December-January 2022/23: Prayers and Reflections

Prayers and Reflections for December & January 2023

 

The Pope’s Monthly Intention

December – For volunteer not-for-profit organisations:
We pray that volunteer non-profit organisations committed to human development find people dedicated to the common good and ceaselessly seek out new paths to international cooperation.

January – For educators: We pray that educators may be credible witnesses, teaching fraternity rather than competition and helping the youngest and most vulnerable above all.

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Prayer to Saint Nicholas • Feast: 6 December

O good Saint Nicholas, you who are the joy of the children, put in my heart the spirit of childhood, of 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, where true joy and peace are found. Amen.

 

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A Prayer for Calmness of Mind St John of the Cross
Feast: 14 December

O Blessed Jesus, grant me stillness of soul in Thee. Let Thy mighty calmness reign in me. Rule me, O thou King of gentleness, King of peace. Give me control, control over my words, thoughts and actions. From all irritability, want of meekness, want of gentleness, O dear Lord, deliver me. By thine own deep patience give me patience, stillness of soul in Thee. Make me in this, and in all, more and more like Thee. Amen.

 

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Blessing for a Stained Glass Window

Let us pray. (Silence)

O Lord God, the whole world is filled with the radiance of your glory: Accept our offering of this window which we now dedicate to you for the adornment of this place and the inspiration of your people. Grant that as the light shines through it in many colours, so our lives may show forth the beauty of your manifold gifts of grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

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Blessing for a Christmas Crib

O God, out of your love for us you sent your dearly beloved Son to become human. You willed that he be born in a humble stable in order to give us an example of humility.

We pray you now to bless this crib, a representation of the scene of his birth; may it draw us closer to him.
By imitating his humility may we become a worthy dwelling place for his rebirth, Jesus Christ, your Son our Lord. Amen.

 

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     New Year

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind
For those that here we see no more;

Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease;
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

In Memoriam, [Ring out, wild bells]

Alfred Lord Tennyson – 1809-1892

 

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    Prayer to Saint John Bosco patron of youth
    Feast: 31 January

   Friend of the young,
   Teacher in the ways of God,
   Your dedication to empowering the needy inspires us still.
   Help me to work for a better world,
   where the young are given the chance to flourish,
   where the poor’s dream for justice can come true,and where God’s compassion is shown to be real.
   Intercede for me as I bring my needs to you
   and to our heavenly Mother, the Help of Christians.
   Saint John Bosco,
   Pray for us!