Christmas Morning: A Prayer of Thanksgiving, Hope, and Adoration
Heavenly Father,
On this holy morning, we come before You with hearts full of thanksgiving and awe. The mystery of Your love overwhelms us, that You would send Your only Son to dwell among us, born of the Virgin Mary, to redeem us from sin and death.
O Christ, the Word made flesh, we adore You in the manger—the Creator cradled in creation, the eternal clothed in humanity. You are the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, the Redeemer who restores us to life. We marvel at the depth of Your humility and the height of Your glory.
Holy Spirit, kindle in us the hope that flows from this great mystery. May we never cease to trust in the power of Your love, which conquers every darkness and reconciles us to the Father.
With the angels, we sing of Your glory. With the shepherds, we come in wonder. With the magi, we offer our gifts and our lives. Make us worthy, O Lord, to share in the joy of this day and to proclaim Your salvation to the ends of the earth.
Come, Lord Jesus, and reign in our hearts forever.
Amen.
Fourth Sunday of Advent: A Prayer for Love
God of Love,
As we approach the celebration of Christ’s birth, we marvel at the depth of Your love for us. You sent Your only Son to dwell among us, to share our burdens, and to save us from sin.
O Lord, help us to love as You love—selflessly, generously, and unconditionally. Teach us to see Christ in every person, especially the poor, the lonely, and the forgotten. May our love for one another bear witness to the love of the Holy Family, who trusted completely in Your providence.
Come, Lord Jesus, and kindle the flame of divine love in our hearts.
Amen.
Third Sunday of Advent: A Prayer for Joy
Heavenly Father,
On this Gaudete Sunday, we rejoice in the nearness of Your coming. With hearts filled with gratitude, we remember the words of the angel to the shepherds: “Behold, I bring you good news of great joy, for today in the city of David a Saviour has been born to you.”
O Lord, fill us with the joy that comes from knowing You and living in Your love. Let this joy overflow in our lives, drawing others to the light of Christ. May we, like the Blessed Virgin Mary, magnify Your name and rejoice in Your goodness, proclaiming the greatness of Your love to all we meet.
Come, Lord Jesus, our joy and our crown.
Amen.
Second Sunday of Advent: A Prayer for Peace
Prince of Peace,
In this season of waiting, we seek the peace that only You can give. You call us to prepare the way of the Lord, to make straight the paths and to bring justice and reconciliation to the world.
O Lord, grant us the grace to be peacemakers in our families, our communities, and our Church. Let Your peace reign in our hearts, dispelling the anxiety and discord that so easily take root. May we, like St. Joseph, embrace silence and humility, trusting that Your will is perfect.
Come, Lord Jesus, and bring Your peace to the nations.
Amen.
First Sunday of Advent: A Prayer for Hope
Heavenly Father,
As we begin this holy season of Advent, we lift our hearts to You with hope. In the darkness of the world, Your promise shines like the dawn. From the first moment of creation, You set forth a plan to redeem us, to send Your Son as our Saviour.
O Lord, teach us to trust in Your promises, as Mary trusted in the word of the angel. May our hearts be filled with hope that sustains us through every trial, knowing that in Your time, all things will be fulfilled. Prepare us, Lord, to welcome Christ, the Light of the world, with open hearts and steadfast faith.
Come, Lord Jesus, our hope and salvation.
Amen.
A new encyclical from Pope Francis
Please feel free to explore the sites linked below which stream daily mass and other Catholic content.
Plymouth Diocese Click here for YouTube Channel
A Selection of news from around the world
- Full to the brim: Trusting in Mary’s command
- Sun 19 January
- Not ashamed of being a Catholic school
- Catholic Church leads the struggle against dismissing memory of Argentina dictatorship
- Getting to the top of the mountain, with love
- Sat 18 January
- Catholics should care about Labour’s attack on Latin in schools
- Pope’s arm out of sling as he tells seminarians that a life’s journey without hope in Jesus is ‘madness’
- Barbara Brown Taylor at the Festival of Preaching
- Could 2025 prove a breakout year for Christian podcasts?
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