"Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise."

Opening Prayer:
Lord, today we celebrate the entrance of St. Stephen
into eternal glory.

He died praying for those who killed him.
Help us to imitate his goodness
and to love our enemies.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Today's Readings

Daily Meditation:

The gates of heaven opened for Stephen, the first of the martyrs;
in heaven, he wears the crown of victory. Entrance Antiphon

We remember the first martyr today to emphasize the invitation we have
as followers of Jesus to witness to his presence in our world, even when
it is unpopular, counter-cultural, or may even cost us our lives.

May we ask for the grace today to pray for our enemies and to
surrender even our lives in sharing this Good News with others.

Today's Daily Reflection

Intercessions:
Our Savior's faithfulness is mirrored in the fidelity of his witnesses
who shed their blood for the Word of God.
Let us praise him in remembrance of them:
    You redeemed us by your blood.

Your martyrs freely embraced death in bearing witness for the faith,
- give us the true freedom of the Spirit, O Lord.

Your martyrs professed their faith by shedding their blood,
- give us a faith, O Lord, that is constant and pure.

Your martyrs followed in your footstep by carrying the cross,
- help us to endure courageously the misfortunes of life.

Your martyrs washed their garments in the blood of the Lamb,
- Help us to avoid the weaknesses of the flesh and worldly allurements.

Closing Prayer:
God of all great love,
you know how full of courage Stephen was
and how full of fears I am.

Help me to have the strength to be a witness for my faith,
standing up for those who are weaker,
speaking out for what I believe,
and pushing myself outside of my comfort zone.

Also give me a share in your compassion and understanding
that I might pray for those who oppose me,
those who ridicule me,
and those who dismiss me.

 

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.

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 Celebrating Christmas Home

"Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise."

Opening Prayer:
God our Father,
you have revealed the mysteries of your Word
through St. John the apostle.
By prayer and reflection
may we come to understand the wisdom he taught.

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Today's Readings

Daily Meditation:
What we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you. 1 John 1

The "Beloved Disciple," one of the Zebedee's fishing sons, is special.
He is surely one of the "innocents" that are honored with feasts
so close to our celebration of our Lord's birth.
John and his brother James were called "sons of thunder."
Jesus had a special affection for him.
John must have spent his life caring for Mary and
sharing what he had seen and heard.

Let's pray today for the grace to be such a believing disciple of Jesus
that we can share with others the signs of his love that
we have seen and heard.

Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first,
and he saw and believed. John 20
 

Today's Daily Reflection

Intercessions:
My brothers and sisters, we build on the foundation of the Apostles.
Let us pray to our almighty Father for his holy people and say: 
Be mindful of your Church, O Lord.

Father, you wanted your Son to be seen first by the apostles
after the resurrection from the dead.
- We ask you to make us his witnesses to the farthest corners of the world.

You sent your Son to preach your good news to the poor,
- help us to preach this Gospel to every creature.

You sent your Son to sow the seed of unending life,
- grant that we who work at sowing the seed may share the joy of the harvest.

You sent your Son to reconcile all to you through his blood,
- help us all to work toward achieving this reconciliation.

Closing Prayer:
Jesus, my brother,
I feel shy about calling you 'brother' as John did,
but I know that you invite me to love you as a brother
and I know I cannot comprehend
your unlimited love for me.

May my life be as focused as John's life.
Help me to be as loving and compassionate
to those who grieve
as John was to your mother.
Guide me in spreading the joy of the good news of your life
with courage and joy
and by the example of my own life.

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.

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Celebrating Christmas Home

"Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise."

Opening Prayer:
Father,
the Holy Innocents offered you praise
by the death they suffered for Christ.
May our lives bear witness
to the faith we profess with our lips.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

Today's Readings

Daily Meditation:
God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1

There are many messages in this day.
Exile and liberation are part of the story.
Greed and lust for power are also part of the story
as the innocent suffer and die as the result of injustice.

It is difficult to look at but this is a day to remember how injustice works.
It is important for us remember that however horrible this scene is,
the injustices and violence of today are immeasurably worse.
Ultimately, Jesus himself will die at the hands of the unjust,
to stand with us, in injustice, so that no one will ever need to
suffer injustice.

If we say, "We are without sin," we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just
and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. 1 John 1

Today's Daily Reflection

Intercessions:
We rejoice in the glory of Jesus Christ,
who conquered the enemy, not by force of arms,
but with a white-robed army of children,
and we cry out:
    The white-robed army of martyrs praise you

The Holy Innocents gave witness not by words but by their life's blood,
- give us strength to be your witnesses before all,
both by words and by actions.

They were not ready for battle, but you made them fit
to win the palm of victory,
- now that we are prepared for victory, do not let us despair.

You washed the robes of the Innocents in your blood;
- cleanse us from all sin.

You rewarded the child martyrs with the first share in your kingdom,
-do not let us be cast out from the unending heavenly banquet.

You knew persecution and exile as a child,
- protect all children whose lives are in danger from famine, war, disasters.

Closing Prayer:
Lord of Justice,
it is so easy for me to drift away in my own life,
caught up in my own problems and distractions.
Let me always remember those who suffer so much in this life
who are victims of violence and abuse, hunger and fear.

Let me remember that "those people"
are my brothers and sisters
and need me.
Give me the faith to pray for them,
the resources to support them,
and the strength to work to make their lives better.

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.

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 Celebrating Christmas Home

"Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise."

Opening Prayer:
All powerful and unseen God,
The coming of your light into our world
Has made the darkness vanish.
Teach us to proclaim the birth of your Son Jesus Christ,
Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

Today's Readings

Daily Meditation:
Whoever says he is in the light,
yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness. 1 John 2

Today we can contemplate Mary and Joseph hearing Simeon's prophesy,
including the part where Simeon addresses Mary. He tells her
that her Son is a sign that will be contradicted and
that a sword would pass through her own heart.

Let's pray today in gratitude to Mary for her part
in our salvation story.

"Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled:
my own eyes have seen the salvation which you prepared in the sight of every people,
a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel." Simeon, Luke 2

Today's Daily Reflection

Intercessions:
Because God has been merciful to us and sent his Son to us,
the Prince of peace,
let us cry out with confidence:
    Peace to his people on earth.

Almighty God, Father of the Lord, Jesus Christ,
the Church now celebrates your saving love,
- graciously receive our praise.

From the very beginning you promised us your victory
through Christ our Savior,
- let all be enlightened by the good news.

In praise of your Son whose coming was
joyously forseen by Abraham, hoped for by the patriarchs,
announced by the prophets and yearned for by the Gentiles,
- save the whole people of Israel.

You wished the birth of your Son to be proclaimed by angels
and to be praised by the apostles, martyrs and faithful of all ages,
- grant the world that peace which the angels proclaimed.

Closing Prayer:
Lord of light,
the darkness has vanished in the world
and I want to joyfully proclaim
your presence in my life.
I want my life to be like Mary's,
a "Yes" to your call to my heart.

Let me always be aware of the darkness in my own heart
and I ask for a greater desire to live your love in my life.
I humbly beg for the grace to be aware that your love
is the light that guides my life
and gives me the strength to withstand
the swords that will pierce my heart.

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.

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Celebrating Christmas Home