When we moved to Texas from Virginia ten years ago, we noticed that many of our new friends had what they called “cross walls” in their homes. It’s not something I have ever seen before moving to Texas, even having lived in seven different states! We loved the concept, and from our first years of marriage, started collecting beautiful crosses and crucifixes - Daniel would chose different ones for birthdays and holidays and surprise me with them! Our collection is set, and I love the spot they are in in our new home. This past spring I found a prayer in my missal that I fell in love with, and it has made its home with our cross wall as well! The prayer is called the Prayer Before A Crucifix, and it carries partial and plenary indulgences! A partial indulgence is granted any time it is prayed in front of a crucifix - traditionally, it is read or said after receiving Holy Communion during Mass - under the usual conditions of indulgences. If you are like me and you need a crash course in indulgences, press play on this sermon the next time you are washing dishes or heading out in the car! A plenary indulgence is granted when it is said on Fridays during Lent. Indulgences are such an amazing opportunity for charity towards the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Now that we understand what they are we do our best to gain them every time we receive Holy Communion, but for a long long time I had absolutely no clue that people actually could accomplish the requirements! I’ve learned through great friends and wonderful priests that many simple things carry indulgences, including the family Rosary and this beautiful prayer. It can be said once a day, and even more.

Prayer Before A Crucifix:

Behold, O good and sweetest Jesus, I cast myself upon my knees in Thy sight, and with the most fervent desire of my soul I pray and beseech Thee that Thou would impress upon my heart lively sentiments of Faith, Hope, and Charity, with true repentance for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment, while with deep affection and grief of soul I consider within myself and mentally contemplate Thy five most precious Wounds; having before my eyes that which words David the prophet long ago spoke concerning Thee: “They have pierced my hands and feet; they have numbered all my bones.”

We’ve printed the first square image and added it to an 8x8 frame for our entry way, making it easy to kneel before the crucifixes to read! Feel free to save either of the images below for your own use! The first is for an 8x8 print, the second for an 8x10.

Download the full resolution 8x8 here: Prayer Before a Crucifix 8x8

Download the full resolution for the 8x10 here: Prayer Before a Crucifix 8x10

This is our fourth year praying the Saint Andrew Christmas Novena, which is prayed from Saint Andrew's Feast Day, November 30th, through December 24th. Each of the days you repeat the same intention; so many people have reported prayers granted and abundant graces through this Novena! As you meditate on the words of the prayer, that joyful anticipation of the Advent season is palpable. It is a beautiful prayer that has brought our family incredible graces, and I look forward to it every year!

The prayer is prayed 15 times a day, and for the last three years my husband and I have prayed it without the children. I usually make the "lock screen" on my phone a graphic of the prayer (you can download that here at the bottom of this post!), and just count on praying it at least fifteen times throughout the day. This year, with our children a little older and now accustomed to praying the Rosary daily together, we are adding in the full Christmas Novena!

Thinking of ways to break it up visually for them, I decided to make felt ball chaplets. My intent was for the older two to be able to string their own, but between the tapestry needles and the thickness of the bakers twine I have, it was a little too tough for them to create these on their own. I made them fairly quickly, and I look forward to having the children use them!

We'll be breaking the 15 prayers up, five in the morning, five at lunch, and five before our Rosary. With the felt ball counters, they are able to move the balls up as they complete one of the prayers!

DIY Felt Ball Christmas Novena Chaplet:

+ 15 felt balls (Amazon, Hello Maypole, Hobby Lobby)

+ Bakers twine

+ tapestry needle

+ cardstock and laminator (optional, to add the prayer to the end of the chaplet! Below is the 3x4 sized image; for the size pictured, print six per page)

And if you need those little reminders throughout the day yourself, below is a graphic that will fit your phone screen for home/lock screens!