Category: The CHRIST CHILD

Posted in ADVENT, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, HYMNS, MORNING Prayers, POETRY, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, The CHRIST CHILD

Our Morning Offering – 11 December – Monday of the Second Week of Adve

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 11 December – Monday of the Second Week of Advent

Come, Sun and Saviour
8th Century Catholic Advent Prayer/Hymn

Come, Sun and Saviour,
to embrace Our gloomy world,
its weary race,
As groom to bride, as bride to groom:
The wedding chamber, Mary’s womb.
At your great Name, O Jesus, now
All knees must bend, all hearts must bow;
All things on earth with one accord,
Like those in heaven, shall call you Lord.
Come in Your holy might, we pray,
Redeem us for eternal day;
Defend us while we dwell below,
From all assaults of our dread foe.come sun and saviour - 8th cent advent hymn - 11 dec 2017

Posted in ADVENT, CHRISTMASTIDE!, JESUIT SJ, MARIAN TITLES, MIRACLES, MORNING Prayers, SAINT of the DAY, The CHRIST CHILD

Thought for the Day – 9 December 2017 – Saturday of the First Week of Advent & the Memorial of St Juan Diego (1474-1548), the Marian Visionary of the Miracle of Mary of Guadalupe – Five Lessons from the Manger

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 9 December 2017 – Saturday of the First Week of Advent & the Memorial of St Juan Diego(1474-1548) , the Marian Visionary of the Miracle of Mary of Guadalupe – Five Lessons from the Mangerfive lessons from the manger - 9 dec 2017

The Surprise:  God does not manifest in great events but in small surprises.   The boy in a manger, who would have imagined that God among us shows Himself like this?   The Christian lives the surprise in the small gifts of the day to day.

The Silence:   Mary meditates all this in her heart, with a look that goes deeper and finds the meaning of things.   The Christian feeds on silence, prays and asks the Father for an understanding of what happens to him, in order to discern the best options.

The Light:   On the darkest night of the year the Light of Jesus manifests itself.   God visits our darkness, the places where we think He could never be.   We are not abandoned children but infinitely loved.   The Christian lives this hope.

The Poor:   The shepherds, despised by all, are the first recipients of the announcement of the birth of Jesus.   Always the little ones are the favourites of God.   The message is given to the poorest, to whom no one gives importance.   This is particularly obvious today, on the Memorial of St Juan Diego, the Marian Visionary of the Miracle of Mary of Guadalupe, for whom we ask, please pray for us St Juan!

These are the five lessons we learn from the manger.   Throughout this month, we pray that we might get closer Christ’s coming to us on this Christmas Day, in your prayer proposals and in your union with the Holy Father and his intentions.

A Holy and Blessed Advent!

(Taken partially from Father António Valério, SJ – Director of the Pope’s Global Network of Prayer in Portugal)st juan diego pray for us 2

 

Posted in ADVENT, DEVOTIO, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, The CHRIST CHILD

Our Morning Offering – 9 December 2017- Saturday of the First Week of Advent

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 9 December 2017- Saturday of the First Week of Advent

A 10th Century Advent Prayer to Our Lord Jesus
Unknown author

You are our eternal salvation,
The unfailing light of the world.
Light everlasting,
You are truly our redemption.
Grieving that the human race was perishing
through the tempter’s power,
without leaving the heights You came to the depths
in Your loving kindness.
Readily taking our humanity by Your gracious will,
You saved all earthly creatures, long since lost,
Restoring joy to the world.
Redeem our souls and bodies, O Christ,
and so possess us as Your shining dwellings.
By Your first coming, make us righteous;
At Your second coming, set us free:
So that, when the world is filled with light
and You judge all things,
We may be clad in spotless robes
and follow in Your steps, O King,
Into the heavenly hall.
Amena 10th century advent prayer - 9 dec 2017

Posted in ADVENT, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, CHRISTMASTIDE!, MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, The CHRIST CHILD, The WORD

ANNOUNCING a Novena to the Christ Child in preparation for Christmas

Posted on by AnaStpaul

ANNOUNCING a Novena to the Christ Child in preparation for Christmas

In the birth of Jesus, God comes to us and asks us to receive Him, so that He can be born in our lives and transform them and our world, by the power of His love.    The Christmas liturgy also invites us to contemplate Christ’s birth against the backdrop of His paschal mystery.   Christmas points beyond itself, to the redemption won for us on the Cross and the glory of the Resurrection.   May this Christmas fill you with joy in the knowledge that God has drawn near to us and is with us, at every moment of our lives”. …Pope Benedict XVI

Join us for the Christmas Novena to the Christ Child beginning 9 days before Christmas on 16 December.   Each day will feature a Scripture Reflection and prayer.   Let us dispose ourselves to receive the coming Lord.   With great desire, with joy full of hope, with a heart that is free and capable of great love, for after all, we are made in His image and likeness and He is love!ANNOUNCING - CHRISTMAS NOVENA TO THE CHRIST CHILD begins 16 DEC - 2017

Posted in ADVENT, CHRISTMASTIDE!, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, HYMNS, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The CHRIST CHILD

Our Morning Offering – 7 December – The Memorial of St Ambrose (c 340-397)- Father and Doctor of the Church

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 7 December – The Memorial of St Ambrose (c 340-397)- Father and Doctor of the Church

Veni Redemptor gentium
Saviour of the Nations, Come
St Ambrose’s Advent Hymn

Saviour of the nations, come;
Virgin’s Son, here make Thy home!
Marvel now, O heaven and earth,
That the Lord chose such a birth.

Not by human flesh and blood;
By the Spirit of our God
Was the Word of God made flesh,
Woman’s offspring, pure and fresh.

Wondrous birth! O wondrous Child
Of the virgin undefiled!
Though by all the world disowned,
Still to be in heaven enthroned.

From the Father forth He came
And returneth to the same,
Captive leading death and hell
High the song of triumph swell!

Thou, the Father’s only Son,
Hast over sin the victory won.
Boundless shall Thy kingdom be;
When shall we its glories see?

Brightly doth Thy manger shine,
Glorious is its light divine.
Let not sin o’ercloud this light;
Ever be our faith thus bright.

Praise to God the Father sing,
Praise to God the Son, our King,
Praise to God the Spirit be
Ever and eternally.

Translated from Latin to German by Martin Luther, 1523;
translated from German to English by William M Reynolds, 1851veni redemptor gentium - st ambrose advent him saviour of the nations, come - 7 dec 2017

O Lord, Give me a Heart to Love You
Prayer of St Ambrose (c 340-397) Father and Doctor of the Church

O Lord, who has mercy upon all,
take away from me my sins
and mercifully kindle in me
the fire of Your Holy Spirit.
Take away from me the heart of stone
and give me a heart of flesh,
a heart to love and adore You,
a heart to delight in You,
to follow and enjoy You,
for Christ’s sake. Ameno lord give me a heart to love you - prayer of st ambrose - 7 dec 2017