You govern your creation, O God,
and bring it to perfection by the work of our hands.
Hear the prayers of your people who ask for work
that will enhance their human dignity
and promote the upbuilding of your kingdom.
Enable them to provide for those confided to their care
either by family ties or by charity we owe to one another
for the betterment of human life.
We ask this blessing in the name of Jesus
who laboured with his own hands while he lived on earth.
Amen.
O Holy Ghost, divine Spirit of light and love, I consecrate to Thee my understanding, my heart and my will, my whole being for time and for eternity. May my understanding be always obedient to Thy heavenly inspirations and the teachings of the holy Catholic Church, of which Thou art the infallible Guide; may my heart be ever inflamed with love of God and of my neighbor; may my will be ever conformed to the divine will, and may my whole life be a faithful following of the life and virtues of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and Thee be honor and glory for ever.
Amen.
Father: Christ has appeared among us.
All: Come, let us adore Him.
Mother: The precious gifts which the Magi brought to the
Lord this day are threefold,
and they are signs of divine mysteries.
By gold the power of the King is signified,
by frankincense His great priesthood,
by myrrh the burial of the Lord.
All: The Magi worshipped the Author of our salvation in
the crib,
and of their treasures they brought to Him gifts of
mystic nature.
Youngest Child: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and
to the Holy Ghost.
All: As it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
Father: Let us pray. O God,
by the leading of a star Thou didst manifest Thine
only begotten Son
to the Gentiles on this day;
mercifully grant that we who know Thee by faith,
may be brought to contemplate the beauty of Thy
majesty.
Through the same Jesus Christ Thy Son.
All: Alleluia.
The following hymn serves well as a conclusion.
Additional verses may be composed by members of the
family.
The Wise Men tune Jesu Dulcis Memoria
Now there appeared a brilliant Star
Which led the wise Men from afar.
They came and, kneeling down, adored
And offered gifts to Christ, the Lord.
[From The Story of the Redemption for Children.]
Heavenly Father,
in glorifying Jesus
and sending us your Spirit,
You open the way to eternal life.
May my sharing in this Gift increase my love
and make my faith grow stronger.
Send Your Spirit to cleanse my life
so that the offering of myself to You at Mass
may be pleasing to You.
May my sharing in the Eucharist,
our Bread of Life,
bring me eternal life.
Watch, O Lord, with those who wake,
or watch, or weep tonight,
and give Your Angels and Saints charge over those who
sleep.
Tend Your sick ones, O Lord Christ.
Rest Your weary ones,
Bless Your dying ones,
Soothe Your suffering ones,
pity Your afflicted ones,
Shield Your joyous ones,
And all for Your love’s sake.
Amen.
Evening Prayer to the Holy Spirit
O Holy Spirit,
most merciful Comforter:
You proceed from the Father
in a manner beyond our understanding.
Come, I beseech You,
and take up your abode in my heart.
Purify and cleanse me from all sin,
and sanctify my soul.
Cleanse it from every impurity,
water its dryness,
melt its coldness,
and save it from its sinful ways.
Make me truly humble and resigned,
that I may be pleasing to You,
and that You might abide with me forever.
Most Blessed Light,
most Amiable Light,
enlighten me.
O Rapturous Joy of Paradise,
Fount of Purest Delight,
My God, give yourself to me
and kindle in my innermost soul the fire of Your love.
My Lord, instruct, direct,
and defend me in all things.
Give me strength against all immoderate fears
and against despondency.
Bestow upon me a true faith,
a firm hope,
and a sincere and a perfect love.
Grant that I always do Thy Most Gracious Will.
Amen.
Evening Prayer to the Son of God
O Only-Begotten Word of the Father,
Jesus Christ,
who alone are perfect:
according to the greatness of your mercy,
do not abandon me, your servant,
but ever rest in my heart.
O Sweet Jesus,
Good Shepherd of Your flock,
deliver me from the attacks of The Enemy.
Do not allow me to become the prey of Satan’s evil intent,
even though I have within me the seed of eternal
damnation.
Instead, O Lord Jesus Christ,
Adorable God, Holy King,
while I sleep,
protect me by Your Holy spirit,
through Whom You sanctified Your Apostles.
Enlighten my mind by the light of the Holy Gospel,
my soul by the love of Your Cross,
my heart by the purity of Your teaching.
Protect my body by Your sacred passion,
my senses by Your humility,
and awaken me in due time for Your glorification.
For You, above all, are adorable,
together with Your eternal Father,
and the Holy Spirit,
now and ever, and forever.
Amen.
Evening Prayer to God the Father
O eternal God and Ruler of all creation,
You have allowed me to reach this hour.
Forgive the sins I have committed this day by word,
deed or thought.
Purify me, O Lord,
from every spiritual and physical stain.
Grant that I may rise from this sleep to glorify You
by my deeds throughout my entire lifetime,
and that I be victorious over every spiritual
and physical enemy.
Deliver me, O Lord,
from all vain thoughts and from evil desires,
for yours is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
now and ever, and forever.
Amen.
Ah, Lord,
how many nights have I slept in enmity with Thee?
O God!
in what a miserable state was my soul during that time!
it was hated by Thee,
and wished to be hated by Thee.
I was condemned to hell;
there was nothing wanting
but the execution of the sentence.
But Thou, my God,
hast never ceased to seek after me,
and invite me to pardon.
But who can assure me
that Thou hast pardoned me?
Must I, O my Jesus!
live in this uncertainty
till Thou dost judge me?
But the sorrow which I feel
for having offended Thee,
my desire to love Thee,
and still more,
Thy Passion,
O my beloved Redeemer!
make me hope that Thy grace dwells in my soul.
I am sorry for having offended Thee,
O Sovereign Good!
and I love Thee above all things.
I resolve to forfeit everything
rather than lost Thy grace and Thy love.
Thou dost wish that the heart
which seeks Thee should be full of joy.
“Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.”
Lord, I detest all the injuries
I have offered to Thee.
Give me courage and confidence;
do not upbraid me with my ingratitude;
for I myself know and detest it.
Thou hast said that Thou willest not
the death of a sinner,
but that he be converted and live.
Yes, my God,
I leave all things and turn to Thee.
Give me Thy love;
I ask nothing else.
O Mary! thou, after Jesus, art my hope;
obtain for me holy perseverance.
I adore Thee, my God,
and I love Thee with all my heart.
I give Thee thanks for having created me,
for having made me a Christian,
and for having preserved me this day.
Pardon me for the evil I have done today;
if I have done anything good, do Thou accept it.
Keep me while I take my rest
and deliver me from all dangers.
May Thy grace be always with me.
Amen.
