Category: C

Lord Jesus Christ, when, 
on a winter’s night I look up through the clear air at the stars, 
I can be very close to You 
and to Your native Bethlehem. 

It was at night that You first came to this earth. 
It was under the same stars that now gleam in this night sky 
that Mary first held You in her arms. 

It was by the faint light of these stars 
still shining tonight that the shepherds found their way to the stable, 
and discovered You, 
as the angels had said they would, 
lying in a manger. 

Dear Christ, 
it is especially at Christmas time 
that I see and understand how close You are 
to those who live on the land. 

We have so many reminders of You! 
The stars and moon at night and the sun by day,
the same stars under which You were born; 
the same moon that shone that night on Bethlehem; 
the same sun that brightened Your first days on earth. 

The stable, and the farm animals 
that shared their quarters and their warmth with You, their creator. 
The sheep and the shepherds that came to adore You, 
rough men, but good, truthful, honest, and sincere. 

O Jesus, Son of the everlasting God, 
You are so wonderfully made one of us at Christmas time! 

You are our God, 
but You are our Brother, too. 

You are our King, 
but You come as a helpless little baby, 
longing for our love. 

Help us today and always to see You 
in all those with whom we come in contact. 
Let us never forget Your own instruction, 
that whatever we do for the least of those around us, 
we do for You. 

Help us always to serve You in the generous, 
selfless spirit of this season, 
and we shall then be real Christians, 
more and more like You, other Christs.

Amen.

HAIL, and blessed be the hour and moment At which the Son of God was born Of a most pure Virgin At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem In the piercing cold At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, To hear my prayers and grant my desires (mention request here). 

Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.

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.

God our Father, 
every year we rejoice 
as we look forward to this feast of our salvation. 
May we welcome Christ as our Redeemer, 
and meet Him with confidence 
when He comes to be our judge, 
who lives and reigns with You 
and the Holy Spirit, one God, 
for ever and ever.

Amen.

We pray You,
O almighty and eternal God!
Who through Jesus Christ
hast revealed Your glory to all nations,
to preserve the works of Your mercy,
that Your Church,
being spread through the whole world,
may continue with unchanging faith
in the confession of your name.

Amen.

Heavenly Father,
look upon our community of faith
which is the Church of your Son, Jesus Christ.
Help us to witness to his love
by loving all our fellow creatures without exception.
Under the leadership
of the Holy Father and the Bishops
keep us faithful to Christ’s mission
of calling all men and women
to your service so that there may be
“one fold and one shepherd.”

We ask this through Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

Hail Mary… (three times)

Hail, Holy Queen,…

V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God!
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Indulgences of 10 years, to be gained by the faithful who shall recite these prayers kneeling after Holy Mass.

Indulgences of 5 yeras. Pleanary, on the usual conditions, if recited devoutly every day for a month. 

Let Us Pray.

O God!
our refuge and our strength,
look down with favour on Thy people who cry to Thee;
and through the intercession of the glorious
and Immaculate Virgin Mary,
Mother of God,
of Saint Joseph her Spouse,
of Thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul,
and of all the Saints,
in mercy and goodness 
hear our prayers for the conversion of sinners,
and for the liberty and exaltation 
of our holy Mother the Church.
Through the same Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Holy Michael Archangel,
defend us in the hour of conflict;
be our safeguard against the wickedness
and snares of the devil. –
May God restrain him,
we humbly pray;
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God thrust Satan down to helel,
and with him the other wicked spirits,
who wander through the world for the ruin of souls.

Amen.

Indulgence of 3 years. Plenary, on the usual conditions, if recited devoutly every day for a month. – 

V. Sacred Heart of Jesus,
R. Have mercy on us.

V. Sacred Heart of Jesus,
R. Have mercy on us.

V. Sacred Heart of Jesus,
R. Have mercy on us.

Indulgence of 7 years, when these invocations are repeated three times.

Ordered by His Holiness Pope Leo XIII, to be recited, kneeling, after every Low Mass, to implore the help of God for the Church in her necessities. 

We pray Thee, O Almighty and Eternal God, 
who through Jesus Christ hast revealed Thy glory to all nations, 
to preserve the works of Thy mercy; 
that Thy Church, being spread through the whole world, 
may continue, with unchanging faith, 
in the confession of Thy name. 

We pray Thee, who alone art good and holy, 
to endow with heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal, 
and sanctity of life our chief bishop, N., 
the Vicar of our Lord Jesus Christ in the government of His Church; 
our own Bishop, (or Archbishop,) N., 
(if he is not consecrated, our Bishop-elect); 
all other Bishops, Prelates, and Pastors of the Church; and especially those who are appointed 
to exercise among us the functions of the holy ministry, 
and conduct Thy people into the ways of salvation. 

We pray Thee, O God of might, wisdom, and justice, 
through whom authority is rightly administered, 
laws are enacted, and judgments decreed, assist, 
with Thy Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude, 
the President of these United States, 
that his administration may be conducted in righteousness, 
and be eminently useful to Thy people, 
over whom he presides, 
by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion; 
by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy; 
and by restraining vice and immorality. 

Let the light of Thy divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, 
and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our role and government; so, that they may tend to the preservation of peace, 
the promotion of national happiness, 
the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge, 
and may perpetuate to us the blessings of equal liberty. 

We pray for his Excellency the Governor of this State, 
for the members of the Assembly, 
for all Judges, Magistrates, and other officers 
who are appointed to guard our political welfare; 
that they may be enabled, 
by Thy powerful protection, 
to discharge the duties of their respective stations 
with honesty and ability. 

We recommend likewise to Thy unbounded mercy 
all our brethren and fellow-citizens, 
throughout the United States, 
that they may be blessed in the knowledge, 
and sanctified in the observance of most holy law; 
that they may be preserved in union, 
and in that peace which the world cannot give; 
and, after enjoying the blessings of this life, 
be admitted to those which are eternal. 

Finally, we pray Thee, O Lord of mercy, 
to remember the souls of Thy servants departed 
who are gone before us with the sign of faith, 
and repose in the sleep of peace: 
the souls of our parents, relations, and friends;
of those who, when living, were members of this congregation; 
and particularly of such as are lately deceased; 
of all benefactors who,
by their donations or legacies to this Church, 
witnessed their zeal for the decency of divine worship, 
and proved their claim to our grateful 
and charitable remembrance. 

To these, O Lord, and to all that rest in Christ, 
grant, we beseech Thee, a place of refreshment, 
light, and everlasting peace, 
through the same Jesus Christ, 
our Lord and Savior.

Amen.

May the offering of our service and the prayer of the blessed Archangel Gabriel be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord; that he whom we venerate on earth, may be our advocate before Thee in heaven. Through Our Lord.

Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, 
watch over those who are leaders in your Church.
Keep them faithful to their vocation 
and to the proclamation of your message. 

Teach them to recognize and interpret the signs of the times.
Strengthen them with the gifts of the Spirit, 
and help them to serve their subjects, 
especially the poor and lowly.

Give them a vivid sense of your presence in the world
and a knowledge of how to show it to others. 

Amen.