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Celebrating Christmas Home | Creighton University's Online Ministries
St. Stephen - December 26
Daily Prayer
“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”Collect:
Grant, Lord, we pray,
that we may imitate what we worship,
and so learn to love even our enemies,
for we celebrate the heavenly birthday
of a man who knew how to pray even for his persecutors.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. *Today's Readings - Lectionary # 696
Daily Meditation:
The gates of heaven opened for Stephen, the first of the martyrs;
in heaven, he wears the crown of victory. Entrance AntiphonWe 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
Today's Daily Reflection
surrender even our lives in sharing this Good News with others.Intercession:
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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Feast of the Holy Family - December 27
Daily Prayer"Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise."
Entrance Antiphon
The shepherds went in haste and
found Mary and Joseph, and the Infant lying in a manger. Luke 2:16Collect:
O God, who were pleased to give us
the shining example of the Holy Family,
graciously grant that we may imitate them
in practicing the virtues of family life and in the bonds of charity,
and so, in the joy of your house,
delight one day in eternal rewards.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. *Today's Readings - Lectionary # 17
Daily Meditation:
Blessed are those that fear the Lord and walk in his ways. Psalm 128
Every son or daughter can read the first reading and let it be a life long guide.
The second reading is a wonderful guide for family life.
We could all do well to prepare our New Year's resolution desires from here.
The gospel is from Luke and brings us back to Mary.
A sword will pass through her faithful heart.
May God bless all our families with fidelity and courage in loving as we have been loved.And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,
the peace into which you were also called in one body.
And be thankful. Colossians 3Intercessions:
Let us adore the Son of the living God who humbled himself
to become a son of human family, and let us beseech him:
Jesus, you became obedient; sanctify us.Jesus, eternal Word of the Father, you made yourself subject
to Mary and Joseph,
- teach us humility.
You are our teacher, and your own mother pondered in
her heart every one of your words and deeds,
- make us attentive to your word, and let us ponder it in
hearts that are pure and good.
Christ, by your work the world was made, but you were
willing to be called a worker’s son,
- teach us to work diligently.
Jesus, in the family at Nazareth you grew in wisdom, age
and grace before God and men,
- help us to grow in all things toward you, our Head.
Closing Prayer:
God of such faithfulness,
we are a big and messy family;
both as humans - and in my own family.
Help me today to be especially patient and loving,
and to forgive those who have hurt me.
We may not look like "The Holy Family" I see in paintings,
yet we are united with Jesus, Mary and Joseph
because in your great love for us
you sent your son to live in this world
and to share in our human experience.Sometimes I forget the sacredness of our family life
May the Lord bless us,
and the privilege it is to be together in this bond.
Help me not only love others as you love us,
but to be more aware of those families in the world
who struggle so much with poverty, war and disease.
Help me to pray with and for them today
and to carry an awareness of all families fleeing for safety,
longing for the peace you offer to us all.
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
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Holy Innocents, Martyrs - December 28
Daily Prayer
“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”Collect:
O God, whom the Holy Innocents confessed
and proclaimed on this day,
not by speaking but by dying,
grant, we pray,
that the faith in you which we confess with our lips
may also speak through our manner of life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. *
Today's Readings - Lectionary # 698
Daily Meditation:
God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1There 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 ReflectionIntercession:
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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Fifth Day in the Christmas Octave - December 29
Daily Prayer"Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise."
Collect:
Almighty ever-living God,
who in the Nativity of your Son
established the beginning and fulfillment of all religion,
grant, we pray, that we may be numbered
among those who belong to him,
in whom is the fullness of human salvation.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
ne God, for ever and ever. *Today's Readings - Lectionary # 202
Daily Meditation:
And now, children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence
and not be put to shame by him at his coming. 1 John 2:28John answered them, "I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize,
the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie."John 1:26Jesus baptizes us the the Holy Spirit. All that has prepared us for his coming
give witness to his presence with us now.May we remain in the one who has come to be with us.
May we place our trust in the one who promises us life.Intercessions:
Let us direct our prayers to Christ,
the heavenly man and the new Adam,
who became a life-giving spirit:
Lord, have mercy.Christ, Sun of Justice, you revealed your glory in our human nature
in order to bring to perfection the old covenant,
- we ask you to pour out your light upon us.Christ, you were glorified by the angels, announced by the shepherds,
confessed and proclaimed by Simeon and Anna,
- let your Gospel be accepted by the people of the promise.Christ, when you were born,
angels sang glory to God in the highest and peace on earth,
- we ask you to spread your peace throughout the world.Christ, as the new Adam you gave new life to the old man
and prepared for us a dwelling place in your kingdom,
- may those overwhelmed by evil be encouraged by hope in you.
Closing Prayer:
I beg you, Lord, give me the sight I need
so that I can see you in those around me
and welcome you into my heart
with the joy of celebration.If only my eyes could be opened!
Give me the wisdom and internal vision to see
and I will recognize you as my savior
not only in my heart today
but in my life every day.I ask that you help me to open my heart more fully
to your own dizzying love for me.
Help me to be grateful for your incredible gifts to me.May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
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Sixth Day in the Christmas Octave - December 30
Daily Prayer"Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise."
Collect:
Almighty ever-living God,
who in the Nativity of your Son
established the beginning and fulfillment of all religion,
grant, we pray, that we may be numbered
among those who belong to him,
in whom is the fullness of human salvation.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. *Today's Readings - Lectionary # 203
Daily Meditation:
And now, children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence
and not be put to shame by him at his coming. 1 John 2John answered them, "I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize,
the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie."John 1Jesus baptizes us in the Holy Spirit.
His baptism prepares us for his coming among us now
and it gives witness to his presence with us now.May we remain in the one who has come to be with us.
May we place our trust in the one who promises us life.Intercessions:
Let us direct our prayers to Christ,
the heavenly man and the new Adam,
who became a life-giving spirit:
Lord, have mercy.Christ, Sun of Justice, you revealed your glory in our human nature
in order to bring to perfection the old covenant,
- we ask you to pour out your light upon us.Christ, you were glorified by the angels, announced by the shepherds,
confessed and proclaimed by Simeon and Anna,
- let your Gospel be accepted by the people of the promise.Christ, when you were born,
angels sang glory to God in the highest and peace on earth,
- we ask you to spread your peace throughout the world.Christ, as the new Adam you gave new life to the old man
and prepared for us a dwelling place in your kingdom,
- may those overwhelmed by evil be encouraged by hope in you.
Closing Prayer:
I beg you, Lord, give me the sight I need
so that I can see you in those around me
and welcome you into my heart
with the joy of celebration.If only my eyes could be opened!
Give me the wisdom and internal vision to see
and I will recognize you as my savior
not only in my heart today
but in my life every day.I ask that you help me to open my heart more fully
to your own dizzying love for me.
Help me to be grateful for your incredible gifts to me.May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
Creighton U. Online Ministries Home Page |Celebrating Christmas Home Page|Site Index
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Seventh Day in the Christmas Octave - December 31
Daily Prayer"Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise."
Collect:
Almighty ever-living God,
who in the Nativity of your Son
established the beginning and fulfillment of all religion,
grant, we pray, that we may be numbered
among those who belong to him,
in whom is the fullness of human salvation.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. *Today's Readings - Lectionary # 204
Daily Meditation:
I write to you not because you do not know the truth
but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth.1 John 2: 21John testified to him and cried out, saying,
“This was he of whom I said,
‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’”John 1:15Jesus baptizes us the the Holy Spirit. All that has prepared us for his coming
give witness to his presence with us now.May we remain in the one who has come to be with us.
May we place our trust in the one who promises us life.Intercessions:
Let us direct our prayers to Christ,
the heavenly man and the new Adam,
who became a life-giving spirit:
Lord, have mercy.Christ, Sun of Justice, you revealed your glory in our human nature
in order to bring to perfection the old covenant,
- we ask you to pour out your light upon us.Christ, you were glorified by the angels, announced by the shepherds,
confessed and proclaimed by Simeon and Anna,
- let your Gospel be accepted by the people of the promise.Christ, when you were born,
angels sang glory to God in the highest and peace on earth,
- we ask you to spread your peace throughout the world.Christ, as the new Adam you gave new life to the old man
and prepared for us a dwelling place in your kingdom,
- may those overwhelmed by evil be encouraged by hope in you.
Closing Prayer:
I beg you, Lord, give me the sight I need
so that I can see you in those around me
and welcome you into my heart
with the joy of celebration.If only my eyes could be opened!
Give me the wisdom and internal vision to see
and I will recognize you as my savior
not only in my heart today
but in my life every day.I ask that you help me to open my heart more fully
to your own dizzying love for me.
Help me to be grateful for your incredible gifts to me.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
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* New English translation according to the Third Typical Edition of the Roman Missal. 2010,
Copyright International Commission on English in the Liturgy.
