The Pope’s Monthly Intention
December: Let us pray that Christians living in areas of war or conflict, especially in the Middle East, might be seeds of peace, reconciliation and hope.
January: Let us pray that praying with the Word of God be nourishment for our lives and a source of hope for your communities, helping us to build a more fraternal and missionary Church.
* * *
Blessing of the Advent Wreath in the home
Week 1 – Light the first purple candle
Child: God, we ask you to bless our family Advent Wreath. It has evergreen leaves, reminding us that you will always be with us…and it is shaped like a circle, with no beginning or end, just like your love for us is always there for us, surrounding us every day.
Adult: Jesus, we look forward to celebrating your birth at Christmas. Open our hearts to love all the people we meet each day. All the family: Come Lord Jesus into our hearts and in our home.
Weeks 3, 4, 5 & Christmas Day can be found on dublindiocese.ie
* * *
Daily Prayer to St Nicholas • Feast 6 December
O good St Nicholas, you who are the joy of the children, put in my heart the spirit of childhood, which the gospel speaks, and teach me to seed happiness around me. You, whose feast prepares us for Christmas, open my faith to the mystery of God made man. You good bishop and shepherd, help me to find my place in the Church and inspire the Church to be faithful to the gospel. O good Saint Nicholas, patron of children, sailors and the helpless, watch over those who pray to Jesus, your Lord and theirs, as well as over those who humble themselves before you. Bring us all in reverence to the Holy Child of Bethlehem when true joy and peace are found. Amen.
Columban.org
* * *
Blessing of a Christmas Tree
Lord God, let your blessing come upon us as we illumine this tree. May the light and cheer it gives be a sign of the joy that fills our hearts. May all who delight in this tree come to the knowledge and joy of salvation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Cliftondiocese.com
* * *
Blessing of A Christmas Day meal
God of all gifts, we thank you for the many ways you have blessed us this Christmas time. We are grateful for all who are gathered around this table. We ask you to bless us and our food and to bless those we love who are not with us today. In our gratitude and love, we remember your humble birth into our lives and pray for those who are without enough to eat. We remember the stable in which you were born and pray for those who have no place to live. We remember your challenging message of caring and giving and we pray for peace in families and nations throughout the world. We give you thanks in your Spirit who brings our hearts to life this Christmas Day and forever. Amen.
Killaloediocese.ie
* * *
Light And Love Prayer of St John of the Cross
Feast 14 December
‘Mine are the heavens and mine is the earth. Mine are the nations, the just are mine, and mine the sinners. The angels are mine, and the Mother of God, and all things are mine; and God himself is mine and for me, because Christ is mine and all for me. What do you ask, then, and seek, my soul? Yours is all of this, and all is for you. Do not engage yourself in anything less or pay heed to the crumbs that fall from your Father’s table. Go forth and exult in your Glory! Hide yourself in it and rejoice, and you will obtain the supplications of your heart.’
Dailyprayers.org
* * *
The Year Ahead
May God make our new year a happy one! Not by shielding us from all sorrows and pain, But by strengthening us to bear it, as it comes; Not by making our path easy, But by making us sturdy to travel any path; Not by taking hardships from us, But by taking fear from our heart; Not by granting us unbroken sunshine, But by keeping our face bright, even in the shadows; Not by making our life always pleasant, But by showing us when people and their causes need us most, and by making us anxious to be there to help. God’s love, peace, hope and joy to us for the year ahead.
Author Unknown; Adapted by Debra Mooney www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/online