ADVENT (Year C)_ The circular shape and the greenery of the Advent wreath symbolize eternity and everlasting life. The candles celebrate Jesus, the Light of the World. Violet is the liturgical color of preparation, reminding us to turn our hearts to God, and the rose-colored candle exhorts us to rejoice, for we are assured of our Lord s faithfulness. Reader: A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light: upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing. As they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as people make merry when dividing spoils. For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful from David s throne, and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever. The Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God. Advent - The first Sunday - ***Prepare ye the Way of the Lord*** Blessing of the Advent Wreath Leader: Our help is in the Name of the Lord: All: Who made heaven and earth. Leader: Lord our God, we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ: he is Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples, he is the wisdom that teaches and guides us, he is the Savior of every nation. Lord God, let your blessing come upon us as we light the candles of this wreath. May the wreath and it light be a sign of Christ s promise to bring us salvation. May he come quickly and not delay. We ask this through Christ our Lord and we pray...
(The first candle is lit) Monday - First Week ***Prepare ye the Way of the Lord*** Advent makes us realize how we need to change ourselves and our lives because of our relationship with Christ.... Lord, our God, Fill our hearts with your love that we may see you more clearly and be worthy to have you come and dwell with us. We ask this with confidence and we pray: Wednesday, First Week Jesus cured the many that came to Him and then sent his disciples to feed the crowd, we desire the presence of Jesus in all that we do throughout this day.... Lord Jesus, as you sent your disciples to feed the hungry crowd, help us today to be aware of our own opportunities to serve you in others and to promote peace and justice in our world. We ask this in Your Name and we pray: Tuesday - First Week The Centurion knew he was not worthy to have Jesus come to his house. As we ponder the great majesty of the Lord, let us humbly invite the Lord into our hearts.... Lord, our God, we thank you for coming to us and we ask you to reveal your presence more clearly throughout this day. Help us to prepare for your final coming. We ask this in the name of Jesus and we pray: Thursday, First Week During Advent, we are called to listen to the words of Jesus as we read and hear them each day.... Lord Jesus, May your Words be firmly rooted in our hearts this Advent and may we long for your coming so that our lives may be filled with actions of generosity and compassion and we pray:
Friday, First Week Two blind men approached Jesus in order to be cured. Advent reminds us of the importance of others in living our faith. Together we are more able to walk out of blindness into Christ s light.... Lord, we ask your grace and help to see more clearly what you want us to do throughout this day. Fill our hearts with longing for your presence and we pray: http://www.turnbacktogod.com/virgin -mary-pictures-04/ Saturday, First Week - Feast of the Immaculate Conception The angel greeted Mary saying Hail, Full of grace! Mary said to the angel, Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word. Lord Jesus, help us to recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit in our own lives and to respond to the graces that are given to us. May we follow the example of Mary in all that we do today. Make our own lives and hearts worthy of your presence and so we pray:
Sunday - Second Week Today s Gospel reminds us that during Advent we need to refocus our attention on nourishing our spiritual life. John s example can help us with our spiritual preparations for Christmas.... Lord Jesus, help us to create our own wilderness and to find a way to be alone with God. We ask this in your name, O Lord and we pray: Monday - Second Week The friends of the paralyzed man found a way around the obstacles between themselves and Jesus. They removed tiles from the roof and lowered their friend down.... Lord Jesus, during this Advent help us to realize more deeply that you will always provide a way around whatever hinders us from reaching you. As we prepare for your coming, deepen our faith in you and so we pray: Tuesday - Second Week The voice of John the Baptist shouts to us to prepare the way of the Lord. As we long for the coming of the Lord, we realize that we have not always stayed on a straight path..... Lord Jesus, you teach us so clearly that you do search for the lost sheep. Help us to recognize your presence and to live in gratitude for all you have done. Help us to reach out to the lost sheep that crosses our path and so we pray:
Thursday - Second Week of Advent The words of Jesus are words of warning. After teaching the crowds, He tells them, If you are willing to accept it. And then he says,... Whoever has ears ought to hear. In our own day, Jesus continues to ask us to be receptive to Him and to His teachings.... http://fatherdavidbirdosb.blogspot.co m/2010/12/december-12th-our-ladyof-guadalupe.html Wednesday - Second Week - Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Mary is the highest honor of our race. Mary s cousin Elizabeth had been miraculously blessed to bear a son in her old age so Mary was even more wondrously blessed to conceive a Son and to remain a virgin..... Lord, help us during this Advent to celebrate all the good we see in others, realizing that you are the source of all good gifts. Keep our hearts open for the joy of your coming and so we pray: Lord Jesus, as we continue our Advent journey of preparation, we ask for the grace to hear what you want us to hear and to respond generously to all that you ask of us. We ask this in your name and we pray: Friday - Second Week of Advent The Prophet Isaiah called Israel to accept God as teacher and to follow the commandments. If they listened to God, they would have an abundant harvest and their descendants would be as numerous as the grains of sand.... Lord God, accept our humble prayers and lead us along the path to welcome your Son every moment of this day and so we pray:
Saturday - Second Week of Advent In today s readings, Elijah is taken up into heaven. Jesus refers to this in teaching the crowds and tells them that John the Baptist was the Elijah figure. John taught the necessity of repentance and the crowds did not listen.... Lord Jesus, teach us how to truly repent in our own situation here and now. We want to be truly ready when you come to us and so we pray: Monday - Third Week of Advent Matthew gives us the ancestry of Jesus. This was very important to Jewish Christians as it reveals clearly to them that Jesus is the Messiah for whom they had waited.... Lord Jesus, as we prayed after communion this morning, we again ask that you set us on fire with your Spirit that we may burn like bright torches in Christ s sight when he comes again and so we pray: Sunday - Third Week of Advent On this Sunday we are called to a joyful celebration. God is in our midst and is faithful to his promises. John the Baptist continues to speak to us as he calls each one to repentance.... Lord Jesus, fill our hearts with joy as we wait and prepare for your coming. Lead us along rejoicing because we know that Jesus will come again as he promised and so we pray: Tuesday - Third Week of Advent The prophet Jeremiah touched the hearts of the people when he spoke of their long exile coming to an end. We, too, long for a time of true justice and peace and the Lord has promised these to us..... Lord Jesus, your kingdom will be characterized by wisdom, security, and salvation. Move our hearts to prepare more intensely for your coming. You are truly the Savior, God-with-us, the fulfillment of all that we long for and so we pray: COME, LORD JEUS, COME!
WEDNESDAY - Third week of Advent God is wonderful in his ways!. The birth of Samson was foretold by an angel and this promised son helped save his people from the Philistines. In the New Testament, the birth of John the Baptist was foretold by an angel.. Lord Jesus, we offer ourselves to you and we know that you are truly with us as we prepare for your coming. Help us to be instruments of your love and peace and so we pray: Thursday - Third week of Advent The Lord gave his people a sign: The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, God-withus. With our whole heart we call, Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.... God our Father, Mary responded to the angel and gave her consent to become the Mother of her Lord. Help us to be generous with our own time and to allow the Lord to show Himself to all those we meet and so we pray: COME, LORD JESUS, COME! http://capfrans.blogspot.com/2011/05 /visitation-of-mary-toelizabeth_2026.html Friday - Third week of Advent When Mary arrived at the house of her cousin Elizabeth, she was given a special greeting: Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Then the infant within the womb of Elizabeth leaped for joy! As we wait for the coming of the Lord, our hearts are filled with joy.... God our Father, our hearts are filled with joy as we wait for the coming of your Son. We ask you in kindness to hear our prayers that we may attain eternal glory,. and so we pray:
Saturday - Third Week of Advent The story of Hannah s faithfulness has been handed down to us. She sings her song of praise for all the good that has been given to her.... Lord Jesus, as your mother Mary sang her hymn of praise, she proclaimed God s goodness. Help us to recognize all that God has done for us and to lead others to praise and thank you and we pray: Sunday - Fourth week of Advent After Mary gives her consent to the angel, she is told the good news of Elizabeth s pregnancy and immediately Mary set out on the long journey to assist her cousin.... Lord Jesus, help us to be like Mary. Teach us to be more aware of the needs of others and to give service in whatever way we can. Let us always remember that you are coming again and so we pray: Monday - Fourth Week of Advent King David saw that the Lord s dwelling place was a tent while his own dwelling was a house of cedar. The Lord then reminds David of all that he had done for him.... http://associationofcatholicwomenblog gers.blogspot.com/2011_05_01_archiv e.html Lord Jesus, we pray that you will come quickly and not delay. We do remember all that you have done for us and we desire your presence among us. With the whole Church we pray: