O God, who through the fruitful virginity
of Blessed Mary bestowed on the human race
he grace of eternal salvation, grant, we pray,
that we may experience the intercession of her,
through whom we were found worthy
to receive the author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity
January 1, 2020
December 31, 2019
Come, O Lord, to the help of Your people,
sustained by the intercession of Pope St. Sylvester,
so that, running the course of this present life
under Your guidance,
we may attain life without end.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in unity of the Holy Spirit,
on God forever and ever.
Amen.
December 30, 2019
Columban Fr. Daniel O’Connor is part of a small group of eight in the Hyderabad Diocese, Pakistan, where they manage a health and tuberculosis clinic in the Badin Parish Church Compound in the interior area of Sindh. The government allocates a small amount of money in the health budget whereas defense is allocated a major amount of the budget, roughly 38 times the amount spent on health.
December 30, 2019
Lord, in this holy season of prayer, song and laughter,
we praise You for the great wonders You have sent us:
for shining star and angel's song,
for infant's cry in lowly manger.
We praise You for the Word made flesh in a little Child.
We behold his glory,
and are bathed in its radiance.
December 29, 2019
O most loving Jesus,
Who by Your beautiful virtues of humility,
obedience, poverty, modesty, charity, patience and gentleness,
and by the example of Your domestic life,
blessed with peace and happiness
the family You choose on earth,
in Your clemency look down upon this household,
humbly prostrate before You and imploring Your mercy.
December 28, 2019
We remember today, O God, the slaughter
of the holy innocents of Bethlehem by King Herod.
Receive into the arms of Your mercy
all innocent victims; and by Your great might
frustrated the designs of evil tyrants
and establish Your rule of justice, love, and peace;
through Your son, Jesus Christ who lives and reigns forever.
Amen.
December 27, 2019
Shed upon Your Church, O Lord,
the brightness of Your light, that we,
being illumined by the teaching of
Your apostle and evangelist John,
may also walk in the light of Your truth,
that at length we may attain to the fullness
of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with You forever and ever.
Amen.
December 26, 2019
We give You thanks, O Lord of glory,
for the example of the first martyr Stephen,
who looked up to heaven and prayed
for his persecutors to Your Son Jesus Christ,
who stands at Your right hand; where he
lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, in glory everlasting.
Amen.
December 25, 2019
Lord our God,
the heavens are the work of your hands,
the moon and the stars You made;
the earth and the sea,
and every living creature
came into being by Your word.
And all of us, too.
May this tree bring cheer to this house
though Jesus Christ Your good and holy Son,
who brings life and beauty to us and to our world.
Amen.
December 24, 2019
God of endless ages,
Father of all goodness,
we keep vigil for the dawn of salvation
and the birth of Your Son.
With gratitude we recall his humanity,
the life he shared with the sons of men.
May the power of his divinity help us answer his call
to forgiveness and life.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Columbans are a society of missionaries, including priests and lay people, who minister to people of various cultures as a way of witnessing to the universal love of God.