dedicate these nine days reflecting on the scriptures leading up to Christmas. This devotion normally begins on 15 of December and end on 23 to begin the Christmas Eve Mass on 24 night. This devotion helps us to contemplate on the mystery of the Incarnation (God becoming a man). For those of us who are part of this novena, we know the experience of joy and peace of Christ in the cool early morning. It is really a wonderful way to prepare for Christmas.
My experience of Christmas Novena has been wonderful. It is a ‘once a year’ experience of love, peace, and serenity. This devotion helps me to grow in my own spiritual journey alongside other devotees at the novena. The singing of Bemdita Sejaes is truly a reading of the Scripture where we praise God for Mother Mary who becomes a ‘Theotokos’. It is like accompanying our Lady in her days of pregnancy before the childbirth. Every mother would need support as she goes through her labor before the birth of her child. Every father would have to be the side of her to make her labor lighter by supporting her and lending her helping hand. I borrowed this inspiration of following our Lady in labor from tradition followed by Catholics of Madeira whose tradition we have embraced by Portuguese immigration in Guyana.
In Madeira, the Christmas Novena Masses happen early in the morning and their purpose is to celebrate the nine months of Virgin Mary’s pregnancy. The liturgy is meant to make the faithful meditate on each step of Our Lady’s pregnancy, from the Annunciation to labor on the night of December 23. The novena concludes on Christmas Eve with Midnight mass. The early morning Masses are part of a traditional Iberian Marian devotion to Our Lady of Good Labor, represented by a figure of a pregnant Mary. In Portuguese this Lady is also called Our Lady of the “OH”, recalling the sounds of a mother in labor. When we think of pregnancy we think of the beauty of bringing life into the world. Mary brought life to the world like no other. Christ our savior was in her womb and through these nine days, the people of Madeira contemplates every moment of that pregnancy to prepare for Christmas (Source: Salt & Light Media).
In Guyana, Christmas Novena has its long history and tradition, which could be traced back to 1861 when Fr. Benedict Schembri celebrated Christmas midnight Mass at the newly constructed Church on Main Street. This Church was basically helped the Portuguese from Madeira who spoke mostly Portuguese. Under the “padroado” (The privilege of patronage extended by the Pope to the King of Portugal) system, initially, Sacred Heart operated as “the Portuguese Church” being the Centre of pastoral activities for the Portuguese community throughout Guiana. Only in 1932 was this status revised and Sacred Heart constituted as a normal parish. The indefatigable Schembri established guilds and charitable associations, organized religious and cultural events and generally strengthened the bonds of fellowship and faith among the Portuguese. Of particular note was the introduction of the Christmas Novena, with a 3;00 am the mass on each of the 9 mornings before Christmas. This practice rapidly became a popular and enduring feature of Catholic churches throughout Guiana. Even the “Bemdita Sajaes” a hymn to Our Lady with words in the Madeiran dialect of Portuguese became a much-loved feature of many an African and East Indian family Christmas.
In conclusion, let us encourage each other to continue this inspiring tradition of accompanying our Lady through these nine days and prepare our hearts and minds for the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. As we prepare, let us also be the ‘Theotokos’ = God-bearers in our own little ways. It is also a time for our families, to pray together and celebrate together. Let our celebration have Christ in it. Let this Christmas truly be a time of helping each other to bring joy and laughter to the world.
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